Better Cotton 2020 Impact Report

2020
Impact #X Section
Report Title
1
1. Introduction
Navigating through this report

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Results Indicator data
Countries in Focus
3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
There are a few ways to find the sections that
are of most interest to you.
Delivering impact
Overview of the
There is a contents page on page 3. You can

Monitoring, Evaluation
and Learning Approach
click on any section and you will be taken there. Engaging the market
Navigation bar
There is a navigation bar on the right hand Working with
civil society
side of every page. You can click on any section Growth and
and also be taken there. Innovation Fund
If you want to go back to the contents page 4. Continuous

Improvement
you can at any time by clicking on the ‘Back for Impact
to contents’ text at the bottom of the Demonstrating
navigation bar. improvement over time
Revising our standard
If you want to go to the previous page or the Strengthening our
next one you can click the arrows on either work with partners
side of the page number. Measurement projects

Traceability
Glossary of terms
Click here to go to the contents page Back to contents
2020 Impact Report Click on these arrows to go to the previous or next page 2
Contents
Introduction 4 Continuous improvement for impact 86

Demonstrating improvement over time: 88
Farmer Results 7 Reorienting Better Cotton’s Results Indicator analysis
Results Indicator data 11 Revising our standard 90
Countries in Focus 16 Strengthening our work with partners 95
Measurement projects 97
Better Cotton – set up for impact 6
Traceability 98
Delivering impact through our Standard System 63
Overview of the MEL Approach 66 Glossary of terms 101
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field 67
Björn Borg 69
George at Asda 72
Kmart Australia 76
Working with civil society to promote water stewardship 82
Growth and Innovation Fund – Investing in Impact 83
2020 Impact Report

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
improvement over time
Strengthening our
work with partners
#1
Measurement projects
Traceability
Introduction
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
4
1. Introduction
Introduction – Exploring impact

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
in Better Cotton
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Impact is what we all want to see in sustainability. For us at Better Cotton, it’s Monitoring, Evaluation
why we exist – we want to create a positive impact for everyone touched by and Learning Approach
our work, from smallholder farmers with a couple of hectares of cotton to the Engaging the market
large, fully mechanised farms, and everyone in between. And this means positive
environmental, social and economic change. Working with
civil society
To be sure we’re making a tangible difference, we support millions of farmers and Growth and
farm workers around the world to grow cotton more sustainably, and importantly, Innovation Fund
we collect results data where possible.
4. Continuous
This helps us to understand whether our approach is effective and identify Improvement
opportunities for improvement. It also enables us to celebrate progress and for Impact
demonstrate the value of our work to others, convincing more people and
organisations to get involved and support Better Cotton farming. Demonstrating
In past years, we have published information on how Better Cotton Farmers Revising our standard
perform on social, environmental and economic criteria, compared to farmers
who aren’t participating in the Better Cotton programme. We call these our Strengthening our
‘Farmer Results’, and they cover elements including the use of pesticides, work with partners
fertilisers and water, decent work and yields and profits. Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
2020 Impact Report 5

1. Introduction
Introduction – Exploring impact in 2. Farmer Results
Better Cotton Introduction

Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
This year, we continue to do that – one of the most important sections of this sustainability stories. We monitor and approve any potential claims they make in
Delivering impact
report is the Farmer Results for the 2019-20 cotton season. You’ll find these in the line with our rigorous Claims Framework. In section three, we take a look at some
next chapter of this report, and they provide insights into some of the key areas of of the innovative and transparent communications produced by our retailer and Overview of the
success, progress – and challenges – during the cotton season. brand members. Monitoring, Evaluation
For this Impact Report, we have gone further to consider a broader set of factors Finally, in the spirit of continuous improvement – a core principle for Better Engaging the market
in order to give a more comprehensive overview of our work. In particular, we’ve Cotton – we explore some of the areas where we’re strengthening our systems
included new sections that consider some of the other ways in which our system and services to deliver greater impact. This includes important initiatives such Working with
is contributing to positive changes in the cotton sector. as our traceability workstream and the revision of our Principles & Criteria. civil society
Growth and
Our focus is on helping cotton communities to survive and thrive, while protecting I hope you enjoy reading this report and seeing some of the ways in which Innovation Fund
and restoring the environment. But our work encompasses a lot more than this. Better Cotton and our stakeholders are creating a positive impact on the cotton
We collaborate with businesses and civil society organisations from across the sector, and the steps we’re taking to do even better in the future. 4. Continuous
cotton sector, to advance sustainability and encourage demand for Better Cotton Improvement
among suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and brands. Alia Malik, for Impact
Senior Director, Data and Traceability
We support major retailers and brands in fulfilling their sustainable materials Demonstrating
strategies by sourcing Better Cotton, and engaging consumers in their improvement over time
Strengthening our
work with partners
Scope of this report
This Impact Report primarily reflects on the on 2019-2020 cotton season. The data and country summaries in the Farmer Results (Chapter 2), in particular, are drawn from this period, due to our reporting timelines. Measurement projects
Some sections, however, refer to projects that have started in 2021, and look forward to the coming years.
Traceability
Please note the use of the word ‘impact’ in this report - we are using term here in the everyday sense of the word - to refer to positive environmental, social or economic change.
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
#2 Farmer
Traceability
Results
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
7
1. Introduction
Farmer Results
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
The Farmer Results provide an overview of the outcomes that Better Cotton Reporting on Better Cotton Farmer Results — Results Indicator data — is
Delivering impact
Farmers are experiencing at field level by participating in the programme and fully integrated into the Better Cotton Assurance Programme to ensure that
adhering to the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria. Adhering to the Principles sustainability improvements are measured effectively everywhere Better Cotton Overview of the
& Criteria enables Better Cotton Farmers to produce cotton in a way that is is produced. You can learn more about Results Indicator data collection and Monitoring, Evaluation
measurably better for people, the environment and farming communities. sampling methodologies here. and Learning Approach
Engaging the market
Understanding the results

* Regular data quality monitoring of Comparison Farmers’ field records is
not within the remit of the Better Cotton programme. Better Cotton focuses Working with
on improving record-keeping systems and data quality among Better Cotton civil society
Better Cotton collects data from all medium and large farms participating in the Farmers. While we do strive to check and validate the quality of Comparison Growth and
Better Cotton programme. For smallholders, we use a sampling approach to Farmers’ data, it may be less reliable than Better Cotton Farmers’ records. Innovation Fund
collect data from a representative sample of farmers. Each year, Learning Groups
(small groups of around 35 farmers) are randomly selected by Better Cotton to 4. Continuous
Compared to
participate in these samples (at the end of the cotton season). Improvement
for Impact
The Farmer Results presented in the following infographics compare the country
averages of licensed Better Cotton Farmers to non-Better Cotton Farmers in the Demonstrating
Non Better Better improvement over time
same geographic area who are not participating in the Better Cotton Programme. Cotton Cotton
We refer to the latter as Comparison Farmers. Farmers Farmers Revising our standard
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Explanation of Farmer Results

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Data collection
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
In the 2019-20 cotton season, the In Kazakhstan and Madagascar, Overview of the
Better Cotton programme was directly there was only one licensed Monitoring, Evaluation
implemented in 12 countries. This Producer Unit (a group of and Learning Approach
overview shares results from five Smallholders or Medium Farms)
of those countries: China, India,
Tajikistan and Better Cotton’s confidentially
Engaging the market
Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkey. The agreement prevents public Working with
X
other programme countries are not reporting of a single Producer Unit’s civil society
included for the following reasons: Turkey results. Growth and
Innovation Fund
In Israel, Mali, and Mozambique,
Comparison Farmer data was not
China In the US, Better Cotton only works
with Large Farms, and Comparison 4. Continuous
available because most of the Farmer data is not available as Improvement
cotton farmers in these countries’ it is considered commercially for Impact
project areas were already Pakistan confidential information.
Demonstrating
participating in the Better Cotton
programme. We do not share data from improvement over time
benchmarked Strategic Partners Revising our standard
In South Africa, Comparison in Brazil (ABRAPA), multiple
Farmer data was not available due India African countries (Aid by Trade Strengthening our
to data protection restrictions. Foundation) and Australia (Cotton work with partners
Australia). Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

applied, per
applied, per hectare
hectare of
of cotton
cotton cultivated.
cultivated.
TURKEY Organic Fertiliser

Organic Fertiliser Use*
The indicator
Use*
indicator measures
measures thethe frequency
frequency
1. Introduction
The
Explanation of Farmer CHINA

Results
of organic
of organic fertiliser
fertiliser use.
use.
2. Farmer Results
Biopesticide*
Biopesticide* Introduction
This indicator
This indicator measures
measures the
the frequency
frequency
of biopesticide
of biopesticide use.
use. Results Indicator data
MALI PAKISTAN Water Use
Water Use for
for Irrigation
Irrigation Countries in Focus
The indicator
The indicator measures
measures the
the volume
volume ofof water
water used
used
for irrigation,
for irrigation, per
per hectare
hectare of
of cotton
cotton cultivated.
cultivated. Water
Water use
use is
is 3. Better Cotton –
Environmental indicators Economic indicators

not recorded
not recorded for
for rain-fed
rain-fed cotton
cotton cultivation.
cultivation. set up for Impact
INDIA
Environmental indicators
Environmental indicators Economic indicators Delivering impact
Environmental
Environmental
Pesticide
indicators
indicators
Pesticide Use Use Yield
Yield Overview of the
Yield
Pesticide Use
Pesticide Use
The indicator
The indicator
Pesticide
The
measures
Usemeasures
indicator measures
the volume
the volume
the volume
of active of
of active
activeingredient
pesticide
pesticide
pesticide ingredient
ingredient
The
The indicator
The indicator
indicator measures
measures
measures the the amount
the amount
amount of of harvested
of harvested
harvested cotton,
cotton, cotton, Monitoring, Evaluation
Pesticide
The
applied, Use
indicator
per measures
hectare the volume
of cotton of active
cultivated. pesticide ingredient per hectare.
per hectare. and Learning Approach
applied,
The
applied, per
indicator hectare
measures
per hectare
The indicator
of
the cotton
volume
of cotton
measures
cultivated.
of active
cultivated.
the volume
pesticide ingredient
of active pesticide ingredient
per hectare.
applied,
applied, per
per hectare
hectare ofof cotton
cotton cultivated.
cultivated.
applied, per hectare of cotton cultivated. Engaging the market
Synthetic Fertiliser Use Profitability
Synthetic Fertiliser Use Profitability
Profitability
Synthetic
Synthetic Fertiliser
Fertiliser Use
Use
Synthetic Fertiliser Use the volume of synthetic fertiliser The indicator
measures profitability,
profitability, defined
defined as
as the
the net
net
The
The indicator
indicator
Synthetic measures
measures
Fertiliser Use the the
volume volume
of of synthetic
synthetic fertiliser fertiliser applied, The indicator measures profitability, defined as the net income Working with
The indicator
applied,
The measures
per hectare
indicator measures the
of cotton
the volume of synthetic
cultivated.
volume of synthetic fertiliser
fertiliser income earned
income earned from
from producing
producing the
the
applied,
per
The per
hectare
indicator
measuresof
of cotton cotton cultivated.
thecultivated.
volume of synthetic fertiliser earned from producing the cotton crop. civil society
hectare of
of cotton
cotton cultivated.
cultivated. cotton crop.
cotton crop.
applied, per hectare of cotton cultivated.
Organic Fertiliser Use* Growth and
Organic Fertiliser Use*
Organic Fertiliser Use* In the
In the 2018-19
2018-19 cotton
cotton season,
season, the
the Better
Better Cotton
Cotton Standard
Standard System
System was
was
Organic
The
Organic Fertiliser
indicator Use*
measures
Fertiliser Use* the frequency Innovation Fund
The indicator
Organic measures
Fertiliser Use* the frequency directly implemented
directly implemented in in 12
12 countries.
countries. This
This overview
overview shares
shares results
results
The
The
of
The
of indicator
indicator
organic
organic measures
measures
fertiliser
indicator
fertiliser
use. the
measures
use. the frequency of organic fertiliser use
the frequency
frequency from six
from six of
of those
those countries
countries and
and not
not the
the others
others for
for the
the following
following
The
of indicator measures the frequency
of organic
organic fertiliser
fertiliser use.
use. reasons:
of organic fertiliser use.
Biopesticide*
reasons: 4. Continuous
Biopesticide* In Israel
In Israel and
and Mozambique,
Mozambique, Comparison
Comparison FarmerFarmer data
data was
was not
not available
available Improvement
Biopesticide*
Biopesticide*
This
This
This
of
indicator measures the frequency
Biopesticide*
indicator
Biopesticide*
indicator
biopesticide measures
measures
use. the
the frequency
frequency
because most
because most ofof the
the cotton
cotton farmers
farmers inin these
these countries
countries were
were already
already
for Impact
This
This
of indicator
indicator
biopesticide measures
measures
use. the frequency
the frequency of biopesticide use. participating in
participating in the
the BCI
BCI Programme.
Programme.
This
of indicator measures the frequency
of biopesticide
biopesticide use.use. Demonstrating
of biopesticide use. In South
In South Africa,
Africa, Comparison
Comparison Farmer
Farmer data
data was
was not
not available
available due
due
Water Use for Irrigation
Water
Water Use
Use for Irrigation to local
to local restrictions/sensitivities
restrictions/sensitivities onon providing
providing comparison
comparison data.
data. improvement over time
Water Use for
The indicator Irrigation
formeasures
Irrigation the volume of water used
Water
The
Water
The
for
The
indicator
Use
indicator
irrigation,
indicatorUse
for forthe
measures
Irrigation
measures
per hectare
measures Irrigation
the
of
the
volume
volume
cotton
volume
of
of water
water used
used
cultivated.
of water Water use is
used In Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan and and Madagascar,
Madagascar, there
there was
was only
only one
one licensed
licensed Producer
Producer Revising our standard
for
The irrigation,
indicator per hectare
measures of
the cotton
volume cultivated.
of water Water
used use is Unit (a
(a grouping
grouping ofof BCI
BCI Farmers)
Farmers) and
and BCI’s
BCI’s data
data confidentiality
confidentiality
The
for
not
for
not
indicator
irrigation,
recorded
irrigation,
recorded
per measures
hectare
for rain-fed
per
for hectare
rain-fed
of
cotton
of the
cotton volume
cultivated.
cultivation.
cotton
cotton cultivated.
cultivation.
of water
Water
Water use
use used
is
is for irrigation, Unit
for
not irrigation, per hectare of cotton cultivated. Water use is agreements prevent
prevent public
public reporting
reporting ofof a a single
single Producer
Producer Unit’s
Unit’s
not recorded
per hectare
recorded for
of
for rain-fed
cotton
rain-fed cotton cultivation.
cultivated.
cotton Water use is not recorded for
cultivation. agreements Strengthening our
Economic
rain-fedindicators
Economic
not recorded for rain-fed cotton cultivation.
indicators
cotton cultivation.
results.
results. work with partners
Economic
Economic indicators
Yield indicators
In the
In the US,
US, BCI
BCI only
only works
works with
with large
large farms,
farms, andand Comparison
Comparison
Yield Farmer data
Farmer data is
is not
not available
available because
because it it is
is considered
considered commercially
commercially
rmers Yield The
Yieldindicator
*Frequency of measures the amount
use is compared, of harvested cotton,
not amount. confidential information.
confidential information.
The
Yield
The
per indicator
indicator
hectare. measures
measures the
the amount
amount of
of harvested
harvested cotton,
cotton, Traceability
The
per indicator
hectare. measures the amount of harvested cotton,
The
per indicator measures the amount of harvested cotton,
per hectare.
*Frequency of
of use
use is
is compared,
compared, not
not amount.
amount.
Glossary of terms
*Frequency
hectare.
per hectare.
Profitability
Profitability
Profitability
The indicator measures profitability, defined as the net
Profitability Back to contents
The indicator
Profitability
The indicator
income earned measures
measures profitability,
the defined
profitability,
from producing defined as
as the
the net
net
The indicator
income earned measures
from profitability,
producing the defined as the net
The indicator
income
cotton earned
crop. measures
from profitability,
producing the defined as the net
income
cotton earned
crop. from producing the
income
cotton 2020 Impact
earned
crop. Report the
from producing 10
In the 2018-19cotton crop.
cotton season, the Better Cotton Standard System was
cotton crop.
In
In the
the 2018-19
2018-19
directly cotton
cotton
implemented season,
season,
in the
the Better
Better
12 countries. ThisCotton
Cotton Standard
sharesSystem
Standard
overview resultswas
System was
In the 2018-19
directly cotton
implemented season,
in 12 the Better
countries. ThisCotton Standard
overview sharesSystem
resultswas
In the 2018-19
directly cotton
siximplemented season,
in the Better Cotton Standard System was
from
directly implemented in 12
of those countries12 countries.
and not theThis
countries. overview
others
This for theshares
overview results
following
shares results
1. Introduction
Results indicators
2. Farmer Results
Water
Compared
Introduction
m3/ha Results Indicator data

