Québec - 10 June 2025
The Québec Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MÉIÉ) has approved a major subsidy valued at $700,000 for six Quebec-based businesses to prototype semi- finished and finished wool products.
The study, announced in June, was conceived by Canadian wool expert Jane Underhill of J. Underhill Wool Inc. (JU WOOL) in collaboration with Filature Lemieux. The model consolidates the efforts of six Québec companies and fifteen Quebec farms to address common obstacles in the wool pipeline. As the project’s lead stakeholder, Jane Underhill of J. Underhill Wool Inc. undertakes both upstream wool studies and downstream wool acquisition, helping to bridge the gap between raw material input and finished product output.
A Novel Approach
“What sets this project apart is our end-to-end approach—starting at the farm, capturing wool data, environmental factors and farmer realities, and using that to inform downstream decision-making across the supply chain, from shipper to manufacturer to retailer. Globally, research often focuses on isolated components of the wool pipeline. It’s rare to see initiatives that address the entire ecosystem as a connected whole. With the generous support of the MÉIÉ, we’re taking an integrated approach—from sheep to shop —creating direct lines of communication from farm to finished product. We expect this will yield greater clarity, efficiency, and momentum for the entire supply chain.” — Jane Underhill, President, J. Underhill Wool Inc.
What Comes Next
Wool Testing
The project is set to launch this summer with a collaboration between JU WOOL and Les Éleveurs Ovins du Québec (L.É.O.Q) for wool testing on Québec farms. An open call for participants will be disseminated through L.É.O.Q.’s communication channels and on social media. Wool samples from selected farms will be sent to a European laboratory for evaluation against global testing standards, and to a new wool testing lab at CTT Group, a textile testing centre in St Hyacinthe, Québec, to help calibrate domestic testing protocols.
Wool samples are assessed for micron, staple length, colour, and yield, with additional data collected on elasticity and resilience. A dual-lab approach ensures both international benchmarking and the development of robust local testing capacity. Results will be made available to stakeholders across the value chain with the identities of the farms remaining anonymous.
Prototyping
Prototyping studies are now getting underway. Regular updates along with interim and final reports will be made available however, each partner retains the exclusive rights to their tests and data.
Future Outcomes
This is an historic subsidy for Canadian wool from a government body reflecting the changing values and commitments of our communities and our country. This is intended to be a phase one proof of concept that will steer future spending on infrastructure and education.
Download the PDF for the official media release from project sponsor TechniTextile
Québec.
