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The government is supporting the world’s first clinical sleep trial testing how New Zealand strong-wool bedding performs against synthetic alternatives.
The three-year, $2 million sleep science research programme, led by Wisewool, is supported with $800,000 from the Primary Sector Growth Fund.
Testing real people in their own homes or in sleep laboratories, the project will access sleep latency, body temperature regulation, breathability, moisture management, hypoallergenic performance and overall user comfort.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the project is a major opportunity for New Zealand’s wool sector.
“Scientifically validating wool’s sleep benefits will allow strong-wool to command a premium, positioning it as a high-performance natural alternative to foam, synthetics, feathers and cotton,” he says.
“Working with leading sleep researchers to provide credible evidence will open doors in international markets.”
The project builds on earlier government support that helped Wisewool develop its premium wool bud filler for furniture and bedding products.
“Thanks to that work, Wisewool already pays Tairawhiti east coast farmers a 50-cent premium for every kilogram of raw wool they supply,” he says.
The company aims to process 30 million kilograms of wool across the North Island over the next decade, McClay says.
“Achieving this will require sourcing a significant share of New Zealand’s strong-wool from all over the country – this project is critical to making that vision a reality,” says McClay.
Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says the investment reflects the government’s commitment to rural communities.
“Proving the premium sleep case for New Zealand strong-wool lifts demand and farmgate returns right across the sector, from growers through to exporters,” Patterson says.
“We expect this project to create a competitive advantage for New Zealand wool, driving increased demand and profitability.”
