ANNUAL REPORT 09/10 - Forest and Wood Products Australia

28 | OPERATIONS
13 investment priorities
The interests and needs of FWPA stakeholders are
refl ected in 13 investment priorities. Needs outside those
covered by the 13 priorities are considered on a case-bycase
basis.
The priorities list illustrates the connection between
industry segments as they are categorised according to
their position in the value chain, from the market through
processing back to the resource.
1 Information, analysis and interpretation
of domestic and export markets
With this knowledge the industry can supply products
that anticipate and satisfy the needs of various
markets. Activities include competitive analysis and
detecting, evaluating and monitoring trends and
business and consumer purchasing behaviour.
2 Timber construction in residential buildings
R&D investments in this area assess the residential
design and construction market needs and ensure
the industry is aware of, and responds to, changes in
building codes and regulations. It also helps building
professionals work more effi ciently with timber, and
industry and the supply chain respond to issues as
they arise.
3 Timber construction in commercial
and industrial buildings
Despite the strength of the Australian market and
the quality of Australian timber products, and
contrary to the emerging international trend, there
has been limited use of wood as a construction
material in buildings higher than three storeys. The
investment in research in this area is leading to the
knowledge, technology and products to develop this
untapped market.
4 Appearance timber products and markets
Reliable information on the supply and demand for
products such as furniture and fl ooring will ensure the
industry can anticipate and meet future requirements.
Research into maintenance and performance, the
appearance of woods and methods of installation
is helping the industry to build on the increasing
awareness of the environmental advantages of wood.
FWPA ANNUAL REPORT 09/10
5 Wood products in sustainable buildings
Carbon footprints, thermal values and environmental
considerations are playing a greater role in building
codes and policies – and creating opportunities for
wood. This topic has been the subject of the initial
FWPA investment plan for wood as a sustainable
building material.
6 Development of secondary products and
markets for them
Improving and increasing the use of the whole tree
through developing value-added secondary products
will minimise waste and maximise the return from
each tree harvested. R&D investments in this area
are identifying and analysing secondary products and
their markets.
7 Solid wood, engineered wood and pulp and
paper products: Performance and yield
Recognising and responding to market needs
enables the forest and wood products industry
to optimise systems and maximise production of
appropriate products.
This supports the industry’s aim to create a better
product by optimising production systems for energy
use, drying, cutting, grading and sorting of wood.
Developing quality control systems will create a
more consistent product, particularly for structural
applications.
8 Maximising product yields and values from
current resources
Increasing the yield of commercial products from
each tree will increase profi tability. Research into the
characteristics, properties and variability of wood
resources and identifying the most commercially
viable applications and products realises maximum
value and reduces unnecessary processing.
9 Improving wood quality and yield, and tools
for forest management
Forest managers need to optimise their forest
management systems to make logs that processors
value. Increasing the effi ciency of inputs such as
fertiliser and pesticides adds value to the industry.
Improved management of forests – spacing, pruning
and species choice – leads to better products and
increased volume. Breeding and management can
increase yield and thus the fi nancial return to growers.