As there was a considerable contingent of Australian delegates to this conference, this report will focus on the past harvest sessions with a particular emphasis on fibre quality and ginning. Highlights were as follows

• Major factors influencing Industry needs are;

- Consumer Demand

- Spinning Technology

- Competition with petroleum – based man – made fibres (i.e. polyester etc.)

- Competition from other growth, such as corn, wheat, soy beans, oilseeds.

- Shifts in Textile Industry

- Biotechnology

- WTO; protection of trade, subsidies.