Cotton Australia has released Australian cotton industry’s second five-year sustainability report, according to which, producing a bale of cotton takes 48 per cent less water, 34 per cent less land, and 97 per cent less insecticides than in 1992. By comparing sustainability areas from 2014 to 2019, the report highlights areas to be improved.

Using data in the report as a baseline, growers and other stakeholders will now be consulted in coming months on sustainability targets the industry should aim for in the next five to 10 years.

“The report is an important step towards the industry’s aim of being a global leader in sustainable cotton production. Australian cotton growers have been quietly improving their sustainability for decades and should take a moment to celebrate the industry’s collective achievements that are shown in the report. Having said that, the report also highlights areas the industry can do better in, such as the need to make greater efforts to reduce carbon emissions, improve nitrogen use efficiency, increase on-farm carbon sequestration in soil and native vegetation, and improve farm safety,” Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said in a press release.

“The industry will now use report data to set five-year targets for 2024 and 2029, and plans to achieve those targets. To be a global leader in sustainable cotton production, we need to set bold targets, ensure our research and adoption program can get us to those targets, and frequently and transparently share progress with stakeholders. We will be consulting with growers and other stakeholders inside and outside the industry on setting the right level of ambition in our sustainability targets. The industry can point to long-term trends of significant improvement in areas it has focused on in the past, and we will draw on this experience to transform our performance in other areas in the future,” Cotton Research and Development Corporation general manager, R&D investment, Allan Williams.

The 2019 Australian cotton sustainability report is part of the industry’s new PLANET. PEOPLE. PADDOCK. sustainability framework, which guides the industry to set ambitious targets, coordinate a whole-of-industry strategy to achieve these targets, and engage effectively with stakeholders on actions and progress.