Better Cotton, an organisation that promotes better standards for cotton farming worldwide, has urged developed countries to provide higher financial aid to frontline cotton farmers. The global advocates demanded monetary aid keeping in mind the risk that the frontline workers are put through, especially in lower-income countries amid the harsh climatic advancements.
The non-profit organisation currently operates in 22 countries across the world and supports over two million farmers globally. It aims to empower farmers and ensure that both, an effective action towards climate change and optimum utilisation of sustainable farming methods.
Better Cotton also conducted research studies that have indicated severe climatic risks in the global cotton-growing areas by 2040. The research has shown higher chances of floods, wildfires and droughts in most cotton-growing regions and drastically impact these places.
To tackle the impending risk in the cotton production sector, the NPO consistently supports implementing sustainability standards in farming and highlights the benefits for the same. They launched an ‘Impact Fund’ in July 2024 that is designed to expedite field-level sustainability methods and climate resilience practices in cotton-growing regions, commencing with the agricultural sector in India.
The organization has also launched ‘Unlock Programme’ which focuses on addressing the challenges and methods of reducing the carbon footprint in the cotton industry, starting from sourcing raw materials to the end production.
The organization also stated that the presence in COP 29 was a way to amplify the voices of the 2.13 million Better Cotton Licensed Farmers across the world. Better Cotton emphasised on the high resilience of farming communities and hoped to drive sustainable and community-driven solutions for global-level action at a more accelerated rate.
Better Cotton’s push for increased climate action complements its work with the ISO and others to launch the first-ever Standards Pavilion at COP29. The organisation also partnered with The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) recently, to spotlight India’s superior cotton on the world stage.
