Page 15 - TEXtalks. November- December 2023

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The 81st Plenary Meeting

Climate-smart innovations as game changers

in cotton production

If there is a problem that needs the help of some increased CO2 concentrations (on the bright side,
game-changing solutions, it’s our damaged (and however, that would lead to increased
still deteriorating) global climate. That’s why the photosynthesis).
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
chose ‘Climate-smart Innovations as Game Four more speakers took the stage after a short
Changers in Cotton Production’ as the only session break:
that was given a half-day discussion during its 81st Dr. Michael Bange, Commercial Research Manager
Plenary Meeting, held 2-5 December in Mumbai. at CSD in Australia, began part two of the session
with a presentation entitled ‘Impact of Climate
There were three speakers in the first half of the Change on Global Cotton.’ He talked about the
session: effects of environmental stress on yields — and,
It was opened by Alexandra Perschau, Head of crucially, that if we don’t measure that stress, we
Standards & Outreach at the Aid by Trade can’t manage it.
Foundation, who spoke about ‘Climate-smart The next speaker in the session was Mr Mahesh
Agronomy for Improved Soil Health and Biodiversity.’ Ramakrishnan, Vice President, Cotton BU
She emphasized the importance of engaging with Sustainability, Olam Agri, who discussed
smallholder farmers more effectively, including ‘Implementing Climate Resilient Innovations in
simplifying cultivation technologies and techniques Cotton Farms’.
so they can understand and benefit from them as
we advance. The topic of ‘Rewarding Carbon Credits for Climate
Resilience of Small Scale Farms’ was addressed by
The second speaker, Dr. YG Prasad, Director, Mr Ganesh Babu Krishnappa, Managing Director at
ICAR-CICR, focussed his comments on Boomitra. Among the challenges that must be
‘Climatic-smart Cotton Production Technologies for overcome, he said, are achieving transparency of
Improved Yields.’ He pointed out that climate information and the fact that measuring soil organic
resilience in cotton is significant due to the carbon is both expensive and time-consuming.
predominantly rain-fed nature of its cultivation and
exposure to increasing climate risks. Finally, the session wrapped up with Mr. Rajeev
Baruah, Global Agronomic Manager at Primark, who
The third speaker was Dr. Marc Giband, Cotton discussed ‘Regenerative Agriculture, ZBNF, and
Correspondent at CIRAD, who delivered his Organic Cotton: Do They Combat Climate Change?’
presentation on ‘Climate-smart Plant Breeding of The answer, he said, is yes — if we enhance carbon
Cotton.’ He said shortly, we will need to adapt to sequestration mechanisms and curtail the emission
lower water availability, higher temperatures, and of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

November/December 2023