The June 2025 issue of The ICAC Recorder puts a spotlight the cotton sector’s most urgent challenges and promising breakthroughs, with a special focus on regenerative agriculture, collaborative science, and water stewardship.
Under the theme “Cotton: Bridging Innovation, Sustainability, and Equity,” this 36-page publication includes contributions from globally recognized experts who bring fresh insights into cotton’s future amid rising climate volatility, water scarcity, and other pressing challenges.
“Cotton cannot move forward with incremental adjustments,” said Dr Keshav Kranthi, ICAC Chief Scientist and Editor of The Recorder. “We need transformative strategies — and that means listening to farmers, investing in collaborative science, and managing water and carbon as shared responsibilities.”
Articles in this issue include:
- Dr Jodi Scheffler (USDA-ARS, USA) on building global scientific partnerships to combat threats like Cotton Leaf Curl Disease and Verticillium Wilt.
- Dr Marcelo Paytas (INTA, Argentina) on the power and pitfalls of regenerative cotton practices in South America.
- Dr MV Venugopalan (Retd. Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, India) and Dr Kranthi on the unique challenges faced by smallholder cotton farmers in India as they adopt regenerative techniques.
- A groundbreaking global data analysis from Dr Kranthi that thoroughly dismantles the myth of cotton as a “thirsty crop,” with recommendations for smarter, more equitable water use.
Together, the articles propose a bold new agenda for the cotton sector — one rooted in innovation, equity, and climate resilience. To read the June 2025 issue of The ICAC Recorder, click here for free access.
