By Hélène Bohyn, Policy & Advocacy Manager at the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)
In sustainability, the conversation often revolves around what can be measured – greenhouse gas reductions, water savings, lower pesticide use, or biodiversity preservation. These indicators are vital for tracking progress and accountability, but they tell only part of the story.
At the heart of every sustainable practice lies a human decision. Behind each carefully measured hectare and every line of data are millions of people who choose how to cultivate their land, protect their families’ health, and shape their communities’ futures. In agriculture, sustainability is more than a technical process – it is deeply human.
Farmers’ rights in action
During a recent visit to Telangana (India) with the Better Cotton Initiative Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) team, one farmer in the Ankushapur village of the Karim Nagar district shared an inspiring story with us. Standing proudly among peers, he described how including his wife Rama in decision-making changed everything.
“She’s smarter than me and manages our family’s finances better,” he said, as the group smiled in agreement. Together, they began preparing and using their own bio-control mixtures – spending nothing on costly chemical inputs this season. While erratic rainfall has reduced yields, a result of climate unpredictability, they stand by their decision to transition to natural farming practices.
“I received a fertile land from my grandfather,” he said. “I want to do the same for my grandson.”
This is sustainability not just in principle, but in practice – a couple exercising their right to self-determination, rooted in care for their health, their future, and the land that sustains them. Similar stories can be heard across cotton-growing regions, where communities are redefining what it means to thrive.
Cotton and the everyday essentials of human rights
This year’s Human Rights Day campaign, ‘Our Everyday Essentials’, reminds us that human rights are not abstract ideals — they are the everyday essentials that sustain life and dignity. Whether it’s clean air, access to water, safety, or the right to participate in decisions that affect one’s future, these rights shape every aspect of our daily existence.
For the millions who grow cotton, human rights are lived realities. They are expressed through access to knowledge, gender equality, the right to safe and fair work, and the power to make choices that align with personal and communal well-being. Every decision to adopt more sustainable, locally rooted practices is also a statement of humanity – a declaration of agency and fairness.
From policy to participation: amplifying the voices that sustain our world
Around the world, regulatory frameworks are evolving to make human rights an integral part of sustainability. Human rights and environmental due diligence is shifting from a nice-to-have to a must-have for companies. While some legislation is being watered down, the movement has already begun: businesses are increasingly scrutinising their supply chains and building systems to identify and remediate human rights and environmental issues.
But effective due diligence goes beyond compliance. Supply chains are not just systems of production — they are networks of human lives and choices. Getting due diligence right means listening to, learning from, and elevating the voices of those most affected by climate change and irresponsible business practices – including smallholder farmers – and promoting their right to participate in shaping the standards that govern their livelihoods.
At BCI, this is exactly what drives us. Our work helps ensure that farmers’ and workers’ voices are not just heard, but shape the decisions that define a fairer, more sustainable future. Sustainability begins with dignity. It grows through participation. And it thrives when human rights are embedded in every link of the chain.
This Human Rights Day, let’s celebrate the people who make this all possible – and reaffirm our shared commitment to a world where every farmer’s right to a fair, healthy, and self-determined life is upheld.