Average Non
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey
Water 14 10 11 16 2
Compared
Better Cotton
- % - % - % - % - % Farmer
Countries in Focus
to
m3/ha Average Non 3. Better Cotton –
“Tip” How to talk
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey set up for Impact
Water 14 10 11 16 2
Better Cotton
Compared
- % - % - % - % - %
about the results:
Farmer
to
Better Cotton Farmers
Delivering impact
in Tajikistan used
m3/ha Average Non 16% less water than
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey Overview of the
14 10 11 16 2
Better Cotton Comparison Farmers.
- % - % - % - % - % Farmer Monitoring, Evaluation
to
Average
Non Better Engaging the market
Profit
Compared
Cotton Farmer
Working with
Average civil society
net income/ha Non Better
China India Pakistan Turkey “Tip” How to talk
Profit 17 18 35 19
Compared
Cotton Farmer Growth and
+ % + % + % + % about the results:
to
Innovation Fund
Average in Turkey achieved
net income/ha
China India Pakistan Turkey Non Better 19% higher profits than 4. Continuous
Profit 17 18 35 19
Compared
+ % + % + % + %
Cotton Farmer Comparison Farmers.
Improvement
to
for Impact
net income/ha
China India Pakistan Tajikistan is not included
Turkeyhere due to data collection challenges. Demonstrating
+
17 % +
18 % +
35 % +
19 % improvement over time
to
Yield
Compared
about the results: Strengthening our
Better Cotton Farmers work with partners
India
in Tajikistan achieved
China Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey
10 9 12 15 5
lint mt/ha Average Measurement projects
+ % + % + % + % + %
15% higher yields than
Non Better
Yield
Compared
Cotton Farmer Comparison Farmers.
Traceability
to
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey Glossary of terms
10 9 12 15 5
lint mt/ha Average
+ % + % + % + % + % Non Better
Back to contents
Yield
Compared
Cotton Farmer
2020 Impact
ChinaReport India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey to 11
10 9 12 15 5
lint mt/ha Average
+ % + % + % + % + % Non Better
Cotton Farmer
to
Yield
Compared
Yield
Compared
1. Introduction
10 9 12 15 5
lint mt/ha Average
+ % + % + % + % + %
10 9 12 15 5
Average
Non Better
Results indicators
lint mt/ha
+ % + % + % + % + % Non Better
Cotton Farmer 2. Farmer Results
toto
Cotton Farmer
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Synthetic
Synthetic
Delivering impact
Compared
Compared
about the results:
Pesticide
Overview of the
Pesticide
Better Cotton Farmers Monitoring, Evaluation
Average Non in China used 20% less
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey and Learning Approach
20 23 12 62 3
kg/ha Average
Better Non
Cotton synthetic pesticide than
- China
% - India
% - %
Pakistan
- %
Tajikistan
-Turkey
%
20 23 12 62 3
toto
kg/ha Better Cotton
Farmer Comparison Farmers.
- % - % - % - % - % Farmer
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
“Tip” How to talk for Impact
Biopesticide
Compared
about the results:
*
Biopesticide*
Compared
Better Cotton Farmers Demonstrating
in India used biopesticide improvement over time
yes/no Average Non
India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey 16% more often than
16 0 9
yes/no China
Average Non
+ % % - %
India Pakistan Tajikistan Better Cotton
n/a n/a
Turkey
16 0 9
China Comparison Farmers. Revising our standard
+ % % - %
Better Cotton
Farmer
toto
n/a n/a Farmer
Strengthening our
work with partners
*Frequency of use is compared, not amount. Traceability

Glossary of terms
Back to contents
Organic
Organic 2020 Impact Report Compared
Compared
fertiliser
12
*
fertiliser*
yes/no
China
China
India
India
Pakistan
Pakistan
Tajikistan Turkey Average Non
Average
Better Non
Cotton
to
Biopesticide
Compared
Biopesticide
Comparedto
**
1. Introduction
yes/no Average Non
India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey
16 0 9
yes/no China Average Non
Results indicators
India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey
+ % % -- %
China Better Cotton
n/a + n/a
2. Farmer Results
% % %
Better Cotton
n/a n/a
Farmer
Farmer
to
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Organic
Organic
“Tip” How to talk Delivering impact
Compared
Comparedto
about the results:
fertiliser
Overview of the
fertiliser** Better Cotton Farmers
in India used organic Monitoring, Evaluation
China India Pakistan Average Non
6 7 0
Tajikistan Turkey
0 3
China India Pakistan Average Non fertiliser 7% more and Learning Approach
+
+ % +
+ % %
Tajikistan Turkey
% + %
yes/no Better Cotton
% % % % + %
yes/no Better Cotton
Farmer often than Comparison
to
Farmer Farmers. Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
Synthetic
Synthetic
“Tip” How to talk for Impact
Compared
Comparedto
about the results:
fertiliser
fertiliser China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey Average Non
in Pakistan used 16% less
Demonstrating
8 13 16 6 2
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey Average Non synthetic fertiliser than
kg/ha
kg/ha -- %
% -- %
% -- %
% +
+ %
% -- %
%
Better
Better
Cotton
Cotton
Farmer Comparison Farmers. Revising our standard
to
Farmer
Strengthening our
work with partners
*Frequency of use is compared, not amount. Traceability

Glossary of terms
Back to contents

6
na
SOCIAL INDICATORS
94
Advanced
% 1. Introduction
Results indicators 12
Low %
2. Farmer Results
India
Introduction
Basic 40%
48 %
Child Labour Issues Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in BCI Activities
The indicator measures the percentage of farmers who can accurately differentiate between This indicator measures the number of farmers and workers receiving BCI training Countries in Focus
acceptable forms of children's help on family farms and hazardous child labour. who are women, compared to the total number of farmers and workers trained.
Advanced
0
Low %
set up for Impact
Child Labour Issues Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in BCI Activities
Pakistan
Basic 42%
Delivering impact
Percentages represent the proportion of
0%
58
LOW
women trained as a total of all participants.
The indicator measures the percentage of farmers who%can accurately Overview of the
%
Child
CHINA
and hazardousLabour Issues Level

9 on family farms BASIC
% of Awareness
differentiate between acceptable forms of children’s help Who were trained? Monitoring, Evaluation
child labour. Percentage of all farmers and farm workers trained who are female and Learning Approach
91
ADVANCED Low 0%
40
CHINA
%
20
INDIA
%
39
MALI
%
PAKISTAN
29 %
Advanced
29 0
TAJIKISTAN
%
Low %
33%
TURKEY
Engaging the market
Tajikistan
ChinaINDIA
Basic 27%
6%
36,232 251,874 22,129 164,787 2,328 761
Basic Working with
LOW 11 %
civil society
94 %
73
40%
7,951 % 2,307
BASIC
Growth and
90,742 1,232,760 56,780 572,488 Innovation Fund
49
ADVANCED
% Advanced
12
Low %
"Tip" How to talk about the results:
In China, 40% (36,232) of all farmers and farm workers trained were women.
2%
Advanced
Low 4. Continuous
Improvement
India
Turkey
Basic 40% Basic 33%
Who were trained?
8%
Percentage of all farmers trained who are female
for Impact
LOW
39%
PAKISTAN
53 48 65
BASIC CHINA INDIA MALI PAKISTAN TAJIKISTAN TURKEY
% 31% 7% 39% 19,002 0.1%298 6% %6 Demonstrating

%
% 19,713 59,687 59 30
Advanced Advanced
0
ADVANCED
%
Low
“Tip” How to talk about the results:
Pakistan
0% Basic Strengthening our

42 In Pakistan 58% of Better 63,200
LOW
% Cotton Farmers 816,303 had 48,350 377,072 964 498 work with partners
TAJIKISTAN
BASIC
28%
an advanced awareness of"Tip"child labour issues.
How to talk about the results:
72 58
In Mali, 39% (19,002) of all farmers trained were women.
% % Who were trained?
Traceability
Percentage of all farm workers trained who are female
Advanced
Glossary of terms
ADVANCED
0%
CHINA INDIA MALI PAKISTAN TAJIKISTAN TURKEY
2% Low
60% 46% 37% 3,127 84% 32% 40% Back to contents
Tajikistan
LOW
Basic 27%
16,519 192,187 164,489 2,269 731
TURKEY
BASIC
25%
73 73%
%
ADVANCED
27,542 416,457 8,430 195,416 6,987 1,809
"Tip" How to talk about the results: Advanced "Tip" How to talk about the results:
1. Introduction
Results indicators China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey
2. Farmer Results
29 6 0.1 5 6
% % % % % Introduction
23,180 62,359 352 43 147 Results Indicator data
Countries in Focus
Women’s 57,132 904,497 501,690 838 2,523 set up for Impact

Inclusion in
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Training 29 %
23,180
6 %
62,359
0.1 352
%
5 %
43
6 %
147
about the results:
In India, 6% of all farmers
who attended Better Engaging the market
The figures show the number, in Cotton training sessions
aggregate, of farmers and farm were women. Working with
workers who attended training on the civil society
57,132 904,497 501,690 838 2,523
following topics: Growth and
Innovation Fund
Preparation and use of pesticides
4. Continuous
Other farm practices Percentage of all farm workers trained who are female Improvement
China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey for Impact
Health and safety, labour, gender,
or other 66 %
46 %
72 %
40 %
29 % “Tip” How to talk
Demonstrating
28,966 279,871 205,656 2,919 404 about the results: improvement over time
Harvest practices to ensure In Pakistan 72% of farm Revising our standard
fibre quality workers who attended
Better Cotton training Strengthening our
sessions were women. work with partners
Other topics not directly related
to Better Cotton 14,998 329,034 81,365 4,424 981
Percentage of all farm workers trained who are female Measurement projects

Traceability
66 %
46 %
72 %
40 %
29 % Glossary of terms
28,966 279,871 205,656 2,919 404 Back to contents
14,998 329,034 81,365 4,424 981

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Countries
Traceability
in Focus
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
16
Benchmarked 1. Introduction
programme
Australia (myBMP)
2. Farmer Results
country Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton In Australia, Better Cotton partners the previous season, in part due planted with cotton in the
Delivering impact
Season with Cotton Australia, who manages

the myBMP (Best Management
to more reliable temperatures,
but also by efficiently irrigating a
2019-20 season. It also led to
a slight increase in pesticide
Overview of the
Practices) programme - the Australian greater proportion of their cotton and fertiliser use as farmers and Learning Approach
Participating farmers cotton industry’s voluntary farm and by using techniques to raise attempted to maximise yields Engaging the market
48 and environmental management
programme that includes over 400
productivity. from a much smaller area
of land. Working with
best practices and checklist items. Farmers also completed more civil society
Licensed myBMP/Better
The myBMP programme has been soil testing than the season Growth and
Cotton Farmers
benchmarked with the Better Cotton before. This helped them to better
48
Innovation Fund
Standard System and recognised as understand the level of nutrients in
equivalent. Farmers producing cotton their soil and determine how best 4. Continuous
Area harvested to full certification in myBMP can to prepare their land for planting Improvement
14,000 hectares opt to market their cotton as Better
Cotton.
for Impact
Challenges Demonstrating
Volume of Better Cotton
produced
Highlights improvement over time
he ongoing multi-year drought and
T
31,000 tonnes
Farmers growing cotton in line with depletion of stored irrigation water
the myBMP programme achieved and reduced soil moisture levels Strengthening our
an increase in yields compared to work with partners
resulted in less land being
Australia
Traceability
Please note that the figures for area harvested and volumes of
Glossary of terms
Better Cotton produced are rounded to the nearest thousand.
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Australia 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
The impact of climate change Soil testing Overview of the

The multi-year drought, combined with less irrigation water available in storage, Due to the long dry spell and an increase in planting fields that had not been in Monitoring, Evaluation
and decreased soil moisture levels, led directly to the 2019-20 season seeing use for a while, farmers were encouraged to do more soil testing to understand and Learning Approach
one of the smallest cotton plantings ever in Australia. Overall, 48 myBMP/Better the level of nutrients in their fields. This helped them determine how to best Engaging the market
Cotton Farmers produced 31,000 tonnes of Better Cotton, a significant decrease prepare their land for planting and the volume of nutrients, including nitrogen,
on 2018-2019, when 77 farmers produced 92,000 tonnes – a direct reflection of to apply. So, despite some increases in fertiliser use, farmers did apply less pre- Working with
the drought. season nitrogen fertilisers (one particular type of fertiliser), which helped to civil society
reduce the overall GHG footprint of their cotton production. Growth and
Increase in pesticide and fertiliser use Innovation Fund
With less land to cultivate, farmers were careful to maximise yields. This Better Cotton does not report on Results Indicator data for benchmarked
resulted in an increase in pesticide use compared to 2018-19, as concerns arose programme countries. 4. Continuous
surrounding both mirid pests and silver leaf whitefly. Similarly, the 2019-20 Improvement
season saw an increase in fertiliser use, compared to the previous year. Learn more about Cotton Australia.
https://cottonaustralia.com.au/ for Impact
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Australia 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Farmer profile “When the myBMP programme first rolled out in 1997,
Delivering impact
my parents adopted it, became accredited in the Overview of the
first year and held that the whole way through their Monitoring, Evaluation
farming life. Without my mother, that would have and Learning Approach
Name never happened. In more recent times, I inherited
Engaging the market
Andrew French
the accreditation and have kept that going.
Working with
A positive change we’ve achieved on our farm since civil society
Country/region joining the myBMP programme is a reduction in
pesticide use. We now have a more robust Integrated
Dawson Valley,
Growth and
Pest Management strategy. We are mindful of the Innovation Fund
Queensland pesticides we use, and we factor in the number of

beneficial insects and the impact spraying would 4. Continuous
Australia have on them. In addition, we have implemented
digital spraying technology, which has allowed us to
Improvement
see the impact of chemical efficiency on our crops. for Impact
Years in my/BMP/Better
Cotton programme If a pest appears later in the season I can go back Demonstrating
through my records and see what has happened on
7 years (myBMP/
the farm in prior years and what worked.
Better Cotton),
Both the myBMP and Better Cotton programmes
24 years (myBMP)
Strengthening our
encouraged me to think about my data, which in
work with partners
turn has helped me to implement the technology
that makes decisions easier and more accurate. Measurement projects
The better record keeping has also helped us to
continue to adopt more best practices, which has Traceability
also saved us time.” Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Brazil (ABR)
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton In Brazil, Better Cotton partners grower associations with the
Delivering impact
Season with the Brazilian Cotton Growers

Association (ABRAPA). The
implementation of improved
practices to monitor and control
Overview of the
organisation’s own sustainable pests during and between and Learning Approach
Participating farmers cotton programme, the Brazilian seasons. Engaging the market
360 Responsible Cotton (ABR programme),
is benchmarked with the Better Challenges Working with
civil society
Cotton Standard and recognised as
Licensed ABR/Better Cotton
equivalent. This means that cotton D
espite progress in supporting Growth and
Farmers
farmers growing cotton in line with the farmers in managing pests, boll
360
Innovation Fund
Brazil
ABR programme can opt to sell their weevil pest pressure increased,
cotton as Better Cotton. particularly in Mato Grosso and 4. Continuous
Area harvested Bahia states, posing risks to Improvement
1,235,000 Highlights cotton fibre quality and yields. for Impact
hectares
However, many farmers were
Our Strategic Partner ABRAPA able to reduce the extent of the Demonstrating
supported the creation of 15 damage and preserve most of improvement over time
ABR/Better Cotton regional hubs to enable Better their crops. Revising our standard
produced Cotton Farmers to share best
2,334,000 tonnes practices in managing cotton pests. Strengthening our
work with partners
ABRAPA also assisted state-based Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Brazil 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
In the 2019-20 cotton season, the number of farmers participating in the ABR/ Tackling pest pressure Overview of the
Better Cotton programme rose to 360, from 318 in the 2018-19 season. The Pest pressure remained a concern in the 2019-20 season, with increases in boll Monitoring, Evaluation
volume of Better Cotton produced also increased from 2 million tonnes in 2018- weevil experienced in Mato Grosso and Bahia. To help farmers in managing and Learning Approach
19 to 2.3 million tonnes in the 2019-20 season. This expansion was not impacted the pest challenge, ABRAPA supported the creation of 15 regional hubs, which Engaging the market
by the global decrease in cotton prices, and only slightly affected by increased provided and coordinated action plans to help farmers control cotton pests
input costs, with the overall cost of production increasing marginally from the throughout the year. Better Cotton Farmers carefully monitored their fields to Working with
previous season. determine the timing and quantity of pesticides applied, and increasingly used civil society
biological control methods over conventional pesticides where possible. As a Growth and
Rainfall result, farmers were able to reduce the extent of potential pest damage and Innovation Fund
Cotton production in Brazil is largely rainfed (only 8% is irrigated), and therefore preserve the majority of their crops.
cotton farmers depend on receiving sufficient rain during the season. The 4. Continuous
majority of states received adequate rainfall for their crops, however, in Mato To learn more about Better Cotton in Brazil, please visit our website: Improvement
Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, low rainfall created challenges for farmers from https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton-is-thriving-
for Impact
March to May. in-brazil/
Demonstrating
Crop Rotation Learn more about cotton production in Brazil: www.cottonbrazil.com improvement over time
In Brazil, cotton is mainly produced as a second crop. This is called a “double Revising our standard
cropping system” and it means that once farmers have grown and harvested their
primary crop (soybean), they then use that same land to grow cotton, creating Strengthening our
efficiencies in how existing agricultural land is utilised. work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Brazil 2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Farmer profile Delivering impact

Overview of the
Name Engaging the market
Ernesto Sitta Working with
Filho civil society
and Cassio Sitta “More sustainable cotton means implementing better

Growth and
Innovation Fund
Farm production practices, minimising waste, ensuring good
working conditions, providing training for employees, and
Nossa Senhora better farm management. It means improvements
4. Continuous
Improvement
Aparecida for everybody: farmers, workers, and the environment. for Impact
Country/region Demonstrating
Sometimes it seems like we have a long road ahead to get
Caiapônia,
to where we want to be, but once we start, step by step we
Goiás make improvements on our farm. It is a very good feeling to
know that we are doing everything that needs to be done Strengthening our
Years in programme now to create a more sustainable future for cotton - it is work with partners
First season very worthwhile. It would be great if programmes like the Measurement projects
ABR/Better Cotton programme were implemented across Traceability
other crops.”
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

Direct 1. Introduction
programme
China
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton Highlights Comparison Farmers.

