USA
The United States is the third-largest cotton producing country in the world, and its cotton quality is highly prized by the global textile industry. While American cotton farmers use advanced production methods, they still face sustainability challenges like herbicide resistance, soil erosion and regional irrigation water shortages.
In response to demand from our members, retailers, suppliers, and interested farmer groups, we launched a BCI Programme in the United States in 2014. Since then, we have been working closely with the American cotton industry to grow the US Better Cotton supply chain.
Who grows Better Cotton?
In the 2019-20 cotton season, 289 licensed BCI farms produced 241,000 metric tons of Better Cotton.
Major merchants are now actively trading US Better Cotton, and many major North American suppliers and manufacturers are joining BCI in response to strong demand from BCI Retailer and Brand Members. A listing of North American BCI Members can be found here.
Most US farms growing Better Cotton participate as part of an assurance group, in which a BCI Implementing Partner – typically from a cotton cooperative, merchant, gin or grower association – provides farm-level support, gathers data, conducts farm visits and coordinates independent third-party verification. This approach ensures the integrity of the Better Cotton Standard System while accounting for the country’s advanced growing practices and strong regulations. For more information please contact us using our contact form.
Sustainability challenges
Despite many advances over the years, American cotton farmers still face sustainability challenges. In many parts of the US Cotton Belt, farmers are struggling to manage weeds that have developed resistance to common herbicides, making it necessary to use different materials and/or herbicide rotations to mitigate resistance. California, known for its long-staple varieties, has experienced a multi-year drought, making irrigation water both scarce and costly. In other regions, like West Texas, water tables are falling, compelling farmers to invest in more efficient irrigation methods, or transition to less water-intensive crops. Some BCI Farmers are installing drip irrigation, which can reduce irrigation water needs by up to 50%.
BCI’s long-term goals include supporting US farmers in addressing these and other sustainability challenges and improving their performance.
Who are BCI’s Implementing Partners in the US?
BCI’s current Implementing Partners in the United States include Allenberg (Louis Dreyfus), Indigo, Jess Smith & Sons, Olam, PCCA, Quarterway, StaplCotn and ECOM.
US Field Trip
