INCREASING COMPETITIVENESS OF HIGH QUALITY EUROPEAN ANIMAL TEXTILE FIBRES BY IMPROVING FIBRE QUALITY

Objective

The objective of the project is to increase the quality of European-produced speciality animal textile fibre through the widespread dissemination of a new technology to increase fibre quality more accurately and rapidly. The new technology, Optical Fibre Diameter Analyser (OFDA), will be disseminated through a network of researchers, producers associations and manufacturers involved in the production of fine wool, mohair, cashmere and angora. In particular DFDA will be used to measure fibre quality in a) genetic improvement programmes for each of these speciality fibres in Europe and; b) grading of fibres for presentation to processors and manufacturers.
The application of a common technology across Europe will ensure accuracy and comparability between countries through the development of a central database for fibre breeding schemes and a common measure of fibre quality in the grading of fibres for processing.
The network will be established in 9 European and affiliated countries. In addition to a coordinator and group leaders for fibre measurement technology and genetic improvement schemes, each country will be represented by a Network partner located in a leading centre of research, who will lead Network operations in that country. Coordination of the work will be achieved through the medium of workshops to agree common standards and protocols, a newsletter, and mobility of technical personnel for lectures and training courses. The Network will:
1) enhance the dissemination of state-of-the-art fibre measurement technology and ensure comparability between fibre analyses in different countries, which is a key element in the future development of the European speciality fibre industry.
2) establish common European protocols for measuring fibre traits in breeding programmes for different fibre types.
3) improve the competitiveness of European producers of speciality animal fibres by establishing clearly defined, market-led quality objectives, grading and presentation standards and the creation of new information channels between producers, industry and research.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › databases
• engineering and technology › materials engineering › textiles
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › fibre optics

Programme(s)

• FP4-FAIR - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development), 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 4.3.1 - Speciality products

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

STU - Study contracts, assessment contracts

Coordinator

MACAULAY LAND USE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Address

Craigiebuckler
AB9 2QJ Aberdeen
United Kingdom

Participants (10)

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION APLICADA Y TECHNOLOGIA AGROALIMENTARIA

Spain

Address

Apdo 13
33300 Villaviciosa

DANISH AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY CENTRE

Denmark

Address

Udkaersvej, 15 - Skejby
8200 Aarhus N

DEUTSCHES WOLLFORSCHUNGSINSTITUTAN DER T.H. AACHEN

Germany

Address

Veltmandplatz, 8
52062 Aachen

ESCOLA SUPERIOR AGRARIA

Portugal

Address

Quinta Da Sra De Mercules, 6000
Castelo Branco

I.N.R.A.

France

Address

B.p. 27
31326 Toulouse

NLH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY OF NORWAY

Norway

Address

P.o. Box 25
1432 Ås

SERVICIO DE INVESTIGACION AGRARIA

Spain

Address

Ctra. De Montañana, 176 - P.o. Box 727
50080 Zaragoza

UNIVERSITY OF KUOPIO

Finland

Address

Savilahdentie, 9 - P.o. Box 1627
70211 Kuopio

UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN

Germany

Address

Lentzeallee, 75
33 Berlin

Università degli Studi di Bari

Italy

Address

Via Giovanni Amendola 165/a
70126 Bari