Delivering impact
Season Better Cotton Farmers achieved

Overview of the
To use water more efficiently, all
10% higher yields and 17% and Learning Approach
Better Cotton Farmers practised
Participating farmers field levelling (to distribute water higher profits than Comparison Engaging the market
China 120,396 evenly across their fields), and Farmers.
Working with
some Implementing Partners
Challenges
civil society
Licensed Better Cotton supported farmers in upgrading
Farmers pump irrigation systems, installing Growth and
104,035
drip irrigation, and constructing Irregular and extreme weather
Innovation Fund
ditches, helping Better Cotton posed diverse challenges across
Farmers use 14% less water than all cotton growing regions. 4. Continuous
Area harvested Comparison Farmers. Improvement
408,000
Typhoon wind damage and
continuous rains affected yields for Impact
hectares Better Cotton Farmers took steps
in the Yellow River Delta area,
while high temperatures also
Demonstrating
to reduce their pesticide use improvement over time
Volume of Better Cotton prevented cotton bolls from
by monitoring pests to inform Revising our standard
produced forming correctly in some areas.
their spraying decisions and
885,000 tonnes
Elsewhere, in the Yangtze River Strengthening our
encouraging beneficial insects.
Delta, hot, humid conditions work with partners
These actions resulted in them
increased pest pressure.
using 20% less pesticide than Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
China 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
2019-20 Farmer Results: China 3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Some 104,035 Better Cotton Farmers in China grew 885,000 tonnes of Better Overview of the
Compared to
Cotton in the 2019-20 cotton season, a slight drop from 896,000 tonnes in 2018- Monitoring, Evaluation
19, grown by 93,378 farmers. Overall, Better Cotton Farmers achieved 10% higher and Learning Approach
yields and 17% higher profits than Comparison Farmers in 2019-20, largely due to Engaging the market
improved practices and lower input costs, thanks to using less synthetic fertiliser
and pesticide. Average Better Average Non Working with
Cotton Farmer Better Cotton Farmer civil society
Tackling irregular weather Growth and
Climate change continued to create irregular and extreme weather conditions Innovation Fund
across China’s diverse cotton growing regions. In particular, the Yellow River
Delta area suffered the effects of Typhoon Lekima, with strong winds causing 4. Continuous
significant damage to cotton farms in this river basin. And with continuous rains,
14 17 10 20 6 8
Improvement
some farmers experienced rotting bolls among their remaining cotton crops. - %+ % + %- % n/a + % - % for Impact
The combined effect led to lower yields in the region. Meanwhile, in the Yangtze
River Delta area, high temperatures and humidity enabled pests such as mite and Water Profit Yield Synthetic Biopesticide* Organic Synthetic Demonstrating
Pesticide fertiliser* fertiliser improvement over time
bollworm to thrive. Fortunately, the impact was limited to certain areas, with most
farmers able to conserve their crops. Revising our standard
*Frequency of use is compared, not amount.
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Water efficiency to receive guidance from our Implementing Partners on soil testing, based on the
Delivering impact
Better Cotton Farmers levelled their fields before irrigation in early spring, enabling understanding that a precision approach to applying fertilisers is more nourishing
them to distribute water more evenly across their land. Our Implementing for the crops and kinder to the soil. Better Cotton Farmers also used organic Overview of the
Partners also helped farmers to upgrade and improve their technology and fertiliser 6% more often than Comparison Farmers. Monitoring, Evaluation
equipment, with a focus on upgrading pump irrigation systems, installing drip and Learning Approach
irrigation, and constructing ditches to improve water use efficiency. Harnessing Child labour prevention Engaging the market
more efficient irrigation techniques enabled farmers to save water, while those Better Cotton and our Implementing Partners continued to deliver regular training
who had experienced heavy rainfall in the Yellow River Basin only needed to to farmers to raise their awareness of child labour issues, with 94% of Better Working with
2019-20 Farmer Results: China

irrigate their crops once while sowing seeds. Overall, Better Cotton Farmers used Cotton Farmers reporting advanced level of awareness in the 2019-20 season. civil society
14% less water than Comparison Farmers. Growth and
Innovation Fund
Pesticide use
Better Cotton Farmers reported 20% lower use of synthetic pesticides than Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in Training Activities
of Child Labour Issues Percentages represent the proportion of 4. Continuous
Comparison Farmers in 2019-20. They also took steps to reduce their pesticide
6
Improvement
use by monitoring pests to inform their spraying decisions and making use of %
beneficial insects. Many Large Farms used drones and spraying machines to help 0 %
Low
Basic
Percentage of all farmers
trained who are female
Percentage of all farm workers
for Impact
improve the efficiency of pesticide application and reduce the levels of chemicals Demonstrating
applied. Despite the overall decrease in pesticide use, some farmers were obliged improvement over time
to apply more pesticides when humid conditions in the Yangtze River Delta Revising our standard
prompted high levels of pests including mites, aphids and bollworm.
Strengthening our
Synthetic fertiliser use work with partners
94 29 66
Strong winds damaged seedlings in some areas, which led to farmers applying Measurement projects
more fertiliser when re-sowing to help optimise growing conditions and conserve % % % Traceability
their crops. However, despite the challenges, Better Cotton Farmers reported Advanced
using 8% less synthetic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers. They also continued Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
“My village is in Weixian County, Hebei
Province. It is a traditional cotton planting 3. Better Cotton –
area, and I’ve grown up with cotton. I heard set up for Impact
that villages around me were taking part
Profile in the Better Cotton programme, and it
Delivering impact
sounded interesting, so I applied to join in Overview of the

2017. Monitoring, Evaluation
Name Since joining, the Better Cotton programme Engaging the market
Wang has helped me to make cotton planting more
scientific, which has saved on labour, reduced Working with
Meishuang the inputs required to farm, and helped me
civil society
to improve my yield and income. The Better Growth and

Country/region
Cotton training I’ve received over the years Innovation Fund
Hebei Province has covered many topics, such as selecting
good seed varieties for local conditions, 4. Continuous
Years in programme implementing practices for more efficient Improvement
4 use of water, fertilisers and pesticides, and
eliminating the use of highly toxic pesticides.
for Impact
Demonstrating
Being part of the programme is also about
sharing learnings, and I do this through Revising our standard
interactive training sessions, learning Strengthening our
groups, live demonstrations, and regular work with partners
chats with other farmers. We will all visit
each other’s cotton farm and share new
techniques. All farmers like to learn new Traceability
things and best practices.” Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
India country 2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton Highlights Delivering impact
Season Challenges Overview of the

In the 2019-20 seaon, India was the Monitoring, Evaluation
largest Better Cotton programme W
hile Better Cotton and Learning Approach
Participating farmers country by number of participating Farmers improved their pest Engaging the market
1,129,795 farmers. There was also a
significant increase in numbers of
management practices and
reduced their use of chemical Working with
licensed farmers and volumes of pesticides, there is still a need civil society
Licensed Better Cotton Better Cotton produced, compared for greater support around Growth and
Farmers to the previous season. the use of minimal personal Innovation Fund
India
1,002,149 Better Cotton Farmers achieved
protective equipment when
applying pesticides. 4. Continuous
Area harvested 9% higher yields and 18% greater Improvement
1,547,000 profits than Comparison Farmers
by adopting more sustainable
A
wareness of child labour
issues remains a challenge, and
for Impact
hectares practices. will continue to be addressed

through dedicated training and
Demonstrating
Volume of Better Cotton Farmers used 23% fewer chemical awareness-raising campaigns. Revising our standard
produced pesticides than Comparison
1,022,000 tonnes Farmers by systematically reducing
their pesticide use and adopting
omen farmers represented just
W
6% of training participants.
Strengthening our
work with partners
biological methods of pest control. Measurement projects
They also used 10% less water than
Comparison Farmers. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
India 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
2019-20 Farmer Results: India 3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
India had the largest number of farmers participating in the Better Cotton Overview of the
Compared to
programme in the 2019-20 season, with 1,002,149 licensed Better Cotton Monitoring, Evaluation
Farmers producing 1,002,000 tonnes of Better Cotton. There was a 46% increase and Learning Approach
in farmer numbers and 57% rise in cotton volumes, compared to the previous Engaging the market
season. This can be attributed in part to additional funding provided through the
Better Cotton Growth and Innovation Fund. Better Cotton Farmers achieved 9% Average Better Average Non Working with
higher yields and 18% higher profits than Comparison Farmers by reducing and
optimising their use of synthetic fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Growth and
Innovation Fund
Managing cotton pests
Pink Bollworm remained a major pest challenge in Maharashtra and Telangana in 4. Continuous
the 2019-20 season mostly due to its evolving resistance to genetically modified
18 9 23 16 7 13
Improvement
Bt cotton (which contains a strain of a bacteria that produces toxins that are
harmful to a variety of pests, in particular the bollworm). Whitefly infestation was
severe in some districts of Punjab due to hot and humid weather conditions post
10
- %+
Water
% + %-
Profit Yield Synthetic
%+ % + % -
Biopesticide* Organic Synthetic
% for Impact
Demonstrating
monsoon, while some locust attacks were reported in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Our Implementing Partners continued to help Better Cotton Farmers protect their Revising our standard
crops while using 23% fewer pesticides (and 13% fewer synthetic fertilisers) than
Comparison Farmers, providing dedicated Integrated Pest Management training. Strengthening our
For example, Better Cotton Farmers grew leguminous crops in between the work with partners
cotton rows (which helps cotton plants gain more nitrogen, reducing the need for Measurement projects
synthetic fertilisers), and planted other crops in and around the cotton fields to
create habitats for beneficial insects that prey on cotton pests. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Phasing out highly hazardous pesticides Women’s empowerment Delivering impact
Better Cotton Farmers continued to replace conventional chemicals with more With few women able to attend training sessions due to societal norms that
sustainable alternatives. Our Implementing Partners were successful in raising see women spending the majority of their time in the home, female farmers Overview of the
awareness of the need to use nationally registered pesticides (as required in the represented just 6% of training participants in the 2019-20 cotton season. We Monitoring, Evaluation
Better Cotton Principles and Criteria), based on their efficacy to target particular continue to work with our Implementing Partners to help them provide inclusive and Learning Approach
pests and diseases, promote healthy crop growth and protect farmers and training sessions at convenient times, to ensure more woman can participate in Engaging the market
2019-20 Farmer Results: India

workers. They also highlighted the dangers of using highly hazardous pesticides trainings at times suitable for them.
or applying a mixture of certain pesticides. Working with
civil society
Child labour Growth and
The risk of child labour remains in India, particularly in underprivileged rural Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in Training Activities Innovation Fund
communities and among the families of migrant workers. Our Implementing of Child Labour Issues Percentages represent the proportion of
40
Partners worked with schools in farming communities to strengthen the ability % 4. Continuous
of village-led child protection committees to prevent child labour. Partners also 12
Low
%
Basic
Percentage of all farmers Percentage of all farm workers
Improvement
ran awareness campaigns on the importance of education and child labour trained who are female trained who are female
for Impact
laws. While nearly 50% of Better Cotton Farmers demonstrated an advanced
awareness of child labour issues, there is still work to be done to help ensure a Demonstrating
broader understanding and prevent child labour in India’s cotton fields. improvement over time
Strengthening our
48 %
6 %
46 % work with partners
Advanced Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
“To me, sustainable cotton means cotton being set up for Impact
of good quality, having lower costs of cultivation
Farmer profile and higher profits, while also doing no harm to
Delivering impact
environment with the cotton production system. Overview of the
We adopt almost all the practices taught to us by and Learning Approach
Name the Better Cotton Field Facilitator. Specifically,
single seed sowing is more suitable for my farm. Engaging the market
Sabari Jagan By adopting this method, the cost of seed sowing Working with
Valvi is reduced by 50%. It also promotes crop growth
more than in the case of multi-seed sowing, and
civil society
preserves nutrients in the soil better too. Using Growth and

Country/region Innovation Fund
red gram (pigeon peas) as an intercrop, marigold
Nandurbar as a trap crop (to lure cotton pests) and maize as
district, a border crop helps with pest management, and
I have seen an increase in the beneficial insects
4. Continuous
Improvement
Maharashtra, on my farm. Last year I purchased vermicompost for Impact
from Sompanda village, and now I have my own
India vermicompost unit supported through the Better Demonstrating
Cotton project. By using organic manure I can
Years in programme
save costs and improve the soil quality too.
3
Even though my farm is rainfed I would like to Strengthening our

encourage other farmers to use water more work with partners
efficiently, such as through the use of alternate Measurement projects
furrow irrigation, so that there is more water
available for all farms in the area.“ Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Israel
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton In Israel, Better Cotton partners with Board (ICB), completed the
Delivering impact
Season the Israel Cotton Production and

Marketing Board (ICB), a farmer-owned
development of the Israel Cotton
Production Standard System,
Overview of the
producer organisation representing all which we benchmarked against and Learning Approach
Participating farmers cotton farmers in the Better Cotton Standard Engaging the market
Israel
53 the country. in 2020 and recognised as
equivalent to Better Cotton. Working with
civil society
Licensed Better Cotton Highlights
Challenges
Farmers Growth and
53
Innovation Fund
Better Cotton Farmers continued
to take action to limit crop damage C
limate change continues to 4. Continuous
Area harvested and prevent future outbreaks of create difficulties for cotton Improvement
4,000 hectares charcoal rot (a soil-borne fungus),
following an attack in the previous
production. In particular, higher
temperatures increase the risk
for Impact
seasons. Charcoal rot affects of charcoal rot, and can lead to Demonstrating
Volume of Better Cotton improvement over time
cotton plant roots and tissue, farmers having to irrigate their
produced
particularly after extreme heat or crops in a timelier manner to
9,000 tonnes
drought. ensure there’s enough moisture
in the soil for healthy yields. Strengthening our
work with partners
Our partner, the Israel Cotton
Production and Marketing Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Israel 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
All cotton production in Israel was licensed as Better Cotton in the 2019-20 cotton Reducing pesticide use Overview of the
season. A total of 53 farmers produced 9,000 tonnes of Better Cotton, the same 2019-20 was a good season from a pest perspective, with low pest pressure, Monitoring, Evaluation
amount as was produced in the previous season. This is still, however, a decline particularly from the pink bollworm (a common cotton pest). Farmers and Learning Approach
compared to 2017-18 (12,000 tonnes produced by 75 farmers), which can be continued to apply pheromones to plants (which disrupts the reproduction Engaging the market
largely attributed to the aforementioned charcoal rot. A decline in cotton price of pink bollworms), and later in the season they took a precision approach
also impacted profitability. to applying pesticides, which means pest populations are observed and Working with
civil society
measured, and pesticides only used where the number of pests reaches
The impact of climate change an unacceptable threshold. Growth and
Global climate change, particularly a gradual increase in temperature, has posed Innovation Fund
challenges for farmers, whose crops and practices have not adapted sufficiently A new standard
rapidly to the hotter weather. Scientists in Israel are researching a new variety The ICB developed their own sustainable cotton standard, the Israel Cotton 4. Continuous
of cotton that can withstand the heat, in order for farmers in Israel to continue Production Standard System (ICPSS), which was recognised as equivalent to the Improvement
cultivating cotton for the long term. Similarly, farmers must continue to reduce Better Cotton Standard System (BCSS) in 2020. From the 2020-21 cotton season, for Impact
the risk of charcoal rot, which is likely prompted by climate change, with the farmers growing cotton in line with the ICPSS can also opt to sell their cotton as
fungus thriving in hotter temperatures. Better Cotton. Demonstrating
Managing plant health Revising our standard
To help manage and protect crops from charcoal rot and to reduce plant stress
effectively, farmers focused on improving soil health, managing moisture levels Strengthening our
through improved timing of irrigation (particularly during the early season), work with partners
managing pests in a timely manner, and regulating plant growth. Additionally, Measurement projects
the ICB began research that will inform farmers on best practice in developing
field margins (buffers of land that protect hedgerows, ditches, and streams from Traceability
farming operations), to further their sustainable farming practices. Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Israel 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Profile “The Better Cotton programme and its

Delivering impact
Principles and Criteria have increased our Overview of the

overall awareness of sustainability.
Name Since joining the programme, we have been Engaging the market
Eitan Avivi focusing on soil conservation by adopting
Working with
minimum tillage and avoiding excess water civil society
Country/region and fertiliser usage during irrigation. We have
also introduced smart farming technologies Growth and
Hazorea such as remote sensing, plant monitoring
Innovation Fund
and soil monitoring. We are now looking

Years in programme 4. Continuous
beyond growing practices alone and we are
Improvement
6 participating in a research programme to
for Impact
improve ground cover along canal banks while
restoring biodiversity on field margins. Demonstrating
Agriculture is a long-term productive pursuit. Revising our standard
We need to pursue sustainable farming
Strengthening our
practices for the sake of the environment as
work with partners
well as humanity and the next generations.”
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Kazakhstan
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton Highlights Challenges Delivering impact
Season Better Cotton Farmers continued C

limate change is a growing
Overview of the
to use more sustainable farming challenge, with conditions and Learning Approach
Participating farmers practices, which included becoming less favourable for Engaging the market
Kazakhstan 331 techniques to care for soil health,
using biological methods to control
cotton. In the 2019-20 cotton
season, Better Cotton Farmers Working with
pests, and restoring degraded had to sow seeds and harvest civil society
Licensed Better Cotton
areas of farmland. crops later than usual. Later Growth and
Farmers
sowing and harvesting can
311
Innovation Fund
Farmers benefitted from high result in lower yields, due to
quality practical advice provided a shortened growing season, 4. Continuous
Area harvested by Implementing Partner Louis and the higher probability of Improvement
3,000 hectares Dreyfus Company’s field staff,
who advised on aspects such as
late season rains damaging the
cotton while it’s still in the field.
for Impact
regularly monitoring soil health and Demonstrating
purchasing higher quality seeds.
produced
3,000 tonnes
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Kazakhstan 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Though there were fewer Better Cotton Farmers in the 2019-20 season, they Water efficiency Overview of the
managed to improve their yields and produce more Better Cotton: 311 licensed All farmers levelled their fields prior to sowing, which while being costly, also Monitoring, Evaluation
farmers cultivated 3,000 tonnes of Better Cotton, compared to 334 farmers and prevented water and salts accumulating in pits and degrading the land. We aim and Learning Approach
2,000 tonnes of Better Cotton in the 2018-19 season. This was largely due to to build on this good practice by further supporting Better Cotton Farmers to Engaging the market
large farms continuing to modernise their equipment (including cotton pickers), preserve water and conserve soil health in the next season.
benefitting from government subsidies, and starting to plant higher quality seed Working with
varieties. Additionally, the average price for seed cotton remained relatively good, To find out more about Better Cotton in Kazakhstan, please visit our website: civil society
compared to global prices. https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/bci-helps-farmers-in- Growth and
kazakhstan-to-grow-better-cotton-and-improve-their-livelihoods/ Innovation Fund
The changing climate
This is a growing challenge for Better Cotton Farmers in Kazakhstan, with the 4. Continuous
seasons becoming more irregular. In particular, spring is arriving later, which Improvement
can lead to seeds being sown and crops harvested later than usual. However, for Impact
the impact on farmers’ yields is negligible for now, with temperatures still in an
acceptable range to ensure a good harvest. Demonstrating
Promoting soil health Revising our standard
Among the more sustainable practices adopted by Better Cotton Farmers in
2019-20, farmers used biological methods to control pests and promote soil Strengthening our
health. This included using beneficial insects and biological pesticides such as work with partners
sulphur against mites, and natural fertilisers such as manure to nourish the soil. Measurement projects
Although the application of manure was helpful, it is still not carried out on a level
that would achieve significant improvements, and therefore farmers also relied on Traceability
some conventional fertilisers. Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Kazakhstan 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Farmer profile “The training I have

