For its Field Partner Programme trial, the US Cotton Trust Protocol has released a framework that will legally acknowledge growers’ confirmed regenerative practices and quantifiable results. The initiative’s goals are to increase reliable sourcing choices and give brands and retailers access to regenerative cotton.
With verification and traceability as key pillars, the pilot, which spans the 2025 crop year, is intended to increase value for brand members. In order to maximum impact, it presents a dual framework that blends farming methods with quantifiable results. The study will also assess market demand for an effective and scalable methodology that establishes a clear supply chain path for regenerative US cotton.
The US Cotton Trust Protocol’s Executive Director, Daren Abney, described the initiative as “a direct extension” of the organization’s dedication to verified, science-based improvement. The pilot would establish a “formal pathway for recognising regenerative practices at the field level, enhancing value for growers and providing brands and retailers with credible sourcing options to meet sustainability targets”, he explained, adding that the demand for materials supporting regenerative agriculture was increasing.
The framework was created with feedback from aggregators and brand members, and the 2025 trial will test and improve it before a broader roll-out in 2026. Its objectives include analysing the regenerative cotton market, assessing the supply chain traceability of regenerative bales, and verifying the program’s legality through a multi-level assurance mechanism. Additionally, the pilot complies with Field to Market’s recommendations for regenerative agriculture.
According to the Trust Protocol, the program’s current infrastructure would support its integrity. Field-level data will be used to pre-assess growers’ eligibility, and field visits and satellite imagery analysis will be used to confirm the results. Practices in soil health, water utilisation, synthetic inputs, water quality, and biodiversity will all be covered under the minimum criteria.
The Trust Protocol claimed to be developing the first comprehensive regenerative framework for cotton that guarantees both process integrity and observable environmental effect by fusing practices with quantifiable results.
