{"id":31315,"date":"2025-12-18T17:42:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T07:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=31315"},"modified":"2025-12-18T17:42:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T07:42:08","slug":"from-forest-to-frame-australias-fibre-value-chain-must-be-better-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/from-forest-to-frame-australias-fibre-value-chain-must-be-better-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"From Forest to Frame: Australia\u2019s Fibre Value Chain Must Be Better Connected"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Australia\u2019s forest products sector must work across the entire value chain \u2014 from growers to processors, manufacturers and end\u2011users \u2014 if it is to meet the nation&#8217;s future needs. That is according to Dr Joseph Lawrence, Executive Director of Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), a $200\u2011million\u2011plus research institute backed by $100 million in Commonwealth funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking on Wood Chat, <a href=\"https:\/\/fwpa.com.au\/resources-hub\/podcasts\/\">the FWPA\u2011supported podcast<\/a>, Dr Lawrence said the $23 billion industry now has a \u201conce\u2011in\u2011a\u2011generation\u201d opportunity to partner with world\u2011leading researchers and accelerate innovation at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.afwi.au\/afwi-backs-new-wave-of-national-research-projects\/\">With 30 projects already underway<\/a> \u2014 through both the National Open Call and AFWI\u2019s three research centres at the University of Tasmania, the University of Melbourne and the University of the Sunshine Coast \u2014 AFWI is rapidly becoming one of Australia\u2019s largest research institutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A new AFWI-funded project is looking to expand the market for Australian hardwoods by targeting sports flooring, including basketball courts, gymnasiums, squash courts and arenas. For more: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FrVJpxscDe\">https:\/\/t.co\/FrVJpxscDe<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HlJSZ7sA4n\">pic.twitter.com\/HlJSZ7sA4n<\/a><\/p>&mdash; WoodCentralAu (@WoodCentralAU1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodCentralAU1\/status\/2001526676568883355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 18, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt makes us one of the largest research institutes in Australia, currently, which is very significant,\u201d Dr Lawrence said. \u201cThe intent is always for industry and the research sector to join hands with the government to get the best return on investment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drawing on his background in renewable energy, Dr Lawrence said the forest products industry has a unique opportunity to demonstrate the full value of sustainable forest management and wood to society. \u201cI think the story goes through biodiversity, environmental protections\u2026 and the jobs it can create.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Housing, he said, is one of the clearest areas where Australian timber can deliver immediate national benefits. \u201cThat\u2019s where we see a real opportunity for Australian timber to be ramped up \u2014 for engineered wood to be ramped up \u2014 to be producing faster, safer and higher\u2011quality housing, all made here. So we can solve all the potential crises we are facing around shortages.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-soundcloud wp-block-embed-soundcloud\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Episode 39 - Climate, Collaboration and Capability: an interview with AFWI\u2019s Dr. Joseph Lawrence by WoodChat\" width=\"696\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?visual=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F2221813085&#038;show_artwork=true&#038;maxheight=1000&#038;maxwidth=696\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Dr Lawrence spoke to WoodChat about his first year as Executive Director of AFWI, its forward strategy and the shared vision its holds with FWPA to strengthen Australia\u2019s forest and wood products sector.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>AFWI has now finalised its five\u2011year strategy, aligned with the Australian Government\u2019s new Timber Fibre Strategy, and focused on four priorities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Healthier, more productive forests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maximising wood fibre through value\u2011added manufacturing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Climate solutions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engineered wood for modern housing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The strategy also identifies the need to break down long\u2011standing barriers between sectors \u2014 from forestry and processing to truss and frame manufacturers, architects, engineers and builders \u2014 with FWPA and AFWI working together to address the gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead to 2035, Dr Lawrence said solving the housing crisis and building advanced manufacturing capability will only be possible through a coordinated national science network involving more than 20 organisations. \u201cWe want to have the right R&amp;D talent in Australia,\u201d he said. \u201cThe real opportunity is to grow our own, but also learn from what is happening overseas and get ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Did you know: 35% of green chemistry patents are connected to forest products. Professor John Warner, co-founder of Green Chemistry,  has the details: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cc4H0kqh2t\">https:\/\/t.co\/cc4H0kqh2t<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/et3pbCtYPP\">pic.twitter.com\/et3pbCtYPP<\/a><\/p>&mdash; WoodCentralAu (@WoodCentralAU1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WoodCentralAU1\/status\/2001529511222059357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 18, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He believes the biggest opportunity lies in connecting the entire forest\u2011to\u2011market pathway \u2014 something the industry has historically struggled to do. \u201cThe strongest opportunity is partnering across the entire value chain \u2014 from upstream to downstream \u2014 and connecting all the way through to the market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using housing as an example, he said the industry can \u201cstart with the tree and map it right through to single\u2011level homes, multi\u2011storey buildings, high\u2011rise hybrids with steel, and even pure\u2011timber modular systems.\u201d And the same approach applies to emerging sectors such as biofuels. \u201cIf you\u2019re producing a biofuel from forest fibre or waste, you can align that directly with the aviation industry \u2014 companies like Boeing \u2014 as well as the chemical sector. It\u2019s about bringing all of these players together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Lawrence said the industry must move beyond the traditional model where growers and processors operate in isolation and leave the market to determine value. \u201cInstead, we should be involved up front with everyone across the chain and map it out together. That\u2019s what will make R&amp;D truly commercialisable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Australia\u2019s forest products sector must work across the entire value chain \u2014 from growers to processors, manufacturers and end\u2011users \u2014 if it is to meet the nation&#8217;s future needs. That is according to Dr Joseph Lawrence, Executive Director of Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), a $200\u2011million\u2011plus research institute backed by $100 million in Commonwealth [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":31330,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"default","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"default","_google_business_share_type":"default","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[50,47,2,46,39,48,49,68,31],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[70],"class_list":{"0":"post-31315","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-australia","8":"category-commercial","9":"category-featured","10":"category-industry","11":"category-mass-timber","12":"category-mid-rise-construction","13":"category-residential","14":"category-sector","15":"category-top-stories"},"authors":[{"term_id":70,"user_id":2,"is_guest":0,"slug":"jason","display_name":"Jason Ross","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/J-Ross-headshot.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/J-Ross-headshot.jpeg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31315"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31331,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31315\/revisions\/31331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31315"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=31315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}