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ICAC 2019 –

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

by Dr Annette Bennett, Cotton SA

A delegation from Cotton SA consisting of Hennie insect and weed resistance management, and
Bruwer (CEO), Leonard Venter (chairperson), techniques for breeding and producing high-
and Annette Bennett (technical manager), yielding, quality seed. On the management side,
together with Evert Genis, chairperson of the experts discussed the efficient use of robotics
South African Cotton Producers’ Organisation, and resources, farmers’ needs and business
attended the 78th plenary meeting of the models, how to ensure high-quality fibre, and
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) meeting the needs of the textile industry. Other
in Brisbane from 2 to 5 December 2019. The speakers provided feedback on production in
theme of the meeting was “Global leadership: different countries.
Pushing cotton’s boundaries”. Extracts from the ICAC statement included the
In her welcome message to the plenary following:
meeting, Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie • How country reports will be delivered in future
(Minister of Agriculture, Australia) stated that • Changes and innovation that address global
cotton production is one of the most important megatrends, particularly climate change,
economic activities for many rural communities geopolitical realities, and consumer choices,
in eastern Australia, earning around $1 billion which shape agriculture
from annual exports, and directly employing • Cotton traceability technologies that are
around 10 000 Australians in years when the expected to verify authenticity of fibre quality
weather follows normal patterns. She mentioned and fibre origins, quantify fibre purity, and
Australia’s rural research and development track the processing path from fibre to fabric
corporations (RDCs) and the Cotton Research and • Governments’ role in biosecurity and customer
Development Corporation (CRDC), describing satisfaction
the role that they play in the industry. Together
with the government, they ensure investments of The report from an expert panel on the Social
around $20 million each year to improve the Environmental and Economic Performance of
profitability and long-term sustainability of the Cotton (SEEP) included the following:
industry. • Indicators to measure and report progress on
The plenary meetings included interesting sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the
seminars on trends in cotton research. The cotton and coffee sectors, as part of the Delta
plenary topics covered traceability, disruptive Project, building on the ICAC/FAO framework
technologies, promoting innovation, and on “measuring sustainability in cotton farming
building community resilience in agriculture. systems” (published in 2015)
Other open sessions examined the role of • Reports from the secretariat concerning drivers
diversity, germplasm exchange, responding to for cotton consumption and the effect of trade
climate change, supporting change and what the barriers and trade disputes on importing and
value proposition means for farmers. Delegates exporting
were informed about novel technology platforms • The ICAC’s report on government assistance
for smallholders in developing countries, to the cotton sector in 2018/19, showing a

8 | Katoen SA \\ Cotton SA