Chinese sustainably grown cotton cultivation area has reached 1.2 million acres in the main cotton producing region of Xinjiang and is expected to produce 170,000 tons in the 2023-24 season. Sustainable cotton is being grown through an initiative named the ‘China Cotton Sustainable Development Project’ (CCSD) managed by the China Cotton Association.
The sustainably grown cotton is being grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and focuses on water, soil health, biodiversity protection, and greenhouse gas emission reduction. The focus also dwells on cotton quality and traceability, and the occupational health, safety, welfare, and social responsibility of cotton farmers.
The sustainable production methods of growing cotton are also audited or certified by a third-party certification company. Recently, the China Cotton Association successfully held the second CCSD sustainable cotton on-site exchange meeting at the CCSD demonstration farm in Xinjiang to review production. The demonstration park covers an area of 1,800 acres and has in-depth cooperation with several scientific research institutions and universities.
