The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol , a sustainable cotton fiber program offering article-level supply chain transparency, said it has seen a significant bump in participation over the past year.
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The program saw an uptick in both enrolled growers and planted acres, with the former increasing by 35 percent and the latter expanding by 31 percent, to 2.1 million acres, since 2023.
The Trust Protocol’s Climate Smart Cotton Program also saw an increase in enrollment, with 1,340 of the trust’s farming entities applying for inclusion in the initiative. The five-year program focuses on climate-smart agricultural practices such as reduced tillage, nutrient management, improved soil heath, drought- and flood-resistance and lowered greenhouse gas emissions. Members receive benefits such as technological and financial support for incorporating soil fertility-promotion practices.
The program set a goal of enrolling 1,650 farms, including at least 330 from historically underserved communities. Of the 1,340 applying for Level 1 of the program, 282 come from historically underserved communities representing 444,000 acres of cotton crops. Growers in Level 1 can now also apply for participation in Level 2.
“We are proud to see steady increase in grower enrollment for the Trust Protocol for a fifth consecutive year, reflecting a continued commitment to sustainability within the cotton industry ,” said Daren Abney, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol executive director.
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The Trust Protocol launched in 2020 with the goal of establishing a new standard for sustainable cotton focused on improvement across a number of metrics, including greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use, and energy efficiency. In its 2023 annual report, which was published in February, the voluntary platform revealed that its growers saw an aggregate soil loss of 2.6 tons per acre and an 83 percent improvement in soil organic matter levels. Those members also reported a 14-percent increase in water efficiency, a 27-percent drop in energy use and 21 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trust Protocol aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.14 metric tons or the equivalent of 4.2 million bales of Climate Smart Cotton.
Along with its farming partners, the program also currently has more than 2,000 supplier members along with 40 brands including Ralph Lauren , Gap, Levi Strauss & Co. , Carhartt and J. Crew .
“It is a collective effort that brings more responsibly produced cotton into the market, providing brands and retailers with greater access to sustainable sourcing options,” Abney said.
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