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Better Cotton Conference 2025

Reimagining the Future of Cotton through Collaboration,

Sustainability, and Farmer-Centric Innovation

The Better Cotton Conference 2025 convened over farming communities. The session explored the
two dynamic days, June 18 and 19, at the Swissôtel persistent inequalities faced by farmers, especially
Büyük Efes in İzmir, Türkiye, bringing over 370 women, and called on stakeholders to accelerate
participants from 24 countries, uniting farmers, the adoption of fairer practices. In a stirring keynote, The afternoon plenary moved the conversation emphasized that peer-to-peer influence and visible current traceability and reporting frameworks truly Rights Compliance emphasized the growing role of
policymakers, sustainability experts, and industry Lavinia Muth spotlighted the glaring gender toward environmental restoration and how the cotton success stories are accelerating the adoption of empower farmers or merely serve the compliance legislation in enforcing corporate accountability and
stakeholders in a dynamic and forward-looking disparities in the cotton sector. “Women produce industry can turn climate commitments into tangible, regenerative techniques in his region. needs of brands. The final segment of the morning argued that voluntary ethics alone may not be
dialogue. With the theme “It Starts with Farmers,” 60–80% of global cotton but own less than 10% of measurable actions. Climate activist Tori Tsui was a lively discussion on traceability—whether it enough. She advocated for a combination of local
the two-day event focused on building a fairer, more the land,” she said, drawing attention to the delivered a compelling keynote connecting the use of Deepening Impact Through Data and Shaping Policy serves as a bridge connecting farmers to global and global legal frameworks to ensure that
sustainable cotton sector by recognizing and entrenched challenges that continue to limit fossil fuels in fashion to the broader climate crisis, for the Future markets or a risk-control mechanism that increases companies remain answerable for their impact on
addressing the needs and contributions of those at women’s participation and decision-making in noting that “climate injustice and the extraction and The second day of the conference opened with a corporate dominance without empowering communities and the environment.
the root of the supply chain. agriculture. combustion of fossil fuels are the key drivers of focus on the increasingly central role of data in producers.
global warming and the collapse of ecosystems.” improving outcomes for farmers and enhancing The conference concluded with a dynamic panel that
The conference opened with a powerful welcome The need for systemic change echoed throughout She pointed out the role that natural fibers like cotton transparency across supply chains. Christian Hudson The afternoon plenary addressed policy, examined the power of cross-sectoral collaboration.
from Better Cotton CEO Alan McClay, who set the the discussions, particularly around the power can play in offering an alternative to petroleum-based from GIZ kicked off the day by underlining the collaboration, and the evolution of the cotton industry Panelists encouraged cotton stakeholders to look we need approaches that don’t simply mitigate or process. Wh
tone by emphasizing the urgent need to reimagine dynamics between brands and smallholder farmers. synthetic textiles—provided the cotton is grown potential of data to unlock new insights for in the face of emerging global challenges. Keynote beyond their industry to learn from parallel efforts in reduce harm, but that actively restore the traceability
the cotton industry to work for everyone. He İdil Ander, Head of Program Development at the WE sustainably. decision-making. However, he cautioned that the speaker Michael Kobori, a global sustainability other commodities like cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. environment.” This move acknowledges the the recurrin
highlighted the importance of unity across the value Program, emphasized the importance of shifting benefits must reach those who generate the advisor and former Better Cotton Council member, The consensus was that unified strategies and alignment between Better Cotton’s existing standards occur w
chain to build a cotton system that is not only toward a more balanced and transparent Throughout the afternoon, panellists from around the data—especially farmers. “Farmers collecting data delivered a reflective address on the shifting role of shared sustainability frameworks could help create and regenerative agriculture principles and further center.
economically viable but also socially just and relationship between retailers and suppliers. She globe presented farmer-centric solutions that have don’t often see the benefits,” he noted, calling for corporations in advancing social and environmental more effective and aligned outcomes, particularly for strengthens its commitment to building soil health,
environmentally sustainable. From the start, it was argued that the supply chain must evolve to give shown promise in adapting to climate variability. more equitable systems of data ownership and goals. “We’re not being as aggressive as we once smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities. biodiversity, and climate resilience in cotton farming. The B
evident that this year’s conference would challenge more power and security to farmers, who too often Peter Bunce from Indigo Ag shared how U.S. cotton usage. were,” he admitted, noting that while many importance o
participants to think boldly and act decisively in the struggle to survive under exploitative or farmers are already adopting carbon-reduction companies have made public commitments, the Better Cotton's Commitment to Regenerative A Global Conversation Rooted in Action chain, cross
As the globa
face of escalating global uncertainty, climate stress, unpredictable conditions. Speaking via video from practices with meaningful results. These practices In a panel moderated by Better Cotton’s Vidyun momentum for bold climate and social action has Agriculture Over two days, the Better Cotton Conference 2025 crises—from
and social inequality. Pakistan, Kavita Kolhi, a lead farmer and gender include conservation tillage, crop rotation, and cover Rathore, speakers engaged in a candid debate slowed amid rising geopolitical and economic One of the most anticipated announcements of the succeeded in fostering a collaborative and open volatility—t
advocate, shared personal stories of the social cropping, all of which contribute to long-term soil about the tension between data collection and uncertainty. conference was Better Cotton’s formal decision to environment for difficult conversations and bold and a sourc
Centering Farmers, Equality, and Climate challenges that women and girls face in health and carbon sequestration. In another session, impact. Rathore posed a critical question to the become a regenerative standard within the next 12 commitments. Participants repeatedly emphasized better data
Resilience cotton-growing communities, including early Muzaffer Turgut Kayhan described his journey of audience: “Are we collecting data to improve impact One of the most engaging sessions explored the months. Eva Benavidez Clayton, Senior Director of the importance of inclusion—especially of farmers horizon, t
The morning plenary on the first day focused on marriage and limited access to education and transitioning to regenerative cotton farming in or is the demand for data itself becoming a barrier to ethical dimensions of corporate responsibility beyond Demand and Engagement, made the and women—in every level of the decision-making farmers and
nurturing equality and building a fairer future for leadership roles. Türkiye. He acknowledged the initial difficulties but delivering impact?” The panelists considered whether legal requirements. Pallavi Sharma of Beyond Human announcement, stating, “It is increasingly clear that

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