Biotechnology company Applied DNA Sciences has signed a five-year licensing and commercial agreement with apparel-textile manufacturer and sourcing firm Indus Group for the first large-scale deployment of CertainT as a cotton traceability platform.

Under the agreement, Applied DNA will provide Indus with its CertainT platform for non-home, cotton-based products such as apparel, footwear, and accessories. These products will come from Indus facilities in Pakistan, Egypt, and Jordan, using cotton from various global sources.

In the first year of the agreement, the parties plan to implement the CertainT platform at several cotton spinning mills, with broader deployment planned based on Indus’s forecasts for tagged cotton.

Dr. James A. Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA, said, "For the first time, we have a partner that can tag cotton year-round with globally sourced cotton. This is also CertainT’s first large-scale deployment influenced by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). We expect the UFLPA to boost this segment, guiding our sales approach to other apparel textile manufacturers. We anticipate a long and beneficial partnership with Indus.”

Indus CEO Abid Hafeez added, "Innovation and product development are central to our corporate values and growth goals. CertainT introduces forensic cotton traceability and supply chain security from yarn to finished goods, ensuring compliance with the UFLPA for US-bound shipments. This capability adds value, sustainability, and traceability for our customers, giving us a competitive edge in global fashion and apparel. We look forward to expanding CertainT’s role in our cotton supply chain.”

Applied DNA’s CertainT platform uses forensic, multi-proof-point evidence to verify the source and authenticity of materials and products throughout global supply chains. The platform includes spray systems, DNA taggant, taggant and genotyping testing services, devices and materials for on-site testing, and isotopic testing services.