Cotton Australia, the leading representative body for Australia’s cotton growing industry, has signed a landmark partnership agreement with BCI allowing cotton produced under the Australian myBMP certification to be sold into the global market as Better Cotton. The agreement marks a historic point in the global supply of Better Cotton. BCI CEO, Patrick Laine, commented this week: ”Australian producers have made remarkable progress, far beyond legal compliance, in growing cotton for the benefit of people and planet. BCI is delighted to recognise myBMP as providing a credible, verified framework for documenting this continuous improvement. myBMP farmers are leading by example.”
Cotton Australia CEO, Adam Kay, says the agreement would be welcomed by Australian cotton growers and the wider industry: ”Access to future growth markets is of tremendous importance to Australian cotton growers, particularly as they contend with competition from synthetic fibres. Within the global natural fibre market, demand for responsibly grown cotton is growing, and this agreement allows Australian cotton growers to participate more easily in that expanding market.”
BCI members will benefit from being able to procure Australian-grown Better Cotton from myBMP certified farmers, and Australian cotton growers will be able to use a single system to produce cotton under both the myBMP and Better Cotton banners. We are looking forward to continuing to work together, recognising the substantial efforts of the Australian cotton industry to generate environmental, economic and social benefits.
