“Farmers have to show that they are moving towards more sustainable practices, and we have to ensure they are rewarded for that. The foundation of that is transparency, traceability, and commitment along the whole supply chain. “
Read moreAs our revised P&C comes into effect, we checked in with a range of third-party verifiers and Better Cotton staff from across our programmes to hear what impact the changes will have on cotton farmers.
Read moreBetter Cotton has announced the appointment of two new co-chairs and five new members to its Council.
Read moreBetter Cotton and impact investment firm FS Impact Finance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop and launch a fund directed at smallholder farmers in the cotton sector.
Read moreWant to take a look back at the Better Cotton Conference 2024? We’ve compiled all the best photos, videos and graphics for you here.
Read moreThank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s 2024 Better Cotton Conference. Here’s our five takeaways – what were yours?
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The Better Cotton Conference 2024, an annual global platform for change, successfully concluded on 27 June 2024 after two insightful and inspiring days in Istanbul, Türkiye, one of the most important cotton-producing countries in the world. Over 400 attendees from around the globe joined both virtually and in person, underscoring the event’s international significance.
This year’s Better Cotton Conference has highlighted the crucial need for collective action in the cotton industry. The insights and stories shared over these two days emphasise that empowering farmers and integrating innovative practices are essential for a sustainable future. Our commitment remains steadfast in driving positive change for cotton communities worldwide.
The first day featured diverse insights across 18 sessions, including plenary talks, interactive workshops and breakouts, all focused on accelerating impact for cotton farming communities. This rich diversity of perspectives ensured that all voices were heard, fostering a sense of inclusivity across the different industries present.
Putting People First
The first theme, ‘Putting People First’, underscored Better Cotton’s unwavering commitment to prioritising farmers and farm workers. The sessions challenged attendees to consider what it means to ensure a living income and decent work for cotton farming communities.
Aarti Kapoor, Founder and Executive Director of human rights agency Embode, delivered a compelling keynote on how individuals can drive positive impact across supply chains through a collective vision for the cotton value chain.
Lars Van Doremalen, Impact Director at Better Cotton, emphasised the importance of discussing farmer income, sharing insights from a study the organisation conducted across India. Meanwhile, Leyla Shamchiyeva, Senior Decent Work Manager at Better Cotton, highlighted the need to address root causes of issues such as poverty and lack of rights awareness by connecting communities to social safety nets.
In a one-on-one session with Aarti Kapoor, Nazia Parveen – a Pakistani farmer from the Rural and Economic Development Society (REEDS) – shared her story of overcoming community barriers and emphasised the need for women’s empowerment in agriculture, advocating for equal opportunities for women to support themselves.
Driving Change At Field Level
The afternoon sessions shifted focus to ‘Driving Change at Field Level’, with discussions covering a wide variety of topics from regenerative agriculture to the role of fertilisers in a warming climate.
A panel discussion featuring Laila Petrie of 2050 and Gray Maguire of Anthesis, moderated by Lewis Perkins of the Apparel Impact Institute, explored the complexities of carbon markets and their impact on farmers. They discussed the differences between insetting and offsetting, using the ‘Unlock’ Project as a case study to highlight the importance of driving investment within supply chains.
Field-level representatives, including farmers and instructors from India, Tajikistan, and the US, shared their experiences with adopting regenerative agricultural practices. Their insights offered a diverse perspective on the practices driving field-level progress on farms both large and small.
Understanding Policy and Industry Trends
The second day began with a focus on ‘Understanding Policy and Industry Trends’, examining major developments in the sector and their impact on cotton supply chains.
Vidhura Ralapanawe, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Sustainability at Epic Group, delivered a keynote speech emphasising the need for transformative change in the cotton industry. He urged attendees to move beyond meeting legislative demands and work towards collective action to address pressing needs.
Sessions highlighted the need for all stakeholders, including farmers and suppliers, to actively participate in policy-making. Speakers called for a shift to include the most affected communities in discussions, ensuring legislation benefits smallholder farmers globally.
Reporting on Data and Traceability
In the afternoon, the conversation moved towards ‘Reporting on Data and Traceability’. Better Cotton’s Director of Traceability, Jacky Broomhead, led a discussion on making Better Cotton Traceability possible. A panel shared insights on balancing regulatory compliance with profitability, the efficiencies AI and automation could bring to the supply chain, and the role of traceability in achieving net-zero strategies. Panellists emphasised the need for simplicity in traceability to encourage adoption and reduce the burden on farmers.
Tülin Akın, Founder of Tabit Smart Farming, shared stories of how agricultural technologies can help solve challenges in rural communities. She also highlighted the importance of face-to-face interaction for farmers.
This was followed by a session on Pakistan’s First Mile Traceability pilot, moderated by Better Cotton Pakistan’s Director, Hina Fouzia. Farmers, middlemen, and ginners discussed the challenges of internet and technology access, Better Cotton’s role in supporting adoption, and the importance of constantly reviewing results to drive improvements.
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Better Cotton announced today the recipients of its 2024 Member Awards. This year’s awards – presented by Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton and Eva Benavidez Clayton, Senior Director of Membership and Supply Chain – honoured members who have made an outstanding contribution to the cotton industry.
In the 2021/2022 season, Better Cotton Retailer and Brand Members sourced an impressive 2.6 million tonnes of Better Cotton, accounting for more than 10% of the global cotton production.
The ceremony took place during a dinner cruise along the Bosphorus as part of the two-day Better Cotton Conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, which gathered over 200 industry representatives to discuss ‘accelerating impact’ at field level.
It’s a great privilege to once again host our Member Awards and celebrate the dedication and unrelenting efforts of our partners. Transformative change within the cotton sector is predicated on collaboration at all levels, and as Better Cotton’s network continues to grow it’s important that we take stock of the progress we continue to make as an industry.
The Top Contributor Award, in recognition of the organisations with the highest uptake of Better Cotton relative to their use of the material, went to:
The Sourcing Award, in recognition of cotton traders and intermediaries who processed the highest volume of Better Cotton, went to:
The Impact Storyteller Award, in recognition of the organisation whose field-level insights generated the most interest on the Better Cotton website in the past 12 months, went to:
The Innovators Award, in recognition of the organisation for positively impacting farmers, fostering sustainable practices and improving livelihoods, went to:
The Outstanding Contribution Award, in recognition of Member organisations and their commitment to cotton farming communities, went to:
