Page 4 - 06 Cotton SA September 2015

The Better Cotton Initiative

to be adopted for SA cotton farmers

The sustainability of cotton production involves addressing not only financial and environmental aspects
but also social considerations. A balance between profitability, environmental impact and the people
involved in cotton cultivation is vital to ensure a sustainable cotton value chain.

he Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) focuses on trans- BCI processes whereafter Cotton South Africa will continue as
forming cotton production worldwide as a main- the ultimate custodian and single point of contact in South
stream commodity. To achieve this mission, BCI Africa for the administration of BCI.
works with a diverse range of stakeholders across Cotton South Africa will adopt six Production Principles (as
Tthe cotton value chain to promote measurable defined by BCI) that describe the broad areas under the
and continuing improvements for the environment, farmers, control of the farmer that need to be addressed in order to
farming communities and the economies of cotton-producing produce Better Cotton:
areas.
• Production Principles and Criteria
Four specific aims of BCI are • Capacity Building
• Reduce the environmental impact of cotton production. • Assurance Program
• Improve livelihoods and economic development in cotton • Chain of Custody
producing areas. • Claims Framework
• Improve commitment to and flow of Better Cotton • Results and Impact
through out the supply chain.
• Ensure the credibility and sustainability of the Better The six Production Principles are further defined by 24 criteria
for smallholders and 20 additional criteria for medium and
Cotton Initiative. large farms, providing greater level of detail on the specific
Cotton South Africa decided to adopt the Better Cotton areas that needs to be addressed within each Production
Initiative (the BCI Standard system) with some adaptation to Principle. Each of the components will work together to
fit the Southern African environment. The Sustainable Cotton support the system and the credibility of BCI. The system
Cluster was also structured to incorporate the implementation is designed to ensure the exchange of good practices, and
of a BCI or equivalent standard. The Sustainable Cotton Cluster to encourage the scaling up of collective action to establish
will therefore be used to initiate the implementation of the Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.

4 | Volume 17 – No 2