Regenerative Cotton Standard®: Impressive Results Following First Harvest in India
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Hamburg, 6 February 2025. With higher crop yields, lower costs and an increased awareness of regenerative agriculture, the Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS) is delivering promising results after only one harvest in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The findings from the initial RCS verification and an analysis of the measures implemented within the RCS framework in India demonstrate the standard’s effectiveness and feasibility. They also underline its transformational potential for building up the resilience and sustainability of the cotton industry.
Around 5,000 farmers in over 70 villages in the Indian state of Maharashtra began cultivating cotton in accordance with the RCS standard last season. They have now reaped the fruits of their labour, harvesting about 4,400 tonnes of ginned RCS cotton. Farmers report an increase in yield of 2 percent compared with the previous harvest; in combination with a simultaneous cost reduction of 7 percent, this has led to higher net incomes for the farmers. The environment benefits, too. The use of biochar helps to regenerate depleted soils. Demonstration fields where biochar was tested, achieved a yield 15 percent higher than that of conventional cotton cultivation. At a more individual level, 90 percent of participants consider the new training methodology effective. Coming after the first harvest, the farmers’ positive feedback on RCS’s training methods and innovative approaches underscores the success the standard is having in India.
To ensure the successful implementation of the project and to directly involve the local population in the process, a wide range of measures were taken, including the involvement of local leaders, close co-operation with lead farmers, and the establishment of farmers’ groups to ensure direct communication with the farming communities. Through a variety of approaches—including targeted support for women, the creation of demonstration fields, and workshops and training materials for the introduction of regenerative cultivation methods—cotton farmers were convinced to give the standard a chance and to try out its production methods, such as cover crop cultivation, crop rotation, and methods for soil conservation and for organic nutrient management. Numerous farmers attended training sessions and Farmer Field Day events to experience, at first hand, the efficiency of the Regenerative Cotton Standard® and its measures. The practicality and efficiency of RCS were tested on site by AbTF together with its partner, Vijay Cotton & Fibre CO. LLP, and over 40 agricultural consultants.
“With its holistic approach and its focus on farmers’ experiences, the standard proves to be a winning proposition for everyone involved,” states Tina Stridde, the managing director of AbTF, adding, “The pilot project in India has impressively demonstrated its potential to be a real help for farmers in regenerating their depleted soils, increasing their incomes, and finding a future in cotton cultivation despite the growing threat posed by climate change.”
For the textile supply chain, the transparent integration of RCS-verified cotton into the textile chain by means of AbTF’s tracking system is also a key factor in meeting social and political demands for textile traceability from the field to the finished product. “The standard therefore offers tangible advantages not only for farmers but also for purchasers of RCS cotton,” concludes Stridde.
The pilot project in India started in July 2024 and will be continuing. In addition to India, the Regenerative Cotton Standard®—which was introduced by the Aid by Trade Foundation in late 2023—is also being implemented in Tanzania. This East African country has successfully completed its first RCS cotton cycle and is now entering its second season.
Yours sincerely,
Holger Diedrich, Christina Ben Bella
Press Contact
Christina Ben Bella, e-mail: christina.benbella@abt-foundation.org Holger Diedrich, e-mail: holger.diedrich@abt-foundation.org
Aid by Trade Foundation | Gurlittstraße 14 | 20099 Hamburg | Germany
About the Regenerative Cotton Standard: Developed by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), the Regenerative Cotton Standard® (RCS) is a voluntary standard for cotton grown by small-scale farmers using regenerative farming methods. RCS aims to improve the overall resilience and productivity of small-scale farming while adding value to farmland, rural communities, the biosphere, and the quality of life of farm animals. To achieve these aims, RCS targets the entire production system rather than only the cotton itself. Learn more at: regenerativecottonstandard.org/en.
About the Aid by Trade Foundation:
Founded by the entrepreneur Prof. Dr Michael Otto in 2005, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is an internationally renowned non-profit organisation that works throughout the world to promote sustainable raw materials. Its activities make a decisive and measurable contribution to improving the living conditions of people and animals while protecting the environment. AbTF takes a practical approach by creating and maintaining a variety of standards to verify raw materials: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic), Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS), and The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS). A global alliance of textile companies and brands purchases the verified raw materials, paying a licensing fee to AbTF’s marketing company, ATAKORA Fördergesellschaft GmbH. The payment of this fee entitles partners to sell their goods under the standards’ labels. As the challenges facing textile companies and small-scale farmers grow, the standards have a major role to play in ensuring their resilience and future viability. AbTF collaborates closely with industry experts and with specialists in animal and nature protection. Learn more at: www.aidbytrade.org
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