Better Cotton Conference 2024: Our Top Five Takeaways

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s 2024 Better Cotton Conference, both in Istanbul and online. It marked another year of lively discussion and debate across four key themes: Putting People First, Driving Change at Field Level, Understanding Policy and Industry Challenges, and Reporting on Data and Traceability.

Here’s our five takeaways – what were yours?

1. Concept vs Context

The first takeaway is about recognising the difference between ‘concept’ and ‘context’. While having a global vision for change in the cotton farming communities is crucial, it is equally important to consider the local realities and the surrounding challenges.

This involves recognising risks and allowing for gradual, community-led changes. As highlighted by Aarti Kapoor, Founder and Executive Director of Embode on the first day of the conference, issues such as child labour must be understood within the specific context of living income, climate change and access to resources such as education and healthcare.

2. Action Over Perfection

The second key takeaway is “action over perfection”, a line echoed across the two days. Several speakers reiterated that reward isn’t without risk, and that there is no time to waste in our collective mission to accelerate impact within the cotton sector.

In the event’s concluding panel, Better Cotton’s Chief Executive Officer, Alan McClay, said he was buoyed by the pace at which change continues. However, he called for greater mobilisation of resources in order to build on the great work already being done to advance the industry’s sustainability agenda and to tackle the climate crisis.

3. Championing Voices from the Field

The third takeaway is the importance of involving farmers in policymaking to ensure that policies have a tangible impact on the ground. This year, the Better Cotton Conference welcomed more in-person farmers and trainers than ever before. From India, Pakistan, Tajikistan and the US, these speakers chimed in on important discussions around the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices on large and small farmers, gender actions and innovations, and the social barriers women face in smallholder farming communities.

Their real-world examples from the field enriched the conversations, and helped many in the room – who may not otherwise have the opportunity to engage with farmers directly – gain invaluable insights into the progress being made and the challenges still to be overcome.

4. The Gender Lens

The fourth takeaway is the need to adopt a gender lens throughout all that we do as an industry.

What became clear is that challenges in cotton farming must be assessed and addressed in a way that is cognisant of the additional barriers women face within their communities. Nini Mehrotra, Better Cotton’s Senior Manager for Gender Equality, highlighted that gender pay gaps can be as high as 90%, and research suggests a potential 30% increase in workforce productivity when women are given the same opportunities as men.

Fortunately, inspiring speeches from cotton farmers Nazia Parveen, Nazia Asghar and Obidova Sanobar reminded us of the incredible work being done in countries from Pakistan to Tajikistan to accelerate women’s empowerment, break down barriers and ensure women have the means to support themselves.

5. Pay More to Get More

The last takeaway is that increased investment is key to securing greater impact. There were examples shared of collaboration, progress and achievements, and we – as a sector – can and should be optimistic about our collective ambition. As IKEA’s Global Raw Material Leader, Arvind Rewal noted, however, much more can be done through increased investment. The message was clear: to get more, you must pay more. 

This was echoed in sessions focused on farmer remuneration, where participants highlighted that if farmers do not receive a living income, there is no sustainable production. For many farmers, day-to-day survival is the most important priority, preventing them from dedicating time to other important concerns such as regenerative agriculture or climate change mitigation. In order to generate progress on these priorities, a focus on living incomes for farming communities is vital. For more on this, learn about our recent living income study in collaboration with IDH here. 

Thank you once again to the over 400 participants who joined us both in-person and online. It has been truly inspiring, enriching and an absolute privilege to unite everyone across the supply chain. We look forward to continuing these discussions and working together to drive positive change. Stay tuned for more exciting recaps from the conference, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for the Better Cotton 2025 Conference!

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