Delivering impact
Overview of the
received through the Monitoring, Evaluation
Better Cotton programme and Learning Approach
Name
has helped me to increase Engaging the market
Narkoziev my overall yield and Working with
Mukhit income. I now prefer to
civil society
Growth and
Country/region use biological methods to Innovation Fund
South control cotton pests on
Kazakhstan my farm, and I’m always
4. Continuous
Improvement
Oblast looking for ways to use for Impact
Years in programme water more efficiently. Demonstrating
6
I also practice crop
rotation to improve soil
health.” Strengthening our

work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Mali
2. Farmer Results
country
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact

Better Cotton Farmers monitored Monitoring, Evaluation
pest levels regularly to help manage W
ith rain falling later than usual and Learning Approach
Participating farmers pest pressure and maintain the in the early planting season, Engaging the market
84,684 quality of their cotton fibre, despite
numerous pest attacks.
some farmers were obliged
to re-sow their cotton seeds, Working with
Mali civil society
which increased their costs
Licensed Better Cotton Farmers employed a series of cost- and impacted their profitability. Growth and
Farmers effective techniques, such as soil Sowing later can also lead to Innovation Fund
19,515 moisture management, to help
build resilience to irregular rainfall
increased pest attacks on cotton
plants, and this can impact 4. Continuous
Area harvested and pockets of drought. yields. Improvement
54,000 hectares Many farmers attended training D
ue to challenges complying
for Impact
sessions about the importance with the core requirements of Demonstrating
Volume of Better Cotton of children’s education and the Better Cotton Principles and improvement over time
produced preventing child labour, delivered Criteria, several Producer Units
23,000 tonnes
by Better Cotton’s Implementing did not receive a Better Cotton
Partner Compagnie Malienne pour licence in the 2019-20 season, Strengthening our
le Developpement des Textiles which led to a decrease in the work with partners
(CMDT). number of licensed farmers, area Measurement projects
under cultivation, and volume of
Better Cotton produced. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Mali 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
With a year-on-year increase in cotton prices and government subsidies for Preserving fibre quality Overview of the
farming inputs and equipment, more farmers decided to grow cotton in the The pest pressure experienced in 2019-20 was within normal levels, with various Monitoring, Evaluation
2019-20 season and joined the Better Cotton programme. However, despite the pest attacks reported during the season. However, by continually observing the and Learning Approach
increase in participating farmers, several Producer Units (groups of Smallholder number of pests, and applying certain harvesting techniques, such as carrying Engaging the market
farmers participating in the Better Cotton programme) had challenges complying out two or three rounds of picking, drying, and sorting harvested cotton, and then
with the core requirements of the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria and did not storing it well, Better Cotton Farmers managed to conserve most of their crops Working with
receive a Better Cotton licence in the 2019-20 season. This led to a decrease in and preserve fibre quality. civil society
the number of licensed farmers, area under cultivation, and the volume of Better Growth and
Cotton produced compared to the previous season. Better Cotton’s Implementing Child labour awareness Innovation Fund
Partner continued to work closely with farmers to support them in meeting the Farmers attended training seminars and focused sessions on child labour
core requirements for the next season. prevention, delivered by Better Cotton’s Implementing Partner. In some areas, 4. Continuous
farmers also received messages about the importance of children’s education, Improvement
Cost effective soil moisture management health and nutrition, and preventing child labour. This was provided by for Impact
Although climatic conditions were generally favourable for cotton growing in the organisations such as the ILO, Save the Children, Plan International and local
2019-20 season, some farmers had to re-sow their cotton due to late rainfall and charities who shared information through school talks, media stories and posters. Demonstrating
pockets of drought reported in the early season, creating some additional costs. improvement over time
Better Cotton Farmers sought to address this challenge and maintain yields by To learn more about Better Cotton in Mali, please visit our website: Revising our standard
using simple, cost-effective soil moisture management techniques. For example, https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/bci-is-helping-cotton-
they ploughed strips in and around the edges of fields to help prevent erosion and farmers-in-mali-to-adopt-sustainable-farming-practices/ Strengthening our
run off, composted organic matter and applied organic manure. work with partners
Comparison Farmer data was not available because most of the cotton farmers in Mali’s Better Cotton Traceability
project areas were already participating in the Better Cotton programme.
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Mali 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Farmer profile “Since joining the Better Cotton

Delivering impact
programme, we have stopped using toxic Overview of the

pesticides, which made us sick before. Now and Learning Approach
Name we use very few chemical pesticides and if
we do, we use those that are less toxic for Engaging the market
Abou Diallo our health and the environment. Another Working with
change Better Cotton has positively civil society
Country/region
influenced is our approach and awareness
Sikasso Region
Growth and
of child labour issues. We received training Innovation Fund
on the type of support our children can
Years in programme and cannot provide on our family farms 4. Continuous
6 alongside their schooling. Improvement
for Impact
Cotton is a precious product all over Demonstrating
the world, but for us farmers it is above improvement over time
all a source of critical income - it is our Revising our standard
livelihoods. For me, cotton is the most
important crop.” Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Mozambique
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact

Better Cotton Farmers used less Monitoring, Evaluation
pesticide compared to the previous C
limate change is contributing and Learning Approach
Participating farmers season. This can be attributed to to an unpredictable rainy season, Engaging the market
74,568 many farmers adopting a scouting-
based approach to applying
creating challenges in predicting
appropriate planting times. Working with
pesticides, only spraying when pest civil society
numbers reached a certain level. Increasing market strength for Growth and
Farmers
competing crops like maize,
61,341
Innovation Fund
Mozambique
Our Implementing Partner SAN-JFS sesame and pulses continued to
launched a women’s empowerment drive a reduction in land planted 4. Continuous
Area harvested initiative, enabling women to derive with cotton. In some cases, Improvement
66,000 hectares financial benefit by collecting and
returning pesticide containers for
farmers shifted away from
cotton entirely to grow other
for Impact
recycling. crops. Demonstrating
produced
Implementing Partner SANAM
6,000 tonnes
expanded their community school
outreach programme to improve Strengthening our
awareness of child labour issues. work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Mozambique 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
The number of participating and licensed Better Cotton Farmers decreased in Farmers. Through the season, they shared their learnings and knowledge to help Overview of the
the 2019-20 season due to farmers shifting from cotton to competing crops like others in the Better Cotton programme benefit from better pest management. Monitoring, Evaluation
maize, sesame and pulses, as those crops became stronger in the international and Learning Approach
market. There was also a significant reduction in the cotton area planted per Women’s empowerment Engaging the market
participating farmer as many dedicated more of their land to growing alternative Our Implementing Partner SAN-JFS launched an initiative focusing primarily
crops. With the addition of challenging climatic conditions, the total area on women, whereby women gain some economic independence by collecting, Working with
harvested, and overall volume of Better Cotton produced declined in the emptying, and delivering pesticide containers for recycling. In addition to the civil society
2019-20 season. financial benefit, some have been promoted to Field Facilitators. To be more Growth and
inclusive, SAN-JFS altered their regular training schedule to ensure more woman Innovation Fund
Irregular rainfall could participate in trainings at times suitable for them.
Irregular rainfall meant that farmers could not be certain when to plant for 4. Continuous
optimum growing conditions, which then affected the whole cotton cycle. Child labour awareness Improvement
Similarly, excessive late rain during the cotton fruiting period increased the risks Our Implementing Partners continued to conduct awareness-raising campaigns for Impact
of plant disease and decreased productivity for some farmers. In addition, high in schools. With many schools later closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they
rainfall in Nampula province came just as the cotton bolls were opening, which ran child labour awareness campaigns in village health centres and through local Demonstrating
negatively affected the cotton fibre quality. radio stations to reach wider audiences. improvement over time
Pesticide use and productivity To learn more about Better Cotton in Mozambique, please visit our website
Better Cotton Farmers used less pesticide in 2019-20 by improving their skills https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton- Strengthening our
in pest management and only using pesticides when pest numbers reached a mozambique/ work with partners
certain threshold – this also helped with reducing input costs. Lead Better Cotton Measurement projects
Farmers, (role models with an advanced understanding of good practices, who
typically trial new farming practices), were particularly successful in applying Traceability
these techniques, and reported even higher yields than other Better Cotton Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Mozambique 2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Profile Delivering impact

Overview of the
Name
“Since joining the Better Cotton programme, I’ve taken Engaging the market
Manuel many steps to boost productivity on my farm, focusing on Working with
Maussene more efficient approaches to managing pests, maximising civil society
Country/region my use of rainwater, and improving soil health and fibre. Growth and
Where possible, I use natural substances such as neem

Innovation Fund
Niassa Province
leaves to make botanical pesticides, which also saves me 4. Continuous
Years in programme money. I also use perished weeds from my farm to create a Improvement
8 nourishing cover for the topsoil. This has the double benefit for Impact
of providing nutrients to the soil while helping to maximise Demonstrating
moisture retention and ensuring more water is directed improvement over time
to the roots, essential in times of drought and irregular Revising our standard
rainfall. Improving soil health is vital. I also try to improve Strengthening our
my overall soil health by rotating my cotton crops with work with partners
maize, cassava and beans, which gives the soil a chance Measurement projects
to regenerate.” Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Multiple African Countries
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton In 2013, Better Cotton entered into their practices and increase their
Delivering impact
Season a Strategic Partnership Agreement

with the Aid by Trade Foundation
yields, achieving an average
yield of 950kg/ha of seed cotton
Overview of the
(AbTF), owners of the Cotton made (compared to an average of 840 and Learning Approach
Participating farmers in Africa (CmiA) Standard. The Better kg/ha in the 2018-19 season). Engaging the market
Multiple African 990,925 Cotton and CmiA standards were
benchmarked and recognised as D
espite restrictions due to the Working with
Countries
equivalent, and as a result, cotton Covid-19 pandemic, CmiA’s civil society
LicensedCmiA/BetterCotton
verified as CmiA can also be sold as partner cotton companies Growth and
Farmers
Better Cotton. managed to continue to deliver
756,000
Innovation Fund
farmer support and trainings
In the 2019-20 cotton season, the while ensuring safety measures 4. Continuous
Area harvested CmiA Standard was implemented for all participants, this included Improvement
1,402,000 in the following countries: Benin,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire,
delivering small training groups
and practicing social distancing.
for Impact
hectares Mozambique* Nigeria, Tanzania, Demonstrating
Volume of CmiA/
Chad, Uganda and Zambia. Challenges improvement over time
Highlights
Better Cotton grown Revising our standard
D
ue to Covid-19 restrictions,
578,000 tonnes regional workshops and visits to Strengthening our
work with partners
In the 2019-20 season, CmiA/Better supply chain partners could not
Cotton-benchmarked be conducted. Measurement projects
farmers were able to improve
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Multiple African Countries 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
In the 2019-20 cotton season, 756,000 licensed CmiA/Better Cotton- Overview of the
benchmarked farmers produced 578,000 tonnes of cotton. Despite the slight Monitoring, Evaluation
decline in the number of licensed farmers compared to the previous season and Learning Approach
(822,371 farmers in the 2018-19 season), farmers were able to improve their Engaging the market
practices and increase their yields (on average). As a result, they managed to
produce the same overall volume of cotton year on year. Working with
civil society
Learn more about the Aid by Trade Foundation: Growth and
https://www.aidbytrade.org/en/home/ Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
Better Cotton has a contractual agreement with AbTF to share data in a consolidated Strengthening our
form, rather than on a country-by-country basis. Better Cotton does not share the work with partners
Results Indicator data of Strategic Partners.
*Better Cotton also operates a direct programme in Mozambique, therefore farmers in
Mozambique who may be both CmiA and Better Cotton licensed are only counted once. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Pakistan
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact

Better Cotton Farmers reported Monitoring, Evaluation
12% higher yields and 35% higher C
otton production was and Learning Approach
Participating farmers profits than Comparison Farmers, affected by unfavourable Engaging the market
502,042 largely due to their improved
knowledge on seed selection, crop
weather conditions, particularly
unpredictable rains, high Working with
protection and soil health. temperatures and low water civil society
Pakistan Licensed Better Cotton
availability in some areas Growth and
Farmers
By harnessing multiple water- during crop sowing and plant
460,220
Innovation Fund
saving techniques, and laser- development.
levelling their land before 4. Continuous
Area harvested sowing, Better Cotton Farmers P
est attacks created significant Improvement
1,286,000 reported 11% less water use than
Comparison Farmers.
damage to cotton crops,
contributing to reduced yields in
for Impact
hectares some areas. Demonstrating
Better Cotton Farmers used improvement over time
Volume of Better Cotton 16% less synthetic fertiliser than
produced Revising our standard
Comparison Farmers, opting for
944,000 tonnes natural fertilisers such as farmyard Strengthening our
work with partners
manure where possible.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Pakistan 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
2019-20 Farmer Results: Pakistan 3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Some 502,042 Better Cotton Farmers in Pakistan produced 944,000 tonnes of Overview of the
Compared to
Better Cotton in the 2019-20 cotton season. Challenging growing conditions Monitoring, Evaluation
meant a lower yield per hectare compared to the previous season. However, and Learning Approach
Better Cotton Farmers still achieved 12% higher yields and 35% higher profits than Engaging the market
Comparison Farmers, largely due to their improved knowledge on seed selection,
crop protection and soil health. Average Better Average Non Working with
Climate challenges Growth and
In particular, cotton farmers faced unpredictable rains, high temperatures and Innovation Fund
low water availability in some areas, during important stages of crop sowing and
plant development. Pest attacks added further challenges, with locusts, whitefly 4. Continuous
and pink bollworm all damaging the crops, leading to lower yields for some
11 35 12 12 0 0 16
Improvement
farmers. - %+ % + %- % + % + % - % for Impact
Reducing pesticide use Water Profit Yield Synthetic Biopesticide* Organic Synthetic Demonstrating
Despite the challenges, Better Cotton Farmers leveraged the knowledge gained
through their Better Cotton training to use 12% fewer pesticides than Comparison Revising our standard
Farmers. In particular, Better Cotton Farmers learnt to only spray pesticides when
pest levels reached a certain threshold, to apply biopesticides such as natural Strengthening our
neem oil instead of chemical pesticides, and to plant a diverse range of plants to work with partners
encourage and preserve beneficial insects. Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Opting for natural fertilisers

2019-20 Farmer Results: Pakista 3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
During the season, fertiliser and pesticide costs increased, though this was Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in Training Activities
partially offset by the government providing subsidies for farmers for nitrogen, of Child Labour Issues Percentages represent the proportion of Overview of the
42
phosphorous and potash fertilisers. Better Cotton Farmers also opted for % Monitoring, Evaluation
natural fertilisers and applied farmyard manure to help promote soil health, 0 %
Low
Basic
Percentage of all farmers Percentage of all farm workers
which contributed to their using 16% fewer synthetic fertilisers than Comparison trained who are female trained who are female
Engaging the market
Farmers. Improving soil health in this way also helped to reduce the need for
irrigation. They also used laser levelling before sowing, ensuring the land was Working with
level to promote the more even distribution of water across the fields. Overall, civil society
Better Cotton Farmers used 11% less water than Comparison Farmers. Growth and
Innovation Fund
Training on child labour issues
With continuous training on child labour prevention, some 58% of farmers
reported an advanced level of awareness on this important issue. Some
Implementing Partners, including WWF Pakistan, showed videos on decent work
58 %
Advanced 0 %
72 % 4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
on LED screens mounted on vans in their villages. These proved popular with
farming families. Further work is planned on this topic for the coming season. Demonstrating
To learn more about Better Cotton in Pakistan, please visit: Revising our standard
https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton-pakistan/
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Profile “For me, Better Cotton means analysing

Delivering impact
the best suitable ways of cultivating Overview of the

cotton, keeping in view the long-term and Learning Approach
Name effects. Then with this knowledge, it’s
Engaging the market
Muhammad about adopting changes in a sustainable
way, while teaching and transferring the Working with
Shahbaz skills to our children and so on to the
civil society
Country/region next generations. Growth and
Vehari
Innovation Fund
I have adopted many different practices
since becoming part of the Better Cotton 4. Continuous
Years in programme programme, but the one that gives me Improvement
4 maximum benefit and helps me to save
for Impact
inputs and utilise land in efficient way is Demonstrating
intercropping – it’s helped me to increase
my cotton yields and profits. I’ve also Revising our standard
significantly reduced my overall use of Strengthening our
water. Growing cotton requires dedicated work with partners
and a willingness to learn new things.” Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
South Africa
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact

