Climate-smart cotton production

One of ECOM’s sustainability objectives is developing traceable and climate-friendly cotton production and supply chains. In 2023, our project to achieve this was supported by a US$30 million grant from the USDA. The Climate-Smart Commodities Grant will help promote the adoption of sustainable and regenerative practices for cotton production by US farmers. These are best practices, based on grower-specific needs, which restore soil and ecosystem health.

Our project provides training along with technical and financial assistance, as well as traceability and data management strategies. This will help farmers gain certification from two important schemes regenagri and Better Cotton™ – and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Transitional Organic Cotton initiative. The voluntary programme offers inclusive enrolment opportunities and impact payments to US cotton producers. All cotton produced through this programme is also traceable via the US Cotton Trust Protocol’s Verified Bales programme from farm to mill.

A core aspect of the project is the development of long-term strategies and agreements that will progress the market for climate-smart cotton in a way that is economically sustainable for everyone in the value chain, from grower to customer. At its heart, though, are better farming practices that will reduce emissions, replenish the soil and ensure ecosystems that thrive in the long term.

During the 2023 crop year, in the first year of our Climate-Smart Grant program, the 36 farmers enrolled in the programme produced nearly 15,000 bales despite challenging drought conditions in West Texas. With the 2024 crop, we have significantly increased the number of farmers enrolled to over 150 and extended the programme to cotton farmers in Arkansas and Georgia. During 2024 the programme team is establishing educational demonstration sites with guidance and support from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. We are also collaborating with these research partners and an MMRV services provider to evaluate GHG data from the farms.