Aid by Trade Foundation Announces Annual Cotton Conference in Mumbai: A Sustainable Future for Cotton

Hamburg, 24.01.2024. The Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) announces the 2024 AbTF Cotton Conference, which will take place from 11 to 13 March in the vibrant metropolis of Mumbai, India. At this annual conference, AbTF brings together leading experts, researchers, and professionals from throughout the world to discuss current challenges, and their solutions, in the field of sustainable cotton and textile production. This year’s focus is on innovative and digital ways to develop transparent and sustainable supply chains. On the first day, participants can expect valuable discussions on issues including regenerative agriculture and climate change adaptation as well as new insights into key innovations and technologies with relevance to cotton cultivation. In addition to the introduction of the new Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), Dr Keshav Kranthi of the International Cotton Advisory Commitee (ICAC) will throw a spotlight on the role of cotton in regenerative agriculture. Representing The Soil Food Web School, Dr Adam Cobb will offer penetrating insights into the significance of soil health for sustainable cotton cultivation. Alais Ole-Morindat, speaking for the African NGO African People and Wildlife (APW), will show how important the involvement of local communities is for the successful implementation of projects. Stefan Scherer of Geocledian will report on satellite-supported remote sensing. At a walk-and-talk event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about exciting innovations like T-MAPP by PAN UK, an app that takes a sensitive and confidential approach to collecting information about incidences of pesticide poisoning. Both the Aid by Trade Foundation and African People and Wildlife will present simple yet effective methods for training small-scale farmers to conduct scientific work themselves. The second day will be all about transparent and traceable supply chains. In addition to addressing the increasingly stringent legal requirements for global textile production, the conference will take a look into the future and highlight opportunities for tracing textiles through artificial intelligence. IKEA will speak on the significance of transparency for globally operating companies, and Arindama Banerjee of LRQA, a business consulting firm, will lead listeners through the legal labyrinth of global textile production. Coming from the Rewe Group, Torsten Stau will show conference attendees how the company uses the Hard Identity Preserved (HIP) system to seamlessly trace Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) cotton throughout the textile value chain. Representatives of technology companies like Textile Genesis or Direction Software LLP will demonstrate digital tools that can help to ensure transparency and traceability in the supply chain. As an industry event, the conference is designed for stakeholders at all stages of the cotton and textile production chain, from the raw material to the final product. Through panel discussions, presentations, and breakout sessions as well as by networking with industry leaders and experts, participants will gain valuable insights into the future of cotton and have an opportunity to actively influence this future.

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About Cotton made in Africa:

The Cotton made in Africa initiative (CmiA) was founded in 2005 under the umbrella of the Hamburg-based Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF). CmiA is an internationally recognised standard for sustainably produced cotton from Africa, connecting African small-scale farmers with trading companies and fashion brands throughout the global textile value chain. The initiative’s objective is to employ trade, rather than donations, to protect the environment and to improve the living conditions of small-scale farmers and their families. Apart from the farming families, people working in ginneries also benefit from improved working conditions. Additional projects addressing schooling, health, environmental protection, and women’s empowerment contribute to better living conditions in farming communities as well. Learn more at: cottonmadeinafrica.org/en

About the Aid by Trade Foundation:

Founded in 2005, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is an internationally renowned non-profit organisation that works throughout the world to promote sustainable raw materials. Its activities make a decisive and measurable contribution to improving the living conditions of people and animals while protecting the environment. AbTF takes a practical approach by creating and maintaining a variety of standards to certify raw materials: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic), Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS), and The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS). A global alliance of textile companies and brands purchases the certified raw materials, paying a licensing fee to AbTF’s marketing company, ATAKORA Fördergesellschaft GmbH. The payment of this fee entitles partners to sell their goods under the standards’ labels. As the challenges facing textile companies and small-scale farmers grow, the standards have a major role to play in ensuring their resilience and future viability. AbTF collaborates closely with industry experts and with specialists in animal and nature protection. Learn more at: www.aidbytrade.org

Press Contact Christina Ben Bella | E-mail: christina.benbella@abt-foundation.org | www.aidbytrade.org