Better Cotton Farmers continued Monitoring, Evaluation
to optimise their pesticide use, D
elays in early season rainfall and Learning Approach
Participating farmers replacing conventional pesticides led to fewer fields being planted Engaging the market
559 with more sustainable alternatives.
In particular, this included phase-
with cotton, while Better Cotton
Farmers who rely on rainfall Working with
out plans for certain pesticides, and (rather than irrigation water) civil society
Licensed Better Cotton exploring the use of biopesticides. to nourish their crops also Growth and
Farmers experienced lower yields. Innovation Fund
South Africa 559 Awareness of child labour
prevention was high, with no A
dditionally, decreased 4. Continuous
Area harvested incidents reported during the government investment in Improvement
12,000 hectares season, and Better Cotton Farmers
reporting 95% advanced awareness
agriculture further contributed to
the reduction in planted area and
for Impact
on child labour issues. yields. This affected smallholder Demonstrating
Volume of Better Cotton farmers in particular, and led to improvement over time
produced Yields rose on some Large Farms fewer farmers participating in
11,000 tonnes
and Medium Farms, with more the Better Cotton programme
Better Cotton Farmers adopting overall. Strengthening our
precision farming techniques, work with partners
particularly in terms of irrigation, Measurement projects
pest control and fertiliser
application. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
South Africa 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
In South Africa, 559 Better Cotton Farmers cultivated 11,000 tonnes of Better Utilising biopesticides Overview of the
Cotton, a decrease compared to the 2018-19 cotton season, when 646 farmers Many Better Cotton Farmers sought to replace some pesticides with Monitoring, Evaluation
produced 18,000 tonnes of Better Cotton. This is largely due to reduced biopesticides. While this was a positive move, it did also contribute to increased and Learning Approach
government support and subsidies for agriculture. The effect of this was largely costs in some cases (as the less mass-produced biopesticides came at a higher Engaging the market
felt by smallholder farmers. Meanwhile, delays in early season rainfall also cost), highlighting the challenges sometimes experienced by farmers in adopting
resulted in fewer fields being planted with cotton and lower yields. In addition, the more sustainable practices. Working with
rotational cropping system used for soil management by licensed Medium Farms civil society
and Large Farms in South Africa led to a slight decrease in cotton cultivated area Soil health and water stewardship Growth and
in the season. With a greater understanding of soil health and requirements, Better Cotton Innovation Fund
Farmers were also better placed to know when to apply fertilisers, and in
Precision farming techniques what quantities. Similarly, more Better Cotton Farmers conducted analysis to 4. Continuous
Despite these challenges, Large Farms and some Medium Farms made important understand water availability and opportunities to conserve natural resources, Improvement
gains on improving sustainable practices by using precision farming techniques, including water on their farms. for Impact
with a focus on irrigation, pest control, soil health and fertiliser application. For
example, some Better Cotton Farmers adopted seed varieties engineered to resist Awareness of child labour issues Demonstrating
certain pests and respond positively to particular herbicides. They also thoroughly Overall, awareness of the importance of preventing child labour was high, with improvement over time
analysed their crops to clarify that pest numbers had reached a certain level 95% of Better Cotton Farmers demonstrating high levels of awareness, and no Revising our standard
before applying pesticides, supported by experts. Despite this progress, a serious incidents recorded during the season.
invasion of jassids (a common sap-sucking cotton pest) prompted higher Strengthening our
pesticide use in some cases. To find out more about Better Cotton in South Africa, please visit our website: work with partners
https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton-south- Measurement projects
africa/
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Tajikistan
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton Highlights Awareness around the importance In the 2019-20 season, a large
Delivering impact
Season etter Cotton Farmers developed

B
of preventing child labour continues
to grow among both farmers
number of cotton pests such as
spider mites and aphids were
Overview of the
their knowledge of water saving and workers in Tajikistan, and observed in some area. Farmers and Learning Approach
Participating farmers and efficient irrigation techniques 73% of farmers had an advanced took preventive control, but when Engaging the market
881 through their involvement in the
WAPRO project, and as a result
awareness of child labour issues as
a result of training and dedicated
the number of pests continued
to grow, farmers had to resort to Working with
applying pesticides. civil society
used 16% less water in relation to support during the harvesting
Comparison Farmers. season. Growth and
Farmers
876
Innovation Fund
Synthetic fertiliser use among
Area harvested
Better Cotton Farmers was 62% Challenges 4. Continuous
lower than Comparison Farmers, Improvement
14,000 hectares with Better Cotton Farmers able to Better Cotton Farmers experienced
heavy rains and mudflows in the
for Impact
harness agronomists’ soil health
recommendations to inform their early season followed by drought Demonstrating
choice and use of fertilisers. and sharp fluctuations in air
produced Tajikistan
temperature mid-season, which led
13,000 tonnes
Better Cotton Farmers achieved to some farmers having to replant
15% higher yields than Comparison their cotton. Strengthening our
work with partners
Farmers.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Tajikistan 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
2019-20 Farmer Results: Tajikistan 3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
In 2019-20, fewer farmers produced a larger volume of Better Cotton in Tajikistan, Overview of the
Compared to
compared to the previous season. Some 876 farmers received a Better Cotton Monitoring, Evaluation
licence, compared to 964 in 2018-19, and they produced 13,000 tonnes of Better and Learning Approach
Cotton on the same amount of land - a thousand tonnes more than the previous Engaging the market
season. Better Cotton Farmers experienced 15% higher yields than Comparison
Farmers, as many planted high-yield cotton varieties and worked closely with Average Better Average Non Working with
expert agronomists, who provided comprehensive advice on all aspects of
preparing the soil, planting cotton, water efficiency and best practice in applying Growth and
pesticides and fertilisers. In terms of profitability of the cotton crop, the relatively Innovation Fund
higher yields were offset slightly by a lower price of cotton, and higher fertiliser
costs, as prices had increased. 4. Continuous
15 62 9 0 6
Improvement
Climate challenges
Climatic conditions were challenging, with Better Cotton Farmers experiencing
heavy rains and mudflows in the early season, which led to some farmers
16
- %
Water
+
Yield
% - %
Synthetic
-
Biopesticide*
% + %
Organic
+ %
Synthetic
for Impact
Demonstrating
having to replant their cotton. This challenge was followed by drought and sharp
fluctuations in temperature mid-season. However, Better Cotton Farmers were Revising our standard
able to use the irrigation knowledge they had gained through the WAPRO project
to conserve and use water efficiently though the season. Overall, they used 16% Strengthening our
less water than Comparison Farmers. work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Reducing pesticide use To learn more about Better Cotton in Tajikistan, please visit our website: Delivering impact
Farmers in some areas also faced a significant number of cotton pests, including
https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton-tajikistan/
spider mites and aphids. This prompted the use of pesticides in order to preserve Overview of the
the crops. However, by using preventive methods such as encouraging beneficial Monitoring, Evaluation
insects, precision application techniques, and using natural bio-pesticides, and Learning Approach
2019-20 Farmer Results: Tajikista

Better Cotton Farmers used 62% less synthetic pesticide overall compared to Engaging the market
Comparison Farmers. The increased costs of pesticide in the 2019-20 season
also encouraged farmers to use less inputs than in the previous season, Working with
especially as they had alternative methods to fight pests. civil society
Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in Training Activities Growth and
Adapting practices of Child Labour Issues Percentages represent the proportion of
Innovation Fund
27
Conversely, they used 6% more conventional fertiliser than Comparison Farmers. %
However, Better Cotton Farmers harnessed agronomists’ soil advice and 0 %
Low
Basic
4. Continuous
expertise to make more sustainable fertiliser choices, opting for macronutrients Improvement
(such as phosphorus and potassium) in some cases, and decreasing their use of for Impact
carbon-intensive nitrogen-based fertilisers.
Demonstrating
Awareness of child labour issues improvement over time
73% of Better Cotton Farmers in Tajikistan had an advanced level of awareness of Revising our standard
child labour issues, as a result of training and advice on child labour prevention,
73 %
5 %
40 %
particularly during the harvesting season, when children have traditionally helped Strengthening our
their families in the fields. Advanced
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Profile “Better Cotton is about growing cotton using the

Delivering impact
least amount of pesticides possible, or removing Overview of the

the use of chemical pesticides all together, using Monitoring, Evaluation
water and fertilisers efficiently, and thinking and Learning Approach
Name about and caring for the environment. At the Engaging the market
Etmishev same time, it’s about looking at ways to improve
yield and income. On our farm we are focusing on Working with
Shukurjon reducing the harmful effects of plant protection civil society
and using biological methods, such as light traps,
Growth and
Country/region to control cotton pests.
Sughd,
Innovation Fund
Through the Better Cotton programme, I have
Kanibadam City attending various training sessions, field
demonstrations, and meetings related to cotton
4. Continuous
Improvement
Years in programme cultivation and irrigation technologies. I’ve been for Impact
7 introduced to effective methods of irrigation,
biological pest control, and ways to improve soil
Demonstrating
fertility. By implementing fertigation (a method
of applying organic fertilisers at the same time Revising our standard
as watering, which contributes to increased
Strengthening our
soil fertility and moisture retention), we have
work with partners
increased our yield by more than 25%.”
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
Turkey
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton Highlights We completed the first phase

Delivering impact
Season Our Implementing Partners

of our collaborative project in
Şanlıurfa to improve farmers’
Overview of the
continued to engage with Better working conditions. In the and Learning Approach
Participating farmers Cotton Farmers by helping to build 2019-20 season, 65% of Better Engaging the market
Turkey
4,801 their capacity to test the soil to
understand soil nutrient needs and
Cotton Farmers in Turkey had an
advanced level of awareness of Working with
civil society
know which nutrients and fertilisers child labour issues.
to apply and when. This led to them Growth and
Farmers
Challenges
using 3% less pesticide and 5% less
3,299
Innovation Fund
fertiliser than Comparison Farmers.
Area harvested 4. Continuous
With the expert help of E
xtreme or irregular weather Improvement
53,000 hectares agronomists, Better Cotton prompted by climate change
was a particular challenge for
for Impact
Farmers were also able to leverage
best practices to achieve 5% higher Better Cotton Farmers in the Demonstrating
yields and 19% higher profits than Aegean region, where irregular
produced
Comparison Farmers, despite rains led to delayed or repeated
103,000 tonnes
challenging growing conditions and sowings. In Southern Anatolia,
higher production costs. a rainy sowing period led to Strengthening our
delayed sowing and increased work with partners
pest pressure, lowering yields. Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Turkey 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
2019-20 Farmer Results: Turkey 3. Better Cotton –
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Significantly more Better Cotton Farmers (4,801 compared to 1,691 in 2018-19) Overview of the
Compared to
cultivated 103,000 tonnes of Better Cotton in the 2019-20 cotton season, nearly Monitoring, Evaluation
twice the volume produced in the previous season. They also experienced 5% and Learning Approach
higher yields and 19% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. The Aegean Engaging the market
region performed best, with favourable weather conditions for cotton growing
(and just a few farmers having to re-sow due to irregular rains). In the Çukurova Average Better Average Non Working with
and Southeastern Anatolia Regions, Better Cotton Farmers faced challenging
conditions, largely due to adverse weather and an aphid epidemic. Despite the Growth and
overall strong performance, some farmers’ profits were affected by a decrease in Innovation Fund
cotton price.
4. Continuous
Reaching more farmers
19 5 3 3 2
Improvement
In the Aegean Region, Canbel (an existing partner) took on a larger role with Better
Cotton and became an Implementing Partner in the 2019-20 season. Through the
season, Canbel introduced the Better Cotton programme to more farmers and
-
2
% +
Water
% +
Profit
% -
Yield
% n/a
Synthetic Biopesticide
+
Organic
% -
Synthetic
% for Impact
Demonstrating
Pesticide fertiliser fertiliser improvement over time
more generally supported effective training, delivered by Field Facilitators with
expert agronomic knowledge. Revising our standard
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Effective pest management Delivering impact
Among the notable practices implemented by Better Cotton Farmers, a focus To find out more about Better Cotton in Turkey, please visit our website:
on effective pest management and fertiliser use led to farmers using 3% less https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton-turkey/ Overview of the
pesticide and 5% less fertiliser, on average, in relation to Comparison Farmers. Monitoring, Evaluation
The reduction in pesticide use from the year before was also in part due to lower and Learning Approach
pest pressure overall, though an aphid epidemic in the Eastern region affected Engaging the market
yields and prompted higher pesticide use by some farmers. Better Cotton
2019-20 Farmer Results: Turkey

Farmers also used organic fertiliser (in the form of manure) 3% more often than Working with
Comparison Farmers. civil society
Growth and
Water use Innovation Fund
While more investment is needed to better understand Better Cotton Farmers’ Level of Awareness Women’s Inclusion in Training Activities
water use in Turkey, our Implementing Partners have noted that some farmers of Child Labour Issues Percentages represent the proportion of
4. Continuous
33%
are benefitting from drip irrigation techniques, reporting higher yields and profits. Improvement
Overall, Better Cotton Farmers used 2% less water than Comparison Farmers. 2 %
Low
Basic
for Impact
Awareness of child labour issues Demonstrating
Our Implementing Partners retained a strong focus on preventing child labour, improvement over time
with our partner IPUD completing a four-year project called “Improving Working Revising our standard
Conditions in the Turkish Cotton Industry Towards Decent Work Conditions in
the Cotton Fields in Şanlıurfa”. Through the project, we supported Better Cotton Strengthening our
Farmers in promoting decent work on their farms and preventing forced labour work with partners
65 %
6 %
29 %
and child labour. In the 2019-20 season, 65% of Better Cotton Farmers in Turkey Measurement projects
had an advanced level of awareness of child labour issues. Advanced
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

Introduction
Countries in Focus
“Better Cotton means protecting our soil,
water, and environment by respectfully
set up for Impact
growing cotton for the benefit of both
Farmer profile nature and humans. Better farming
practices also help us to minimise input
Delivering impact
Overview of the
costs, increase fibre quality, and achieve Monitoring, Evaluation
higher quality product. and Learning Approach
Name
Engaging the market
Abdullah Kavak Controlling cotton pests is very
important for us because they cause Working with
civil society
Country/region damage, decrease yield, and increase
our input costs. I learnt about Economic
Söke, Aydin
Growth and
Damage Thresholds (the pest density Innovation Fund
at which a control tactic must be

Years in programme 4. Continuous
implemented to avoid an economic loss)
3 through the Better Cotton programme.
Improvement
for Impact
Now, we follow this practice to control
pests more efficiently and effectively, Demonstrating
applying pesticides only when absolutely
necessary. We also take care to use water Revising our standard
optimally and care for soil health by Strengthening our
rotating crops every two years.” work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

programme
USA
2. Farmer Results
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
2019-20 Cotton Highlights Challenges Delivering impact
Season Better Cotton Farmers continued to B

etter Cotton Farmer numbers
Overview of the
use soil conservation practices to decreased to 289 across 14 US and Learning Approach
Participating farmers improve overall soil health on their states, down from 639 in the Engaging the market
USA 398 farms. 2018-19 season. In the previous
season there had been a large Working with
Farmers also focused on reducing increase in farmer enrolment in civil society
their water usage, optimising their the Better Cotton programme, Growth and
Farmers
use of pesticides, and protecting despite a modest increase in
289
Innovation Fund
pollinators and beneficial insects. demand for US Better Cotton –
this rebalanced in the 2019-20 4. Continuous
Area harvested season. Improvement
192,000 hectares A
decrease in cotton prices in
for Impact
the US, due to international trade Demonstrating
disputes, led to some farmers
produced
planting less cotton in the 2019-
241,000 tonnes
20 cotton season.
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
USA 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Season overview
set up for Impact
Efficient water use Delivering impact
In the same survey, we found that for irrigated farms, 90% were monitoring
Better Cotton Farmer numbers rebalanced to 289 (across 14 states) in the soil moisture (which also leads to improved soil health), 78% were scheduling Overview of the
2019-20 season, down from 633 in the 2018-19 season. This was largely due irrigation for the best possible times (avoiding extreme heat or wind) 75% were Monitoring, Evaluation
to an oversupply of Better Cotton from the previous year, where we saw a large using drought-resistant seed varieties, and nearly 70% were using efficient drip and Learning Approach
increase in grower numbers, which added surplus Better Cotton to cotton irrigation. Additionally, 95% were timing pesticide and nutrient applications to Engaging the market
merchant inventories. This, combined with the overall decline in cotton prices in prevent chemicals entering the water system, and 86% were taking measures to
the US, led to fewer farmers cultivating Better Cotton in the 2019-20 season. In protect pollinators and beneficial insects. Working with
addition, some states along the Mississippi river experienced significant rainfall in civil society
the spring, which also reduced their ability to plant cotton. Tackling cotton pests Growth and
Farmers continued to report herbicide resistance in the 2019-20 season. In Innovation Fund
Soil health particular, farmers reported having few options to address resistant Palmer
In the 2019-20 season, we asked Better Cotton Farmers in the US to report their amaranth (also known as pigweed), the primary weed challenge across the 4. Continuous
soil improvement practices through a self-assessment survey on continuous cotton belt. Plant bugs, stink bugs, spider mites, nematodes and thrips were Improvement
improvement planning. We found that the majority of respondents were also commonly noted pests. US farmers relied on the recommendations of crop for Impact
implementing numerous measures to protect soil health. For example, 91% were consultants and extension services to implement the best technologies and
using reduced tillage methods (which can help to build organic soil matter and practices to reduce pesticide use, protect beneficial species, and minimise risk of Demonstrating
reduce soil erosion), 85% were using cover crops, and 77% were adding organic worker exposure to pesticides. improvement over time
matter to their soils. Revising our standard
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
#3
Demonstrating
Better Cotton:
Strengthening our
work with partners
Set up for
Traceability
impact
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
61
1. Introduction
Delivering impact through our

