Better Cotton Puts Nine Years of Field Data on the Table

Its first impact report in five years, released on World Cotton Day, tracks change on farms growing nearly a quarter of the world’s cotton

The Better Cotton Initiative released its new impact report on World Cotton Day, 7 October. It draws on nine years of farm-level data.

Its 1.4 million licensed farmers produce 6.1 million tonnes of cotton, close to a quarter of global supply.

The numbers in brief:

1. 69% of farmers used less synthetic nitrogen fertiliser per kilo of cotton
2. 65% cut synthetic pesticide use and 54% lowered carbon emissions
3. 59% of smallholders earned more, and 52% of fully irrigated farms used less water per kilo

Field data is how sustainability claims earn trust. The report also admits that driving change across very different farming models is hard. When you shop, ask where your cotton was grown and by whom. A clear answer tells you more than a label.