A NEW window has opened for Australian cotton growers on the global market thanks to a new landmark agreement.
Cotton Australia has signed a landmark agreement with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) on behalf of AustraliaΆs cotton industry. The agreement transfers a BCI licence to Australian cotton produced under myBMP certification.
Ultimately, it will help AustraliaΆs cotton growers tap into a growing international market for "responsibly grown” cotton.
Cotton Australia had previously joined the BCI as a member organisation, but this agreement represents the first time Australian myBMP-certified cotton can be sold into the global market under the BCI banner.
BCI is an international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the responsible and sustainable production of cotton globally.
myBMP is the Australian cotton industryΆs best management practice certification system.
In a statement, Cotton Australia says cotton growers can participate at varying levels of practice recognition with certification within the myBMP system requiring independent auditing.
It recognises that a cotton-growing enterprise has met all best management practice requirements and is operating at the pinnacle of cotton-growing practice.
Cotton Australia chief executive officer Adam Kay said the agreement would be welcomed by Australian cotton growers and the wider industry.
“This agreement recognises AustraliaΆs leading role in the production and promotion of responsibly grown cotton,” Mr Kay said in a statement.
“Access to future growth markets is of tremendous importance to Australian cotton growers, particularly as they contend with competition from synthetic fibres.
“Within the global natural fibre market, demand for responsibly grown cotton is growing, and this agreement allows Australian cotton growers to participate more easily in that expanding market.
“I am confident this agreement and its promise of enhanced market access will encourage more Australian growers to achieve full myBMP certification.”
BCI chief executive officer Patrick Laine said Australian producers have made remarkable progress, far beyond legal compliance, in growing cotton for the benefit of people and planet.
He said BCI recognised myBMP as providing a credible, verified framework for documenting this continuous improvement.
myBMP manager Jim Wark said Cotton Australia had been working towards the agreement with BCI for the past year.
“There are many similarities between the myBMP system and BCIΆs systems, so harmonising the two was reasonably straightforward,” Mr Wark said.
“Australian cotton growers will appreciate the ability to use one system to produce cotton under both the myBMP and BCI banners.”
