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ICAC’s World Café on organic

cotton draws record-high

attendance

Organic cotton is always one of the industry’s most attendees discussed seven questions related to
debated topics. Although the International Cotton organic cotton, such as policies that can be
Advisory Committee’s (ICAC), 77th Plenary Meeting enacted to support the sector, as well as what steps
being held from 2-6 December, anticipated strong could be taken to make improvements at the farm
attendance and put out additional seating for its level and throughout the value chain. At the end of
seventh annual World Café on ‘Organic Cotton: the morning, all of the attendees reconvened in the
Challenges and Policy Perspectives’, the turnout far main conference room and one representative from
exceeded expectations. each group delivered some of the highlights from
their table’s discussions.
The co-moderators of the session were eager to get Mr Wolfgang Bertenbreiter, Program Director with
Textile industry in Pakistan scheduled, Mr Bart Vollaard — Program Director at the German Development Group (GIZ), and
started, as well. From the day the World Café was
co-moderator of the session said, ‘I was astonished
the Amsterdam-based Organic Cotton Accelerator
an open example of (OCA), a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on by the overwhelming participation and engagement
creating a prosperous organic cotton sector that
on the topic of organic cotton. One could almost
benefits everyone from farmer to consumer — was
got the impression that organic cotton is the most
excited about the session’s potential.
important topic.’
resistance economy Mr Bart Vollaard said, ‘I was very pleased with the The initial responses that attendees shared when
initiative of ICAC to host this World Café on organic
they reconvened already are encouraging, the
cotton, and the invitation to the Organic Cotton
and Mr Bertenbreiter begins now. They’ve gathered
Accelerator and GIZ to moderate it. It offered a moderators said, but the real work for Mr Vollaard
Pakistan is also the 8th largest exporter of textile production, increase in raw material cost, peace great opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from the hundreds of responses from attendees and will
material in all of Asia. The Pakistan textile industry conditions, less research and development each other about strengthening the sector and the pore over them in the coming weeks, identifying
contributes approximately 60pc to the nation’s establishments, lack of new ventures, tight role of organic cotton in the future. It is a great step and extracting the best ideas and most creative
aggregates fares. Currently, the Pakistan textile monetary policy and effect of expansion. toward much-needed collaboration and supporting concepts that can be put into action on behalf of
industry is seeing a decrease in its development Recommendations: There should be a proper each other to contribute to that one goal we all the organic cotton industry.
rate. The textile industry contributes approximately remedy for foreign direct investment and attraction share: Ensuring a sustainable future for cotton and
46pc of the total outcome and is providing 38pc of of investors by the building Pakistan’s reputation the farmers who grow it’. Even though he hasn’t seen all of the attendees’
employment in Pakistan. should be improved in the international market. ideas and suggestions yet, Mr Bertenbreiter was
Pakistan should explore new export markets on the The World Café is designed to give every attendee encouraged by the way the morning unfolded. He
Pakistan textile industry is required to enhance the basis of end goals. The energy and gas crisis a voice by breaking the audience into groups of 8 to said, ‘It was great to see and observe the intense
efficiency of the cotton area to gain profit in cotton should be dealt with and resolved as soon as 12 people per table and encouraging them to discussions on each of the seven questions, and
division. The textile industry should find new and possible. By decreasing the markup in textile debate and find consensus on challenging topics. the positive, constructive way people worked
innovative ways like introducing new fabric in every industry, they can achieve the end goal. For the entire morning, approximately 150 together to find answers to them.’
season with best quality to gain customer loyalty.
Pakistan textile is responsible for economic growth Government should take back sponsorship
and it’s playing its part in national integration as well expulsion which will decrease the deficiency in the
as GDP increases. There are some issues in textile end goal and contend with their rivals to win remote
industry which are as follows: growing expense of trade for the nation in the global market.
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