COTTON
BCI trainers regularly visit the biggest cotton producing countries and talk to local executives. They also organise and run the required training courses and share insights into special irrigation techniques which prevent the flooding of cotton fields. This results in a more efficient use of the available farmland and can help prevent pest infestations. Once one farmer employs these methods successfully, others soon express a
desire to follow and it all snowballs from there – 240.000 farmers currently employ these principles. If other large buyers of cotton follow IKEA’s example we might be able to reach the estimated tipping point of around 30%. If 30% of the global cotton production switches to the new standards, an eventual complete switchover becomes likely and the new standards could be implemented worldwide. The BCI’s annual report currently estimates the share to be 8.5%.
240.000 farmers already work using the Better Cotton principles How does Better Cotton change farming? • watering methods • Less dung & pesticides • More income
Did you know that cotton is the second most important material for IKEA? Issue 20 | August/Sept. 2015
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