2. Farmer Results
Better Cotton Standard System

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Better Cotton Standard System overview 3. Better Cotton –

set up for Impact
Principles and
Criteria Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
Results and Capacity civil society
Impact Building
Growth and
Innovation Fund
Better Cotton
Standard System R170
4. Continuous
Improvement
overview for Impact
Demonstrating
Claims Assurance improvement over time
Framework Programme
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Chain of
Custody Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
System overview
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Principles Capacity Monitoring, Evaluation
and Criteria Building
Engaging the market
How it works How it contributes to How it works farmers on the ground to adopt more Working with
The Better Cotton Principles and impact Better Cotton’s Capacity Building sustainable practices. We know that to civil society
Criteria lay out the global definition of By following these principles, farmers Programme is delivered by Better create positive change and deepen the Growth and
Better Cotton through seven guiding produce cotton in a way that is Cotton Implementing Partners in over impact of our programme, we must Innovation Fund
principles: measurably better for themselves, their 20 countries around the world. ensure that farmers and farm workers
communities, and the environment. have access to the necessary tools, 4. Continuous
Minimise the harmful impact of These experienced, field-level partners training, and support that they need to Improvement
crop protection practices Today, the principles are applied by teach the Principles and Criteria of continuously improve their practices. for Impact
Promotion of water stewardship more than 2.7 million cotton farmers the Better Cotton Standard System
Care for the health of the soil around the world and provide farmers with the support Our Capacity Building Programme Demonstrating
Enhance biodiversity and use land they need to implement the Standard puts farmers and farm workers front improvement over time
responsibly We periodically review the Principles effectively. and centre, and by working with Revising our standard
Care for and preservation of fibre and Criteria to ensure they continue experienced partners, we are better
quality to meet best practice, are effective How it contributes to able to tailor field-level training and Strengthening our
Promotion of decent work and locally relevant, and support our impact interventions and maximise our ability work with partners
Operation of effective management ambitions to drive field-level change Helping farmers survive and thrive is to contribute to more sustainable Measurement projects
systems and impact. See page 90 for more central to our mission at Better Cotton. cotton production for farming
information on the next revision of the Achieving that mission communities around the world. Traceability
Principles and Criteria. starts with building the capacity of Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
System overview 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Assurance Chain of Monitoring, Evaluation
Programme Custody
Engaging the market
How it works How it contributes to How it works How it contributes to Working with
The Assurance Programme ensures impact The Better Cotton Chain of Custody impact civil society
that farms and farmer groups meet Our assurance model is unique from is the key framework that connects A robust chain of custody that is cost- Growth and
all the core requirements of the Better many other standard systems in two Better Cotton supply with demand. effective and designed with complex Innovation Fund
Cotton Principles and Criteria before ways: we aim to balance credibility supply chains in mind is essential for
they can be licensed to sell Better with scalability and cost-effectiveness, Though this framework, Better Cotton facilitating demand for Better Cotton. 4. Continuous
Cotton. and we recognise that sustainability is is documented as it moves through The mass balance approach does Improvement
a journey of continuous improvement. the supply chain. It ensures that the just that. for Impact
Our approach combines assessments volume of Better Cotton claimed
by approved third-party verifiers with The multi-level structure of our by Better Cotton Retailer and Brand We are also now looking at how we Demonstrating
assessments by trained Better Cotton Assurance Programme helps keep Members does not exceed the volume can develop mechanisms that support improvement over time
staff members, support visits by Better Cotton cost-neutral for of Better Cotton produced by licensed physical traceability throughout the Revising our standard
Implementing Partners, and regular small and medium-sized farms. It Better Cotton Farmers in any given entire supply chain. See page 98 for
self-assessments by producers. also means that knowledge from time period. more details. Strengthening our
assessments can be more easily work with partners
Assurance includes farm assessments fed back and used to inform our The Chain of Custody Guidelines Measurement projects
and measurement of results through capacity building priorities and incorporate two different chain of
eight results indicators, encouraging system improvements. custody models: product segregation Traceability
farmers to continuously improve. between the farm and gin and mass Glossary of terms
balance beyond the gin.
Back to contents

1. Introduction
System overview 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Claims Results and
Framework Impact
Engaging the market
How it works How it contributes to How it works countries where the Better Cotton Working with
The Claims Framework equips impact Via our Monitoring, Evaluation and Standard System is implemented civil society
our members to make credible The Claims Framework is crucial to Learning Programme we collect and and examine the results to gauge Growth and
and positive claims about Better ensure that claims being made are analyse data from across the breadth improvements in sustainability. See Innovation Fund
Cotton while allowing flexibility in not misleading, which is why we are of the cotton community, from the Farmer Results in the previous
how to communicate about their committed to ensuring that claims smallholders using traditional manual section for the 2019-20 figures and 4. Continuous
commitment. made about Better Cotton are credible, equipment to the most high-tech, insights. We also gather qualitative Improvement
transparent, and accurate. large-scale operations. outcome information, such as Stories for Impact
It provides guidelines on what can and from the Field.
can’t be said according to a member’s By combining claims in the framework To understand the reach of Better Demonstrating
cotton sourcing threshold as well as with other resources, such as farmer Cotton, we document the number of How it contributes to improvement over time
the approval process for a claim. stories, Better Cotton Members can farmers and farming communities impact Revising our standard
articulate a compelling story that reached by our projects, the number By collecting and analysing data on the
is meaningful to them and their who achieve a Better Cotton Licence, reach, outcomes and impact of Better Strengthening our
customers. the volume of Better Cotton that is Cotton, we can understand what is work with partners
grown and sourced, and the number working, and what needs to improve. Measurement projects
Read more about how the claims, and of hectares under Better Cotton Similarly, this information can help out
the Claims Framework, help to drive cultivation. partners and Better Cotton Farmers Traceability
demand for Better Cotton on page 67. to continually adjust their work on Glossary of terms
To understand the Better Cotton’s sustainable cotton farming practices
impact, we collect data from all to improve. Back to contents

1. Introduction
Overview of the Monitoring, Evaluation

2. Farmer Results
Introduction

Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Measuring the results and impact of the Better Cotton programme is essential
Delivering impact
to understanding the difference we’re making to people, the environment and the
cotton industry. We’re committed to measuring sustainability results everywhere Overview of the
Better Cotton is produced and evaluating how we can continuously improve our Monitoring, Evaluation
approach for greater impact— we want to be sure that our work benefits cotton and Learning Approach
farming communities. Importantly, creating meaningful progress will help us Engaging the market
achieve our 2030 strategy (set to be published in December 2021) and deliver our
ambitions. Working with
civil society
How do we measure results? Growth and
We use complementary research and evaluation methods and work with We use Innovation Fund
complementary research and evaluation methods and work with independent
organisations and researchers to assess the impact we make in the field. We’re 4. Continuous
also growing our own expert team. This diversity of approaches is necessary to Improvement
effectively measure results and impact both at scale and in depth. See the below for Impact
infographic for more details.
Demonstrating
How do we use results to drive impact? improvement over time
Equipped with these insights, we’re better able to measure the effectiveness of Revising our standard
the Better Cotton Standard System. We give farming communities information on
the results they’re achieving, so they can see the benefit of sustainable practices Strengthening our
and keep improving the way they farm. We can also provide our donors and work with partners
members with tangible evidence of the positive impact we’re making, helping to Measurement projects
ensure we retain both their trust and the investment we need to support farmers
on the ground. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

Supply chain
Supply
icons
chain icons Supply chain icons
1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
the field
retailer & produce r cott on gin cott on ya rn
cott on cottretailer
on fabric
& retailer &
end
produce pr
r oduct gin
produce r cott cott on gin ya rn
on cott onya rn
fabric Countries
retailer
in
fabric
& pr oduct
end
Focus
brand organis ation trader trader spinner
prod uct brand mill
prod uct brand manufactu
organis rer
ation organis trader spinner
ation farmer spinner
prod uct mill brand mill
manufactu rer
or
set up for Impact
Membership
Membership
icons iconsFarm size icons Membership iconsFarm Delivering
sizeFarm icons
impact
size
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
r suppliers & civil retailerassociat
& prod&ucer
eretailer suppliers
prod ucer large
& & medium
supplierscivil civil smallholder
associat s&
e retailer
associat e &medium
prod ucer large supplierslarge
on manafucturers soci ety brand organis ation
brand ation farms
manafucturers
organis soci etyfarms
manafucturers soci ety brand organis ationfarmsGrowth
manafucturers farms
and farms
Innovation Fund
Better Cotton brings people and businesses together across the cotton sector – The investment that these businesses make in sourcing Better Cotton leads
to deliver a shared vision for the future of sustainable cotton. We focus primarily directly to funding change on the ground. In particular, retailer and brands
a icons PrinciplesPrinciples
& criteria&icons
criteria icons BCCUPrinciples
icon & criteria icons
members pay a Volume-Based Fee (VBF) relating to the amount of Better Cotton 4. Continuous
on supporting farmers on the ground. But it’s vital that we also drive demand for Improvement
Better Cotton, in order to continue our growth and impact, firmly establishing they source – the vast majority of this goes to our Growth and Innovation Fund,
which supports capacity building for farmers in cotton farming communities for Impact
Better Cotton as a viable commodity for farmers to grow and supporting them to
improve their livelihoods. worldwide. In 2020, 204 Better Cotton Retailer and Brand Members sourced Demonstrating
1.7 million tonnes of cotton as Better Cotton. Between 2010 and 2021, the improvement over time
So how does this work in practice? Every year, we attract new members and work fund and its predecessor, the Better Cotton Fast Track Program (led by IDH)
with existing commercial members to support them in transitioning to Better raised 99 million euros. By the 2021-22 season, this is projected to grow to
Cotton sourcing and management
helping to ensure that purchasing Better Cotton works for just over 125 million euros. An overwhelming majority of this goes directly Strengthening our
management management m
their business.
fibre qual ity syst em soil health crop wa te r crop
fibre to
qualfield-level
biodiversity
ity programmes.
fibre qual ity
syst em soil
syst emhealth soil wa
healthte r crop wa te r work with partners
biodiversityfibre qual
biodiversity
ity
dec ent wo rk dec ent wo rk bccu
dec ent wo rk
n protection protection protection Measurement projects
Traceability
26 Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
And it’s not just about funding. Many of our Retailer and Brand Members are In late 2021, Better Cotton will revise its Claims Framework to account for the
Delivering impact
major household names with reach and influence across their global supply new Better Cotton brand and ensure that the rules we issue are in line with
chains. They have a real opportunity to encourage their suppliers to join and evolving industry best practice and legislative requirements. Overview of the
source Better Cotton. Beyond this, they also have the power to communicate their Monitoring, Evaluation
story with consumers, creating further interest in and demand for brands that Examples of Retailer and Brand claims and Learning Approach
support Better Cotton. Some of our Retailer and Brand Members have made impressive progress in their Engaging the market
Better Cotton sourcing and are able to make advanced claims to their customers.
Importantly, we provide strict guidelines for members to ensure their marketing In this section, we take a look at three such members and how they communicate Working with
and communications are fully substantiated by evidence and tangible progress their Better Cotton progress with consumers in interesting and innovative ways. civil society
towards sourcing goals. This means companies must make specific time-bound Growth and
commitments and targets for sourcing Better Cotton – and demonstrate that Innovation Fund
they have reached certain levels of sourcing – before they can use our logo on or
alongside products. Within our Claims Framework, we design these thresholds
4. Continuous
to encourage continuous improvement over time. Members are also required to
Improvement
explain our mass balance chain of custody system. This level of transparency is
for Impact
central to the credibility and success of our programmes and our ability to create
impact for cotton farmers. Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Björn Borg Delivering impact
Björn Borg is a Swedish sportswear company named after the legendary tennis Overview of the
player. Its first collection was sold in 1984, and today its products are sold in Monitoring, Evaluation
around twenty markets, with their biggest being Sweden and the Netherlands. and Learning Approach
Engaging the market
The company joined Better Cotton as a Retailer and Brand member at the
start of 2017 and has made a commitment to comply with the United Nations Working with
Sustainable Development Goals and to follow the pathway towards limiting global civil society
heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Growth and
Innovation Fund
Björn Borg’s sustainability communications speak openly and honestly about the
challenges of sustainable sourcing. In particular, the company emphasises the 4. Continuous
notion that the company can always do more to improve. Improvement
for Impact
By 2023, the company aims to have “100% Sustainable products within sports
apparel and underwear”. In its latest sustainability report, Bjorn Borg states that Demonstrating
“A majority of our clothing is classified by us as sustainably sourced through the improvement over time
usage of recycled polyester and recycled polyamide and the support of the Better 1 - Sustainability communications Revising our standard
Cotton Initiative.” on the Bjorn Borg website
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field / Björn Borg

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Q&A with Can you tell me a little about Björn Borg’s we called ‘B. Tomorrow’, and to earn that label a product
set up for Impact
Pernilla approach to sustainability? would need to either be made of a minimum of 70% more Delivering impact
We approach our sustainability work in the same way as sustainable material or support the Better Cotton mission
Johansson
Overview of the
we do with everything else - full speed ahead! In 2015, we (to improve cotton farming globally). Since we offer a lot of Monitoring, Evaluation
concluded that running a more sustainable business is the cotton products in our clothing range, products supporting and Learning Approach
Corporate Communications only way forward - both for the planet, for people, and for the Better Cotton were, therefore, a big part of this range. Apart
Manager, Björn Borg company to survive. We always set high goals, no matter from that, we work with for instance recycled polyester and Engaging the market
Click here to listen to Pernilla speak about Björn
what we do, and this is no exception. We want to do better, recycled polyamide, TENCEL™ Lyocell and S.Café® to name Working with
Borg and its sustainability sourcing work
be better at as fast a speed as possible. a few. civil society
You reached your 2023 sustainability On your website, you talk about Growth and
Innovation Fund
goals in 2020, earlier than planned. Can challenges in fashion and how ‘fashion
you talk about that journey and how is not sustainable, period.’ Can you tell
4. Continuous
Better Cotton played a part? us why you’re taking this approach to Improvement
Well, we reached one of our goals which was to offer sustainability communications? for Impact
a clothing range where all products were sustainably I think that honesty and transparency are extremely
classified. important and the only way to gain the trust of the Demonstrating
consumers. To meet the Agenda 2030 goals, companies improvement over time
Since a product can’t ever be sustainable no matter how and governments will have to pull the biggest load, but you Revising our standard
you twist and turn, we had to settle at getting better than and I, ordinary consumers, have to contribute as well. Plus,
businesses are made out of people, people are consumers - Strengthening our
before. Preferably better than most. Since there wasn’t any
work with partners
official standard back then, and still isn’t, we, just like many oftentimes the lines are blurry between the two.
other fashion brands, landed in setting our own standard, Measurement projects
a classification of how products would end up in our I don’t think it’s riskier to be open, rather the other way
Traceability
more sustainable range. We created our own label, which around. If we are to accomplish a better world for our
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field / Björn Borg

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
children, we all have to join hands and change our behaviour. Hopefully it will also contribute to a better tomorrow. We set up for Impact
We want to inform and enable our followers to make better support Better Cotton with a large part of our range today
Delivering impact
choices as well. and as long as we feel that we can make a difference, we
will continue to do so. For measurements it would make a Overview of the
And what comes next for your big difference with traceability though, since Better Cotton Monitoring, Evaluation
sustainability goals? counts as conventional cotton in emission calculations.
We are just initiating the second step of our journey, which Engaging the market
is to follow the UN 1.5° pathway and have signed up to Working with
decrease our emissions by 50% in absolute numbers by civil society
2030. For a company with big growth ambitions, this is an
ambitious goal, but we like challenges. Growth and
Innovation Fund
Could you tell us some more about your

targets and how Better Cotton will play a 4. Continuous
Improvement
part in this going forwards? for Impact
As a result of our membership in STICA (Swedish Textile
Initiative for Climate Action) we have committed to follow Demonstrating
the 1.5° pathway. Better Cotton plays a role, among other improvement over time
things, since our collaboration enables our customers to Revising our standard
support better cotton farming practices.
Strengthening our
It is a way for us to enable others to make a better choice, work with partners
and ultimately a contribution to the global 1.5 degree goal. Measurement projects
2 Better Cotton communications on the Björn Borg website.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
George at Asda Delivering impact
Asda is one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, and its clothing range, George Overview of the
was launched in 1990 – the first supermarket clothing brand in Britain. The Monitoring, Evaluation
company states that its George clothes are sold in over 560 stores and its online and Learning Approach
business serves over 800,000 people per week. Engaging the market
As part of its ‘George for Good’ campaign, George at Asda has made a Working with
commitment to source 100% more sustainable cotton for their own-brand civil society
clothing and soft home textile products. They state that they are working with Growth and
their suppliers to source more sustainable cotton through Better Cotton. Innovation Fund
In October 2020, the company launched a new sustainability-focused store 4. Continuous

in Middleton, UK. As well as offering refill stations for other products such Improvement
as tea and pasta, recycling options, and second-hand clothing options, the for Impact
store featured messaging about George at Asda’s Better Cotton sourcing
commitments. Demonstrating
On digital screens above the clothing racks, customers were able to see videos Revising our standard
of Better Cotton farmers, while information boxes next to the clothes rack also
provided more information on the company’s cotton sourcing approach. Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
3 - Better Cotton farmer stories being shown on digital screens in the Middleton store
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field / George at Asda

