Water Issues Loom Large For Growers

Reprint from The Packer

Water is a non-nego tiable requirement for crop production, and almost half of growers responding to The Packer’s 2022 Sustainability Insights Survey show concern about sufficient water for crop production. Answering the question, “How concerned are you, if at all, about access to sufficient water for crop production?” growers said:

• Extremely concerned: 28% • Very concerned: 20% • Not at all concerned: 16%

In a follow-up question about the timetable for negative consequences of reduced water availability, approximately one-quarter report being negatively impacted by lack of available water now.

Steps to save water

Steps to preserve water are being widely employed by growers, according to The Packer’s survey. If fact, close to 40% reported using a drip irrigation system, according to the survey. Asked, “What are you doing to

address concerns about water availability?” growers responded:

U.S. Cotton’s Sustainability Efforts Recognized Through U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Initiative

BY COTTON NELSON

Two years ago, I shared in this publication about the completion of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol’s pilot phase. Today, most cotton producers are aware of the Trust Protocol -- a farm level, science-based program that is 1) setting a new standard in sustainable U.S. cotton production via continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics: land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency and 2) making increased transparency a reality by providing aggregated and verified environmental metrics from Trust Protocol producer participants to brands/retailers in the fashion/textile industries – which helps those firms satisfy their customers’ desire for sustainable products.

In fact, after some 200 U.S. cotton producers stepped up to participate in the pilot, producer enrollment in the Trust Protocol has grown steadily over the past two years. This past April 30, the Trust Protocol closed enrollment for 2021 crop cotton – and celebrated the fact that more than 600 producer members representing more than 1.2 million cotton acres had enrolled. In addition, Trust Protocol membership now includes more than 100 U.S. gins and more than 750 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members. Among those are J. Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co. and, Gap Inc. as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan.

Simultaneously, to ease the demands on a producer’s time, steps were taken to streamline the Trust Protocol enrollment process by allowing producers to commit to enroll their 2022 through 2024 crops. Now, producers are only required to: 1) review/ sign their privacy statement; 2) select their gin, marketer, and crop consultant (if applicable); 3) complete their farming profile; 4) complete their self-assessment questionnaire for their 2022 farming operation; 5) commit to strive for continuous improvements; and 6) complete their “Fieldprint Analysis” on fields that constituted at least 10% of their previous year’s cotton fields and

harvest data (i.e. from 2021 harvest). Completing these steps makes them a Trust Protocol member and eligible to market their 2022 crop as Trust Protocol cotton. Producers who have completed enrollment for the 2021 crop only need to update steps 2, 3 and 4.

Along with the three-year enrollment feature, producers now can authorize account access for their crop consultant who can enter information on their behalf at www.TrustUSCotton.org. Additional enrollment enhancements are being developed. Enrollment and other questions can be directed to the Grower Help Desk at

growers@trustuscotton.org.

Another potential benefit of enrolling in the Trust Protocol is that producers who complete their data entry in the program will be eligible for a potential redistribution of program revenue.

In addition, the Trust Protocol has submitted a proposal for producer participation in USDA’s new Partnerships for ClimateSmart Commodities program, whereby USDA could finance partnerships to support the production/marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years. Pilots will provide technical and financial assistance to producers who: 1) implement climate-smart practices on a voluntary basis on working lands; 2) pilot innovative and cost-effective methods for quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification of greenhouse gas benefits; and 3) market the resulting climate-smart commodities.

Strong producer participation in the Trust Protocol will serve as a catalyst to drive the continuous improvements necessary to help our industry achieve by 2025 these six national sustainability goals: 13% increase in productivity (i.e., reduced land use per pound of fiber); 18% increase in irrigation efficiency; 39% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; 15% reduction in energy expenditures; 50% reduction in soil loss; and 30% increase in soil carbon. Working toward and achieving these goals through the Trust Protocol will help us achieve the overall goal -- ensuring that textile manufacturers and major brands and retailers will accept that U.S. cotton is responsibly produced and that we are working continuously to shrink our environmental footprint. Almost all the top 100 global brands/retailers have created lists of sustainable raw materials (including cotton) and have committed to sourcing 100% from those lists over the next 5-10 years. As I noted my previous article, sustainability is not going away, and frankly, that is a plus for our industry.

Another plus is that the Trust Protocol is continually being recognized internationally for its authenticity. For example, the program is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040 and Cotton Up initiatives. The program also has been recognized and published in the International Trade Centre Standards Map, recognized by the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, and accepted as an International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance Community member following a rigorous and meticulous approval process.

I strongly urge all U.S. cotton producers to enroll at www. trustUScotton.org so they can begin formally documenting and communicating common elements of best management practices they have been doing since the 1970s -- and be fully recognized for their unmatched sustainability. Strong producer participation in the Trust Protocol also will ensure that the United States not only remains a leading producer of sustainable cotton but that our industry can meet the growing worldwide demand for our raw fiber and finished products.

Gary Adams serves as president/chief executive officer of the National Cotton Council of America and as president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol®