The strategy provides a roadmap to strengthen the wool supply chain’s resilience against EADs from shearing sheds to processing and export.

WOOLPRODUCERS Australia launched its Post-farmgate Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness and Response RD&E Strategy 2025-30 at the Wool Industries Australia Wool Week Forum in Melbourne this week.

The peak grower body said the strategy sets out a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen the wool supply chain’s resilience in relation to EADs—from shearing sheds to processing and export.

The strategy seeks to provide direction for industry and government investments over the next five years to contribute to the management of EAD risks, protect market access, and keep the supply chain strong.

The development of the strategy was sponsored and co-ordinated by WoolProducers Australia and Animal Health Australia.

WoolProducers Australia general manager Adam Dawes said the strategy is a proactive investment in the future of Australia’s wool industry.

“It ensures that our post-farmgate systems are equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to any EAD, minimising trade disruptions and safeguarding market confidence.

“It is essential that we continue to invest in disease prevention and EAD preparedness with a “when” not an “if” mentality,” he said.

“Changes in climate, trade patterns and disease distribution mean that risk are constantly evolving, requiring ongoing investment to minimise impacts on our businesses, industries, communities and economy.”

Animal Health Australia CEO Dr Samantha Allan said AHA welcomes the release of the updated strategy.

“It strengthens traceability, builds industry capability through training and exercises, and improves coordination between brokers, exporters, processors and government.

“Crucially, it aligns with national frameworks to support a One Health approach to emergency disease preparedness across Australia,” she said.

Strategy has four pillars

The strategy builds on the successes of previous preparedness efforts and introduces four key pillars:

Policy and operational plans: Aligning industry response with national and international biosecurity frameworks.

Capacity building and culture: Embedding biosecurity as a standard practice across the supply chain.

Coordination and relationships: Enhancing collaboration between industry, government, and trading partners.

Enhanced traceability and data exchange: Leveraging digital tools to track wool movements and support rapid response.

A previous strategy was developed by Wool Industries Australia (2019-2022); however, there was a need to develop a revised strategy to ensure that industry and government efforts are aligned to help increase the speed and effectiveness of an EAD response, helping to protect our animals, our livelihoods, our market access and ultimately our economic prosperity. WoolProducers said.

The body said recent notable advancements in wool industry EAD preparedness have included the rollout of RFID-enabled eBale labels, the Australian Wool Traceability Hub, updated AUSVETPLAN manuals and the development of an International Wool Testing Organisation protocol for the storage and treatment of wool to inactivate disease causing agents, such as foot and mouth disease.

The strategy was developed through extensive consultation with the WoolProducers Post-farmgate EAD Working Group and supported by key stakeholders including Animal Health Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors, National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia and federal and state government departments.

AWEX said the strategy will guide annual workplans and inform future RD&E investments, ensuring the industry remains agile and prepared in an evolving biosecurity landscape.

Click here to download the strategy from the Animal Health Australia website.