2.7 mn farmers grow 23% of global cotton more sustainably: BCI report

Better Cotton – cotton produced in line with Better Cotton Initiative’s (BCI) principles and criteria by licensed BCI farmers – now accounts for 23 per cent of global cotton production, with BCI’s nearly 70 implementing partners adapting to evolving circumstances during the pandemic to deliver training to 2.7 million farmers, according to BCI.

 

Better Cotton – cotton produced in line with Better Cotton Initiative's (BCI) principles and criteria by licensed BCI farmers – now accounts for 23 per cent of global cotton production, with BCI's nearly 70 implementing partners adapting to evolving circumstances during the pandemic to deliver training to 2.7 million farmers, according to BCI.#

“Together with our partners, BCI has made great progress from when the first bale of Better Cotton was produced in Pakistan just over a decade ago, but there is still much more to do,” the non-profit organisation said in a press release. “The global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity and social inequality are more pressing than ever. BCI is committed to supporting cotton communities and applying lessons learnt to deepen their impact as they move into the next decade.”

 

Better Cotton – cotton produced in line with Better Cotton Initiative's (BCI) principles and criteria by licensed BCI farmers – now accounts for 23 per cent of global cotton production, with BCI's nearly 70 implementing partners adapting to evolving circumstances during the pandemic to deliver training to 2.7 million farmers, according to BCI.#

In the 2020 annual report that was released this week, BCI mentioned that in the last year, it remained committed to improving livelihoods and supporting cotton farming communities throughout the pandemic, transforming the way they work and raising funds to support the majority smallholder farmers in lower income countries. Strengthening their capacity to promote decent work and prevent forced labour, they revisited their approach to addressing decent work challenges with the help of a task force, culminating in a decent work strategy. BCI also closed the first phase of their gender strategy, measuring and piloting women’s empowerment projects in South Africa and India, while advancing the gender conversation within the cotton community. Through the Delta Project, BCI helped lead the way in strengthening efforts of multiple sustainability initiatives to address social and environmental challenges in agriculture, protect workers’ rights and improve farmers’ livelihoods with the creation of a shared approach to measuring and communicating sustainability progress.

 

Better Cotton – cotton produced in line with Better Cotton Initiative's (BCI) principles and criteria by licensed BCI farmers – now accounts for 23 per cent of global cotton production, with BCI's nearly 70 implementing partners adapting to evolving circumstances during the pandemic to deliver training to 2.7 million farmers, according to BCI.#

In 2016 it began the journey towards Better Cotton being recognised as a mainstream sustainable commodity by 2020, according to the BCI's report. In the 2019-2020 season, BCI retailer and brand members sourced 1.7 million metric tonnes of Better Cotton, a 13 per cent increase on 2019 sourcing volumes and a record for the industry. In 2020, BCI also welcomed more than 400 new members across five membership categories. By the end of the year, BCI’s membership base had exceeded 2,100 members, spanning 60 countries and accounting for a 14 per cent increase on 2019. As BCI moves forward, creating and measuring meaningful impact will be an increasing focus of their work, as they continue to reach more farming communities. 

 

Better Cotton – cotton produced in line with Better Cotton Initiative's (BCI) principles and criteria by licensed BCI farmers – now accounts for 23 per cent of global cotton production, with BCI's nearly 70 implementing partners adapting to evolving circumstances during the pandemic to deliver training to 2.7 million farmers, according to BCI.#

“Our 2030 strategy is testament to our determination to help cotton farming communities build climate resilience, conserve natural resources and promote decent work, strengthening our sector while supporting the global push to achieve the UN’s 2030 sustainable development goals. We want to deliver real impact for cotton farming communities. That’s why the work we have undertaken with our stakeholders in 2020 to refine our strategic approach and align our climate efforts with science-based targets is so important,” Alan McClay, CEO at Better Cotton Initiative, said in the release.

 

Better Cotton – cotton produced in line with Better Cotton Initiative's (BCI) principles and criteria by licensed BCI farmers – now accounts for 23 per cent of global cotton production, with BCI's nearly 70 implementing partners adapting to evolving circumstances during the pandemic to deliver training to 2.7 million farmers, according to BCI.#

“In the 2019-20 cotton season, we strengthened our capacity building approach, dedicating more resources to helping farmers adopt sustainable practices and finding new ways of building lasting relationships with our partners as well as developing new partnerships with technical experts. This provided a robust foundation from which to respond rapidly to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020,” Jyoti Narain Kapoor, India country director at Better Cotton Initiative said.