A major new research initiative, backed by $10.4 million in funding over five years, aims to establish a high-value export industry based on wool-derived keratin biopolymers.
The project, titled Smart, Functional, High-Performing Keratin Structures for New Biologically Derived Export Products, has received support from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) through the Endeavour Research Programme. It is led by Lincoln Agritech and focuses on unlocking the commercial potential of wool keratin’s unique properties—such as its reversible shape and volume adaptability and its ability to degrade in controlled ways.
“Our goal is to create a new class of biologically derived products for various global markets,” said Dr. Rob Kelly, the project leader at Lincoln Agritech. “These include soil treatments that regulate microbial activity, textile fibers that outperform silk, and ruminant boluses that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The project involves research collaborations with prestigious institutions including Harvard University, the University of Auckland, and AgResearch. It has been developed with strong backing from the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), with whom Lincoln Agritech has collaborated for the past nine years to explore profitable innovations for the wool sector.
Andy Fox, Chairman of WRONZ, highlighted the project’s alignment with the organization’s mission. “This initiative fits squarely within WRONZ’s strategy to support wool growers by developing innovative applications for New Zealand crossbred wool through commercially focused research,” he noted.
Fox added that the project complements the work of Wool Source, a WRONZ subsidiary currently introducing a first generation of wool-based products to market. “Together, these developments help build a long-term product pipeline and strengthen the wool industry’s future—especially at a time when wool products like carpets are gaining popularity.”
Dr. Kelly emphasized that the initiative will bring together global experts to address technical challenges and create sustainable export opportunities for New Zealand. “Establishing a science-driven platform to support long-term market development is a key step toward securing the sector’s future,” he said.
Source: Lincoln Agritech – $10.4m research project aims for new wool-based export sector
