Better Cotton and Israel Cotton Board Renew Standard Recognition Agreement

Better Cotton has announced a one-year extension of its standard recognition agreement with its Strategic Partner in Israel, the Israel Cotton Production and Marketing Board (ICB). The ICB is a farmer-owned producer organisation (cooperative) representing cotton farmers across the country. 

Since 2020, the organisation’s Israel Cotton Production Standard System (ICPSS) has been recognised as equivalent to the Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS), enabling domestic farmers to sell their cotton as ‘Better Cotton’ in international markets.  

In the 22/23 cotton season, 80 farmers attained an ICPSS certificate from ICB, producing more than 17,300 metric tonnes of Better Cotton, representing 99% of the country’s production for the season.  

Israel’s cotton sector, though small in size, is recognised as a world leader in research and development, culminating in new seed and plant varieties, technological innovations and improved crop quality and yields. 

Following the ICB’s success in aligning its field-level requirements with Better Cotton’s updated Principles & Criteria (P&C) v.3.0, the revised ICPSS will be fully implemented by the 2025/26 season.  

Better Cotton requires Strategic Partners to periodically reassess and, where necessary, realign their standards with the BCSS to ensure that their objectives remain consistent and that they too evolve to continually support the needs of cotton farmers. 

Notes to Editors:

Better Cotton Strategic Partners operate equivalent sustainable cotton programmes that align with and are benchmarked against the Better Cotton Standard. 

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