The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has extended its Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) initiative beyond Africa, launching a pilot project with 5,000 small-scale cotton farmers in Maharashtra, India.

To ensure full supply chain transparency, AbTF has integrated its Hard Identity Preserved traceability system into RCS-verified fibers. As the first regenerative cotton standard focused on the needs of small farmers, the RCS offers practical methods to enhance climate resilience and environmental sustainability.

The RCS claims to benefit both farmers and textile companies. It supports farmers with climate-smart agricultural techniques and provides companies with a traceable source of regenerative cotton from a major cotton-growing region.

“We are excited to expand into India and apply our expertise in sustainable cotton cultivation to benefit Indian small-scale farmers,” said Tina Stridde, managing director of AbTF. “The first RCS pilot project is a result of productive collaboration among many partners committed to ambitious and forward-thinking goals in sustainable cotton cultivation.”

AbTF’s partner for the RCS implementation in India is Vijay Cotton & Fibre Co. LLP, a Mumbai-based cotton firm with over 75 years of experience in the Indian cotton industry.

“The Regenerative Cotton Standard supports Indian cotton farmers by promoting climate-friendly agricultural practices,” said Vijay Shah, a partner at the company. “The standard also has the potential to increase transparency within our supply chain, allowing us to trace the origin of our cotton and ensure it is produced according to environmentally and ethically verifiable standards.”