The U.S cotton industry has organised the first-ever Cotton Day India 2020 with the theme ‘leading through change’. The virtual event features speakers and panellist from the Indian textile industry, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Cotton Council of America (NCC), Supima and CCI.

The event includes discussions on the most pressing topics facing the cotton industry in India and globally. Most of the event centres sustainability. Brands and supply chain partners agree that supply chain scrutiny and demand for traceability should be made a priority in cotton production.

The keynote address on Indian cotton update was delivered

by the Senior Agricultural Attaché of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Lazaro Sandoval. Michael Duke the former CEO of Wal-Mart addressed the important on leadership through a crisis, sustainability and retail scenario post-Covid-19.

Bruce Atherley, CCI Executive Director, stated that India is an important trade partner for U.S. cotton with every second bale imported into the country being

produced in the U.S. He added that one of the key factors for the ‘trust’ associated with U.S. cotton.

Quality, transparency, sustainability and the premium value of U.S. cotton fibre has created a preference for U.S. cotton. Atherley stated that they were the first country in the world to initiate a High-Volume Instrument (HVI) test to ensure clients/mills get what they order. 

Bruce stated that in order to enable mills and manufacturers to combat these pre-existing and more recent pressures, COTTON USA™ has recently introduced its new, game-changing COTTON USA SOLUTIONS™ technical consultancy program. Many businesses can now equip themselves with the resources, data and opportunities they require for success and profitability.

Dr Gary Adams, the president at U.S Cotton Trust Protocol, stated that the Trust Protocol has set new standards for sustainable cotton production by bringing quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement mapped to six key sustainability metrics such as land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy efficiency.