Better Cotton Conference to address climate & industry issues

After two years of 'online-only' events, Better Cotton has announced its first in-person global conference since the start of the pandemic. The theme of this year’s conference is Cotton + Climate Action. World-leading fashion brands, textile manufacturers, retailers, businesses, farmers and inspiring speakers will come together in Sweden for the conference, Better Cotton said in a press release.

The conference is expected to draw attendance from a broad range of interested parties – ranging from farmers and producers to retailers and other stakeholders in the cotton community. The conference will feature plenary and breakout sessions and will be led by Alan McClay CEO of Better Cotton.

Drawing on the first ever global analysis of physical climate risks across global cotton growing regions for the 2040s conducted for the Cotton 2040 initiative. Dhaval Neghandi of Forum for the Future will share the key findings and data from the research to help participants understand how climate change is likely to impact key cotton growing regions and the supply chains.

Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to cotton farmers’ first-hand perspectives on the effects of climate change on their livelihoods and communities — and how they are working to adapt to this new reality. Two inspiring Better Cotton Farmers — Balubhai Parmar, from India and Lacy Cotter Vardeman, from the United States will give keynote addresses. Balubhai will share his experiences of the economic, environmental and social challenges and opportunities facing cotton farmers in India today, while Lacy will speak from the large farm perspective, addressing issues and innovations, as well as challenges and opportunities in cotton farming in the US.

Leading retailers and brands in Better Cotton’s membership, including Walmart and Ikea, will provide their take on climate action, and how they are contributing to projects on regenerative agriculture and traceability, among others.

Organisations participating in breakout sessions include EU Commission, WWF, Textile Exchange, Rainforest Alliance, ISEAL, Pesticide Action Network UK, Delta Project, Wageningen University & Research, Anthesis Group, IDH, Fairtrade, Fair Capital, Solidaridad, Chainpoint, Farmer Connect, Commonland, GAP-UNDP, Landscape Finance Lab and more.

“Transforming the cotton sector is not the work of one organisation alone and I am excited that we can at last bring together players from across the cotton industry at an in-person event. Our industry has been investing heavily in building its climate resilience for some years now, but of the 350 million people who rely on cotton production about half face high exposure to climate risk. In particular we need to show farmers that implementing more sustainable practices really will give them tangible rewards – both monetary and by improving the health of the land,” Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, said.

“There are a myriad of issues to tackle – from gender and social injustice to finance and traceability. We look forward to digging into these key issues in Sweden,” added McClay.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)