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Q&A with Can you tell us more about your set up for Impact
Jade Snart approach to sustainability within George Delivering impact

at Asda? Overview of the
Senior Sustainability Manager, Sustainability has become business as usual for us at Monitoring, Evaluation
George at Asda George, we set our ‘George for Good’ strategy back in 2018 and Learning Approach
and it is now part of everyone’s KPI’s to deliver it. Our trading
Engaging the market
teams have targets to meet in terms of meeting our public
Click here to listen to Jade talk about their
Middleton store, and how they are working on commitments on responsibly sourced fibres, and I am Working with
cotton sustainability pleased to say that over 80% of our shop floor now uses civil society
responsibly sourced fibres.
Growth and
Innovation Fund
For us however, it is more than just the fibres we source,
it’s how our products are produced and packaged, what
happens to them at the end of life and what impact that 4. Continuous
might have on the environment. We work with a number of Improvement
partners to help us deliver our strategy and Better Cotton
4 In-store Better Cotton messaging
for Impact
so important that our colleagues and suppliers understood
has become an integral part of everyday sourcing for us. why we have set the strategy that we have and why playing Demonstrating
their part is so important to help us along the way. In the improvement over time
You’re a relatively new sustainability team early days we spend time with all of our colleagues and Revising our standard
and have made a lot of progress in a suppliers, including colleagues outside of the trading
short period of time. Can you tell us about functions as we believe that if we are to become a truly Strengthening our
the challenges you foresaw and how you sustainable business, we need everyone to be on the bus work with partners
overcame them to reach the point you’re with us too. Measurement projects
at today? Traceability
The biggest challenge for us was the education piece, it was
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Commercially we have come across a few challenges with we took this in bitesize chunks to enable us to move forward set up for Impact
switching to responsibly sourced fibres along the way, but with our strategy but without having to pass any of the cost
Delivering impact
onto our customers. The current focus for us is now moving
on to educating our customers to understand what steps we Overview of the
are taking, why we are taking them and how they can also Monitoring, Evaluation
make small changes in their day to day lives that can make a and Learning Approach
huge difference collectively. Engaging the market
Working with
In 2020, you launched your first civil society
sustainability store, in Middleton, UK. Growth and
Can you explain how Better Cotton Innovation Fund
featured within this store in your
communications with customers? 4. Continuous
Yes, that’s right, we launched our first ever sustainability Improvement
store back in October last year, the store was a fabulous for Impact
opportunity for us to showcase all the work we had been Demonstrating
5 In-store Better Cotton messaging doing in the background but hadn’t been able to share with improvement over time
our customers before. We wanted to use the platform to talk
about what responsibly sourced fibres really means and it Revising our standard
was important for us to take it as far back as the field where Strengthening our
possible. We used story telling boxes and videos of Better work with partners
Cotton farmers in the field on our digital screens, this was a
first for us and the feedback has been brilliant. Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Why did you set this store up, and how They said that was the first time they have been inundated
was this received? with questions relating to anything other than product. Lots Delivering impact
We recognised as a business that we didn’t do a very good of customers wanted to understand more about Better
Overview of the
job of telling customers about all the great initiatives we had Cotton and what it was all about and I truly believe that Monitoring, Evaluation
been working on and driving through our business. Setting having the story telling boxes and the digitals screens really and Learning Approach
up this store gave us a platform to test different forms of prompted customers to want to learn more.
communication, test new initiatives and really listen to what Engaging the market
resonates with our customers the most. You use digital screens to show footage of Working with
Better Cotton Farmers in store. Why was civil society
From a George perspective, customers and colleagues were this important? Growth and
really intrigued with the storytelling boxes and were keen to For us, it’s always been more than just on product marks, Innovation Fund
learn more. We spent time with our colleagues in store, and we wanted to use this store to educate our customers
sharing our strategy and educating them to enable them more about what responsibly sourced fibres really means
to be our ‘in store experts’, the feedback we received from 4. Continuous
and how sourcing in this way not only has a positive impact Improvement
them was phenomenal, they love being able to explain to on the environment but what it means to the farmers in the
customers what it was all about and why we are doing for Impact
fields too.
what we are doing. Demonstrating
What comes next? improvement over time
Do you have any specific consumer We have taken some huge learnings from the Middleton Revising our standard
insights regarding your Better Cotton store and still continue to do so. As a result of the trials in
information in the store and your that store, we now have a constant ‘drumbeat’ of storytelling Strengthening our
work with partners
communications? across our stores, this has been mainly executed on our
digital screens within our stores and we continue to look at Measurement projects
The main feedback we received was via our colleagues who other ways that we can bring our customers along on this
Traceability
had been asked questions firsthand by customers in store. journey with us.
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Kmart Australia Delivering impact
Since 2017, Kmart Australia has been a Retailer and Brand member of Better Overview of the
Cotton. The company operates over 200 stores across Australia and New Monitoring, Evaluation
Zealand. and Learning Approach
Engaging the market
In October 2020, Kmart – one of Australia’s largest retail brands, celebrated an
important milestone with their customers since setting the ambitious goal of Working with
‘100% more sustainably sourced cotton by July 2020’ back in 2017 as part of their civil society
Better Together sustainability program. Growth and
Innovation Fund
Kmart launched it’s ‘100% sustainably sourced cotton’ brand campaign to
celebrate that all of the cotton for Kmart’s own brand clothing, bedding and 4. Continuous
towels range is now sourced as Better Cotton, organic or recycled cotton. Improvement
for Impact
A significant amount of work was undertaken to ensure that Kmart had sufficient
systems in place to measure and verify the progress made against its cotton Demonstrating
commitment, and that all claims were credible and in line with Better Cotton’s improvement over time
Claims Framework and Australian Consumer Law, whilst keeping messaging Revising our standard
simple and easy for customers to understand.
Strengthening our
Kmart had employed the use of the Better Cotton On-Product Mark, along with work with partners
featuring cotton sustainability messaging in advertising, but to mark their 100% Measurement projects
sustainably sourced cotton they developed a digital communications campaign
to consumers. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field / Kmart Australia

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Q&A with Can you tell us a bit about Kmart’s cotton

sourcing approach and your work with
a clear project plan and the willingness of our teams and
set up for Impact
Lucy King
suppliers to do things differently, it is possible to drive Delivering impact
Better Cotton? meaningful impact.
Overview of the
Sustainable Materials Manager, In 2017, Kmart set an ambitious commitment to source Monitoring, Evaluation
Kmart Australia 100% of the cotton for our own brand clothing, bedding We still have a long way to go and the expectations from and Learning Approach
and towels ‘more sustainably’ by 2020, as part of our Better our stakeholders are only growing in this space, but we are
Together sustainability program. With partnerships playing committed to seeing this through and constantly evolving Engaging the market
Click here to listen to Lucy speak about Kmart a very important part of this program, we were one of the our approach to do better. Working with
Australia’s approach to cotton sustainability
first Australian retailers to join Better Cotton and with strong civil society
leadership support, we set up a cross-functional project How did you arrive at your messaging for
team to lead the rapid roll-out of Better Cotton across our Kmart’s campaign? Growth and
Innovation Fund
global supply chain. In just three years, we managed to get Previously Kmart had done a lot of work in labelling cotton
all of our key cotton suppliers onboarded into the program products with the Better Cotton logo and launching a TV Ad
and all of the cotton sourced for own brand clothing, talking to our partnership with Better Cotton. 4. Continuous
bedding and towels range is now sourced as either Better Improvement
Cotton, organic or recycled. This time around, as we were wanting to celebrate a for Impact
significant milestone of achieving our ‘100% sustainably Demonstrating
What have you learnt from when you sourced cotton commitment’, we decided to go after an all- improvement over time
began Kmart’s sustainability journey? encompassing ‘sustainably sourced cotton’ message as we
Transforming the way we work and source product as a felt this was a simple and easy message for the customer
large retailer is not easy and takes time. It involves working to grasp and it included all aspects of our sustainable cotton Strengthening our
across multiple product categories, teams across six commitment – cotton sourced as Better Cotton (including work with partners
countries, and a global supply chain, but we’ve understood Australian cotton), organic cotton as well as recycled cotton.
for some time that we have a responsibility to lead the way
and with the right partners and level of leadership support, Being a digital campaign comprised mostly of a video and Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
social media assets, the messaging needed to be impactful, such as video and social media content; yet ensuring that
Delivering impact
punchy and to the point, but the message also needed to be they were credible, in line with the Better Cotton Claims
credible and water tight from a claims perspective. Given Framework and Australian Consumer Law. Overview of the
that the majority of our cotton has been sourced as Better Monitoring, Evaluation
Cotton and therefore via a mass balance system, we were The sustainability and legal teams, as well as the Better and Learning Approach
careful to ensure that we didn’t make any claims that would Cotton team, were involved in every step of the process, Engaging the market
mislead our customers into thinking that the products providing guidance to our marketing team and agency along
themselves physically contain sustainable cotton. the way. Working with
civil society
What consideration did you give to How important was it to bring the farmer Growth and
making sure that the campaign featured voice, through Cotton Australia, into the Innovation Fund
credible and transparent claims? campaign?
It was important to bring both the visuals of real-life cotton 4. Continuous
A significant amount of work has been undertaken in Improvement
farms and the farmer voice, represented by our industry
collaboration with our IT and sourcing teams over the years for Impact
partner - Cotton Australia, into this campaign. Having
to ensure that we have sufficient systems and processes in
their voice included in the campaign added credibility and Demonstrating
place to measure and verify the progress made against our
provided a tangible illustration of what ‘sustainably sourced improvement over time
cotton commitment.
cotton’ means in practice. In this case, we were able to
demonstrate that we are investing in and supporting the Revising our standard
When it came to developing the campaign messaging
top 20% of growers in Australia who working and third-party Strengthening our
itself, we worked hard to find the right balance between
developing bold, succinct and simple claims that are easy audited to best practice farming standards. work with partners
for customers to understand and suitable for digital assets Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
What, in your experience, is the reception
of customers to Better Cotton messaging Delivering impact
like, and how has this evolved over time? Overview of the
The campaign was received well by our customers who Monitoring, Evaluation
perceived the campaign to share new and different and Learning Approach
information, and indicated that they are hungry to learn
Engaging the market
more about what Kmart is doing in other areas of the
business when it comes to sustainability. Working with
civil society
We can see through our ongoing customer research that
Growth and
customers awareness of Better Cotton and their recent Innovation Fund
purchases has grown over time – an indication that the
Better Cotton labelling on cotton product in-store and
online over the past two to three years is really starting to 4. Continuous
cut through. Improvement
for Impact
Our customer research also shows that a growing number Demonstrating
of customers associate Better Cotton labelling with product improvement over time
that supports the future of workers in the cotton industry.
This shows us that customers are starting to make the link
between our investment in Better Cotton and the impact this Strengthening our
has on the lives of cotton farmers both here in Australia and work with partners
abroad.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Engaging the market to drive impact in the field / K-Mart 2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
At Kmart, we’re working to truly make everyday living 3. Better Cotton –

brighter for our customers and so we wanted to set up for Impact
use this campaign to reflect one of the areas we’re

Delivering impact
Overview of the
working on behind the scenes to protect our planet Monitoring, Evaluation

and improve the lives of cotton farmers both here in Engaging the market
Australia and abroad, while retaining our ongoing

Working with
civil society
focus on affordability and everyday low prices. It was Growth and

Innovation Fund
an important moment for our brand to celebrate 4. Continuous

the impact we are making through our partnership Improvement
for Impact
with Better Cotton, whilst also sharing our new Demonstrating
sustainability goals and plans for the future.”

Natalie Howes Strengthening our

work with partners
Head of Brand, Kmart Australia Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Working with civil society to

2. Farmer Results
promote water stewardship

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Better Cotton currently counts with around thirty members in its Civil Society irrigating alternate furrows (small trenches). With this technique, farmers
Delivering impact
category, many of whom are also Implementing Partners, helping to build farming plant crops on ridges and only need to irrigate every other furrow in between.
communities’ capacity to adopt sustainable practices. On the community level, CSPC played a game with around 6,500 children at Overview of the
local schools that taught key messages about sustainable water use. Monitoring, Evaluation
One example of our work with civil society organisations is in the WAPRO project, and Learning Approach
a unique multi-stakeholder partnership. Led by Helvetas, the independent Swiss Engaging the market
development organization, WAPRO spans 16 countries across Asia and Africa,
bringing together 22 partners from the public and private sector. Working with
civil society
Using a push-pull strategy that combines market incentives and public policy Growth and
advocacy with on-the-ground farmer training, the project encourages water Innovation Fund
stewardship and action at every level of the global supply chain.
Helvetas and the Alliance for Water Stewardship implemented the WAPRO 4. Continuous
framework in Tajikistan. Through the initiative, some farmers invested in Improvement
tubular irrigation to help direct water to their plants more precisely. for Impact
In Gujarat, India, monsoon rains are becoming less predictable, making water Demonstrating
for farming harder to come by. Our Implementing Partner in the region — the improvement over time
Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC) — translated the Better Cotton water Revising our standard
stewardship vision into on-the-ground action, supporting 11,000 Better Cotton
Farmers in the area. Strengthening our
work with partners
Implemented through the WAPRO project, the CSPC team taught water- Measurement projects
saving practices to farmers, including drip and sprinkler irrigation technologies
that direct smaller, more exact amounts of water to crops. CSPC also promoted Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Growth and Innovation Fund

2. Farmer Results
– Investing in Impact
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Funding is essential to support Better Cotton Farmers on the ground. Since it was
Delivering impact
launched in 2010, the Better Cotton Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF), which
began as the Fast Track Programme, has played an integral role in making this Overview of the
happen and working towards our goals. Monitoring, Evaluation
The Fund is overseen by the Better Cotton Council, in partnership with Better Engaging the market
Cotton Retailer and Brand Members, Civil Society Members and donors. IDH, the
Sustainable Trade Initiative, is the official Fund Manager and an important funder. Working with
civil society
In the 2019-20 cotton season, the Growth and Innovation Fund provided funds for Growth and
Implementing Partners (IPs) for farmer capacity building in six countries – India, Innovation Fund
Pakistan, China, Mozambique, Mali and Turkey. The Fund worked with 1.8 million
cotton farmers across these countries. 4. Continuous
Improvement
The Fund directly invested €9.4 million from Better Cotton Retailer and Brand for Impact
Members, public donors (DFAT and Laudes Foundation) and IDH.
Demonstrating
It mobilised an additional €4.2 million in co-funding from IPs and supply chain improvement over time
partners (social enterprises, ginners, spinning mills and garment manufacturers), Revising our standard
creating a total portfolio value of €13.6 million.
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Growth and Innovation Fund – Investing in Impact 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
2019-20 funding by country

set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
India: China: Mozambique: Monitoring, Evaluation
7 IPs on 26 projects.
1 5 IPs and 5 projects 2 IPs
Fund Investment: €5,393,407 Fund Investment: €532,894 Fund Investment: €90,948 Engaging the market
Participating Farmers: 1,019,252 Participating Farmers: 116,224 Participating Farmers: 85,000 Working with
Better Cotton Production: 1,194,210 Better Cotton Production: Better Cotton Production: civil society
MT 311,350 MT 26,398 MT Growth and
Area Covered: 1,596,166 ha Area Covered: 173,968 ha Area Covered: 66,250 ha Innovation Fund
Pakistan: Mali: Turkey: 4. Continuous

IPs and 17 projects
8 1 IP Improvement
2 IPs on 2 projects
for Impact
Fund Investment: €3,639,124 Fund Investment: €99,137 Fund Investment: €230,129
Demonstrating
Participating Farmers: 495,558 Participating Farmers: 87,287 Participating Farmers: 3,600 improvement over time
Better Cotton Production: 1,202,318 Better Cotton Production: Better Cotton Production:
MT 297,000 ha 61,476 MT Revising our standard
Area Covered: 1,400,292 ha Area Covered: 320,760 MT Area Covered: 27,807 ha Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Growth and Innovation Fund – Investing in Impact 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
Looking forward:
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Supporting the 2030 Strategy Overview of the
In our the previous strategic period, from 2010-2021, the Fund was fundamental and Learning Approach
to our progress in achieving scale and laying the foundations for achieving Engaging the market
impact. Thanks to the Fund, farmers around the world have been able to start
their sustainability journey through the access to capacity building and learning. Working with
Funding highlight civil society
Driving Innovation: Skill Development With Better Cotton entering a new strategic phase from 2021, with bolder
ambitions, the Fund will be more important than ever. We are examining how
Growth and
for Field Facilitators in India

Innovation Fund
changes can be made to support the new strategy, in particular five impact target
areas, which we’ll publish as part of our 2030 Strategy in December. 4. Continuous
In 2019, the Fund launched an online skill-development tool for Field
Improvement
Facilitators in India.
for Impact
The learning platform enables facilitators to undertake personalised and Demonstrating
self-directed learning with a view to ensure a consistent skill set across IPs. improvement over time
The pilot was conducted in Maharashtra and Gujarat with six partners. As
many as 504 facilitators participated in the initial roll-out, followed by an
additional 134. Strengthening our
work with partners
All facilitators used the learning modules, including a standardised
assessment tool enabling users to identify gaps in skills and then suggest a
personalised learning path. Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
#4 Continuous
Strengthening our
work with partners
Improvement
Traceability
for impact
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
86
1. Introduction
Continuous Improvement for impact

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
A core tenet of Better Cotton is continuous improvement – the idea that Monitoring, Evaluation
sustainability is not an end point that can be reached, but a journey. This is built and Learning Approach
into our farm-level standard – the Principles and Criteria – as producers are Engaging the market
encouraged to develop further by striving to meet improvement indicators. But we
also aim to continuously improve the systems and services that make up Better Working with
Cotton, such as the standard itself, our chain of custody model or the way we civil society
monitor and evaluate our programmes. Growth and
Innovation Fund
As we enter a new strategic phase, there are a number of areas in which we are
looking to make changes, which are summarised in the rest of this chapter. 4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Improvement over time: Reorienting Better Introduction
Cotton’s Results Indicator analysis

Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
To create a positive impact for the cotton sector as we expand globally, it is vital Understanding why we’re changing the way we measure Delivering impact
that we evolve the way we monitor our performance. This is fundamental to progress
continuously improving our programmes. Overview of the
The approach we have used up to now - measuring Better Cotton Farmers’ Monitoring, Evaluation
One way that we explore this is through our annual Farmer Results. So far, we progress in relation to Comparison Farmers each season - has been a useful tool. and Learning Approach
have analysed Better Cotton Farmers’ results each season in relation to farmers It’s a shared way for participants in Better Cotton producing countries to measure Engaging the market
not participating in the Better Cotton Programme (‘Comparison Farmers’). This positive change, and a common methodology for research like this.
enables us to establish the extent to which our programmes contribute to results Working with
on the ground. We consider this in relation to issues like pesticide and fertiliser However, there are some drawbacks of this system. civil society
use, water consumption and yields and profits. This approach has allowed us to Growth and
measure and report positive results consistently since we launched, and although Firstly, on a practical level, Better Cotton is an inclusive standard, and we want Innovation Fund
outcomes and results are not the same as impact, the data we have confirm that more and more farmers to become involved in our programme. In 2020, Better
participating farmers benefit from the programme. Cotton and equivalent programmes already represent 20% of global cotton 4. Continuous
production. And in the future, as sustainable practices in cotton farming become Improvement
In 2022, we will build on this by adopting a different way of measuring progress the norm, there won’t be enough Comparison Farmers available to make a robust for Impact
– by following and reporting Better Cotton Farmers’ performance over time. We comparison.
believe this will deliver greater insights into how well we’re fulfilling our ambitions Demonstrating
to help farming communities survive and thrive while protecting and restoring the Secondly, Comparison Farmers in a given community or region may sometimes improvement over time
environment – in line with our 2030 aims and the UN’s Sustainable Development learn good practices from Better Cotton Farmers, in which case we can’t say Revising our standard
Goals. Ultimately, it will help us understand the part we’re playing in the shift to for sure whether they’re still using conventional ways of farming. Similarly,
more sustainable agriculture. Comparison Farmers might not always face exactly the same challenges in terms Strengthening our
of pests or weather conditions, for example, as Better Cotton Farmers, particularly work with partners
in large countries like India, China and the United States. Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Improvement over time:
Reorienting Better Cotton’s Results Indicator analysis 2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Analysing results over time Delivering impact
As we strengthen the way we measure the impact of our work, measuring Better Farmers within a cohort might have: Overview of the
Cotton Farmers’ results over time – a ‘longitudinal analysis’ - will enable us to Monitoring, Evaluation
link our programme activities on the ground with a tangible outcome such as Joined the Better Cotton programme in the same season and Learning Approach
water conservation, biodiversity protection, improved yields, or better conditions Engaging the market
for workers. We’ll also continue to invest in improving the way we evaluate our Live in the same geographical area (e.g. Gujarat state, India)
impact by partnering with externally funded expert researchers. Working with
Access the same type of training and other programme activities. civil society
This new approach may pose different challenges, and we’ll be ready to address Growth and
them. For example, a particular Better Cotton Farmer might leave the programme We are still working on the details of how this approach will be implemented Innovation Fund
after a few years, or stop cultivating cotton temporarily to grow other crops. To for Better Cotton and our partners, and we will share more details in the
overcome this, we will consider how best to measure the progress of ‘cohorts’ – coming year. 4. Continuous
an approach called ‘longitudinal cohort analysis’. A cohort is a group of people Improvement
who share a defining characteristic, typically a group that has experienced the for Impact
same conditions within the same time period.
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Principles
Principles and Capacity Assurance Chain of Claims and Learning
Results andApproach
Criteria Building Programme Custody Framework Impact
and Criteria Engaging the market
Working with
At Better Cotton, we believe in continuous improvement – both for Better Cotton In 2021, Better Cotton launched an ambitious revision of the Better Cotton civil society
Farmers, and for our teams. So, we regularly review our farm-level standard, the Principles & Criteria, building on lessons learned through evaluating earlier Growth and
Better Cotton Principles & Criteria (P&C), in line with codes of good practices versions of the Standard, and the previous formal revision in 2017. The result Innovation Fund
for voluntary sustainability standards and the latest scientific and technological will be a stronger set of principles and criteria that meet current best practice,
research. are effective and locally relevant, and will help us deliver Better Cotton’s 2030 4. Continuous
Strategy. Improvement
First published in 2010 with six key principles, the P&C represent one of the key for Impact
elements of the Better Cotton Standard System, a holistic approach to cotton Importantly, Better Cotton is compliant with the ISEAL Standard Setting Code of
production designed to help create a more sustainable future for the cotton Good Practice. Demonstrating
sector. improvement over time
As an ISEAL Full Member, Better Cotton follows the ISEAL Code for Setting Revising our standard
We and our partners monitor how well the P&C are implemented at farm level, Social and Environmental Standards, ensuring that its Principles and Criteria are
finding opportunities for improvement and exploring innovative agricultural and reviewed regularly and following recognised good practices. Strengthening our
social practices to ensure we’re addressing evolving challenges as effectively as work with partners
possible. By integrating this continuous learning within our core ways of working, As part of this evaluation process, Better Cotton is assessed against the code by Measurement projects
we can ensure that our P&C are fit for purpose. This enables us to better support an independent evaluator.
people and organisations on the ground – partners, farmers and farm workers - Traceability
to improve their practices. Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Principles and Criteria Revision 2. Farmer Results

retailer & prod ucer suppliers & civil
brand organis ation manafucturers soci ety
Introduction
Principles & criteria icons Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
management
decent work
dec ent wo rk crop
protection
and
fibre qual ity Learning Approach
syst em
Engaging the market
Working with
Standard System to deliver field-level change on these important topics and civil society
Strengthening the strengthen the core indicators we use to measure performance. Growth and
standard:
Innovation Fund
Decent work and gender
Our focus areas

To better support and protect farm workers producing Better Cotton, we will 4. Continuous
be strengthening expectations under Better Cotton Principle Six: Decent Work. Improvement
Through capacity building and leveraging collective partnerships to drive for Impact
change, we aim to ensure that Better Cotton Farmers are treating their workers
Over the past five years, climate change, degraded areas, in line with internationally respected labour standards, offering fair employment Demonstrating
soil health and decent work have all become increasing opportunities and decent working conditions. Gender equality and women’s improvement over time
areas of focus for sustainable agriculture. Revising the empowerment will be a key focus throughout, as we seek to improve the position Revising our standard
P&C provides an opportunity to optimise the Better Cotton of women within the cotton sector.
Strengthening our
With support from a Decent Work & Gender Working Group, our work will work with partners
encompass every major area of labour rights, from forced labour and child Measurement projects
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Principles and Criteria Revision large 2. Farmersmallholder

Results
prod ucer suppliers
retailer & & retailer &civil
retailer
prod ucer& prod
prod
ucer
ucer& e
associat
suppliers civil& &
suppliers
suppliers civilcivil
associatlarge
e medium
associat
associat
e e smallholder
large s medium
large medium
medium s
organis ation manafucturers
brand brandsoci
brand
organis ety
ation organis
organis soci ety
ation manafucturers
ation
manafucturers manafucturers socisoci
etyfarms
ety farms farms farms
farms
farms farms
farms
Introduction
& criteria icons Principles
Principles & Principles&&criteria
criteriaicons
criteria icons icons BCCU icon BCCU icon B
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
management management management
management
crop
protection
decfibre qual
ent wo rk ity crop
decdeccrop
ent syst
ent
wo rkem
wo rk crop
crop
soil
fibre health
qual
protection
ity
protection
fibre
fibre
qualwaityteity
systqual
em r biodiversity
biodiversity
soil
syst health
syst
em em soil
soil
soil health
health
wahealth
te r water
wa wa
te rte r
biodiversity
bccu biodiversity and Learning Approach
biodiversity bccu
protection
protection Engaging the market
Working with
labour to health and safety, non-discrimination, best practice in recruitment and we focus on practices that minimise the potential harmful effects of Highly 26 civil society
employment, working conditions and ensuring workers are able to engage in Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). Importantly, we also promote the safe handling Growth and
social dialogue. and use of pesticides to help protect the health of Better Cotton Farmers and their Innovation Fund
families.
Crop protection 4. Continuous
To help protect human health and conserve the environment, we are continuously Natural resource management Improvement
reviewing how Better Cotton Farmers can use fewer synthetic pesticides to Protecting natural resources is vital to cultivating health cotton crops and for Impact
protect their crops. This is included under Better Cotton Principle 1. We know that improving farmers’ livelihoods. However, in the face of climate change, water
the use of these pesticides is still widespread in cotton production and will require scarcity and pollution, it has never been more important to help farmers Demonstrating
farmers to be willing and able to invest in changing their ways and understand the conserve their natural environment and the precious resources it provides. A improvement over time
benefits of more sustainable alternatives. dedicated thematic working group will consider water stewardship, soil health Revising our standard
and biodiversity and land use reflecting Principles 2, 3 and 4 of the current P&C.
We approach crop protection in two ways. Firstly, we encourage Better Cotton These three principles encourage Better Cotton Farmers to define and implement Strengthening our
Farmers to adopt Integrated Pest Management practices and to follow alternative management plans improving the quality and quantity of natural resources. work with partners
pest control techniques, such as the use of beneficial insects or biological Measurement projects
substances, rather than synthetic pesticides. We also support farmers in We are increasingly taking a holistic approach to these three dimensions, in order
switching from conventional, preventative pesticide applications (e.g. spraying to ensure that the practices we recommend are complementary and promote Traceability
every week, month or season) to a regime that monitors pest numbers or crop positive change across the spectrum. We will consider everything from effective Glossary of terms
damage and applies pesticides only when and where it is needed. Secondly, irrigation practices to collective action on water challenges to soil analysis and
Back to contents

1. Introduction
retailer & prod ucer suppliers & civil associat e
soci ety
Principles and Criteria Revision
brand organis ation manafucturers 2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Principles & criteria icons Results Indicator data

Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
mallholder women’s climate change
climate change managment
management and Learning Approach
velihoods empowerment dec ent wo rk
mitigation crop fibre qual ity syst em soil health wa te r bio
mitigation protection system Engaging the market
Working with
improving soil fertility to restoring degraded land and protecting areas of high Management systems and continuous improvement civil society
conservation value and promoting climate-smart farming practices. Growth and
plans Innovation Fund
Management systems and continuous improvement Effective management
systems are the backbone that enables Better Cotton Farmers to achieve the 4. Continuous
Climate change mitigation and adaptation P&C. In the current version, Principle 7: Management seeks to ensure that Better Improvement
With world leaders exploring pathways to protect our climate at COP26, and Cotton Farmers establish a framework of policies, processes and procedures. for Impact
understanding the importance of both improving the carbon footprint of It also aims to ensure they can fulfil all the tasks required to meet the P&C, and
agriculture and building climate resilience among farmers, Better Cotton will to enable continuous improvement in farming practices. Here, our focus will be Demonstrating
publish its 2030 Strategy with a focused climate change approach as well as a exploring how this works on the ground for farmers, while also considering the improvement over time
specific impact target area focusing on climate change mitigation in December resources we have available to support farmers in making changes. Revising our standard
2021. This will be a comprehensive integrated strategy and will influence our
revision of the Principles and Criteria. Strengthening our
work with partners
26 Measurement projects
Timeline for revisions
The revision process will include extensive consultation and engagement from directly and indirectly affected stakeholders, including producers and worker Traceability
representatives, technical experts, other cotton initiatives, and retailers and brands. The revision process is expected to run from October 2021 to early 2023.
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Principles and Criteria Revision 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
At Better Cotton, we believe in continuous

Countries in Focus
improvement – not only for Better Cotton set up for Impact
Farmers, but for ourselves as well. In line

Delivering impact
Overview of the
with codes of good practices for voluntary

standards, we periodically review the

Engaging the market
Working with
Better Cotton Principles & Criteria. This

civil society
Growth and
helps to ensure we keep up with innovative Innovation Fund
agricultural and social practices, and the

4. Continuous
Improvement
latest scientific and technological

for Impact
Demonstrating
research.
Chelsea Reinhardt Strengthening our
Director of Standards and Assurance

work with partners
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Strengthening our work with partners

2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
So that farmers have the opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge they need insights into the best ways to make progress - taking their and our performance to
Delivering impact
to adopt the practices embedded in the Principles and Criteria of the Better Cotton the next level.
Standard System, a network of nearly 70 Strategic and Implementing Partners Overview of the
(IPs) worldwide provide dedicated training. These partnerships are highly valuable Overall, the benefits will be Monitoring, Evaluation
and critical to delivering impact. and Learning Approach
Ensuring that we work with the best Implementing Partners Engaging the market
Our Implementing Partners can be organisations from NGOs to supply chain
actors to government bodies. We build their capacity to deliver training to groups Taking a more consistent approach to endorsing new partners Working with
of farmers and farm workers, so they can in turn provide high quality training civil society
within cotton farming communities. It’s this ongoing cascade of training that Clarifying our requirements through a due diligence framework Growth and
enables us to operate at scale. Innovation Fund
Enabling our field teams to deliver more focused support
As we continue to grow, and as part of our commitment to continuous 4. Continuous
improvement, we want to make sure that that we’re working with the best possible Strengthening the credibility and impact of Better Cotton. Improvement
partners and supporting them to overcome evolving challenges. So, we’re revising for Impact
and enhancing the way in which we endorse partners
Demonstrating
We also aim to help our existing partners explore opportunities for improvement improvement over time
and leverage the resources and training at their disposal in the most Revising our standard
productive way.
Strengthening our
That’s why we’re working on a new due diligence process to be launched by work with partners
the end of 2021. The process covers topics such as financial stability and Measurement projects
environmental, social and governance considerations. Through the application of
the process, both Better Cotton and our partners will benefit from gaining greater Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Measurement Projects
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Collaboration is central to driving impact at scale and making a real difference for Since our last update in the Better Cotton Annual Report, we have completed set up for Impact
Better Cotton farmers. That’s why we work closely on projects with stakeholders pilot testing in India and finalised indicators on gender, land use change, child
Delivering impact
across sustainability standards and commodities to innovate towards new and labour and forced labour. Better Cotton also shared progress on the Delta Project
improved approaches. These projects build on our work to support farmers in the with the textile and apparel industry as part of a panel at the Textile Exchange Overview of the
field, and we’re already delivering on our ambitions, deepening our impact and Conference. The project will be finalised in March 2022. Monitoring, Evaluation
paving the way for future improvements. and Learning Approach
Learn more.
Engaging the market
Here are three of our projects for change.
GHG emissions study: Working with
Delta Project: Standardised

civil society
Understanding traceability and Growth and

Reporting for Sustainability field-level impact
Innovation Fund
Progress 4. Continuous
Improvement
We are taking a strategic approach to helping farmers act on their greenhouse for Impact
Through the Delta Project, we are supporting the creation of a shared approach gas (GHG) emissions. This starts with measuring our current GHG impact.
to measuring and communicating sustainability progress – the Delta Framework. On 15 October 2021, we released the first GHG footprint for Better Cotton, Demonstrating
This three-year project is essential to promoting both a common understanding working with global sustainability consultancy Anthesis and using the Cool Farm improvement over time
and uptake of responsible agricultural practices. It will strengthen the efforts Tool. Revising our standard
of multiple sustainability initiatives to address the social and environmental
challenges of agriculture, protect workers’ rights and improve farmers’ livelihoods. This study identified how well Better Cotton compares to conventional cotton on Strengthening our
It will also enable clear, transparent reporting towards the UN’s 2030 Sustainable GHG emissions in some countries and a baseline from which we can measure work with partners
Development Goals. our impact. Importantly, we were able to identify hotspots to inform next steps. Measurement projects
We want to share the information we learn with our stakeholders, including with
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Measurement Projects 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact

our Gold Standard project partners, as we continue to refine our work in this area.
Delivering impact
It’s all part of our broader efforts to improve traceability and deliver real impact on
the ground by 2030. Overview of the
Learn more. and Learning Approach
Gold Standard: Innovation for

Engaging the market
Working with
measuring and reporting climate civil society
benefits across commodities

Growth and
Innovation Fund
More people around the world are seeking sustainable, climate-friendly products 4. Continuous
and services, from cotton to palm oil to coffee and sugar. So, we’re collaborating Improvement
with other ISEAL sustainability standard members and the Gold Standard to for Impact
define shared practices to calculate GHG reductions. To ensure the best outcome,
Demonstrating
we’re also seeking expert advice from the Science Based Targets Initiative
and the GHG Protocol. Overall, this will allow us all to measure and report our
efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the same way, delivering greater clarity Revising our standard
on progress across sectors and to all our stakeholders. Ultimately, we’ll be able
Strengthening our
to provide certified commodities, science-based information and products with work with partners
improved climate impact.
Learn more.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Traceability
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Today, there is more demand than ever for traceable fibres – to understand the
whole story behind a product, including where it’s from and made. Tracing Better Increasing support for set up for Impact
sustainable cotton farming

Delivering impact
Cotton from those who produced it to products sold in stores worldwide will help
the industry identify and address social and environmental risks across the supply Overview of the
chain and deliver the transparency our stakeholders want to see. In particular, Monitoring, Evaluation
We already have an effective mechanism in place - the volume-based fee. and Learning Approach
brands and retailers will be able to credibly demonstrate the sustainability impacts
This is a fee that our Retailer and Brand Members pay based on the volume of
of the Better Cotton they source. Engaging the market
Better Cotton they source. Most of this fee is directed to helping Better Cotton
Farmers improve their practices on the ground (some of it also goes to assurance Working with
In 2021, we began exploring ways to explore traceability for Better Cotton and
activities). Given the growing demand for traceable fibres, we anticipate that our civil society
embed this within the Better Cotton Standard System. This is a multi-year project
strong focus on traceability will encourage more members to join our community.
and builds on our existing efforts to connect supply and demand through mass Growth and
Meanwhile, existing members are likely to source greater volumes of Better
balance. Mass balance is accessible and affordable to supply chain actors Innovation Fund
Cotton. The combined effect will be more funds to support farmers.
and has allowed Better Cotton to scale rapidly, and we are looking to introduce
traceability as a parallel offering to deepen the impact of our system. Traceable Better Cotton will also likely be accompanied by additional fees, 4. Continuous
which will in turn increase the funding available for our existing capacity building Improvement
Importantly, we must ensure that we remain true to our mission – to help farmers programmes, and investments through our Growth and Innovation Fund. for Impact
survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. This means
Exploring new mechanisms

creating new mechanisms and strengthening existing work to channel investment Demonstrating
and drive change on the ground. improvement over time
So how can we achieve this in practice? Introducing digital traceability at the start of the supply chain can result in a
number of benefits to farmers. Greater visibility over practices in the supply Strengthening our
chain can lead to suppliers entering into longer-term purchasing contracts with work with partners
producers, assuring future revenue and creating further investment for farmer Measurement projects
capacity building.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Traceability 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
The evidence we’ll need to gather and record for supply chain traceability is often
the same information needed to access financial services and credit. By building More visibility on the downstream set up for Impact
use and pricing of their cotton

Delivering impact
a record of financial transactions, we are hoping to be able to help farmers
gain access to the finance they need to invest in better equipment and more Overview of the
sustainable inputs. This will support our ambition to empower farmers to improve Monitoring, Evaluation
their living conditions. In some regions, this evidence trail can also support There are potential benefits to traceability in transparency and empowerment of and Learning Approach
farmers’ legal rights to farm the land their families have farmed for centuries. farming communities. These benefits are harder to predict and quantity, but if Engaging the market
mechanisms for farmers to understand the value transformation of their cotton
Prompting investment in and their market position it may empower them to make new choices – whether Working with
to plant different varietals or a more informed bargaining position when they take civil society
carbon reduction their cotton to market. The journey around this potential benefit is one where there
is need for engagement and training around accessing this information. There is
Growth and
Innovation Fund
likely need to tailor information access to producer group use cases.
Traceability can also prompt new investment on the ground through carbon
insetting. Unlike offsetting, insetting refers to carbon-saving efforts conducted by 4. Continuous
companies within their own value chains. With visibility over where their cotton
comes from and the route it took to market, companies will be able to take
Strengthening our existing work Improvement
for Impact
targeted action to reduce their supply chain emissions. For example, they might Demonstrating
In importing regions such as the European Union and the United States,
choose to invest in regenerative agriculture, or ways to capture carbon such as improvement over time
companies are increasingly required to prove their adherence to ever more
reforestation and afforestation (when trees are planted where there weren’t
rigorous human rights and environmental regulations. An effective system to Revising our standard
any before).
trace Better Cotton system will enable businesses to better comply with relevant
laws, while also reducing risk and building resilience. They can also be confident Strengthening our
in continuing to source from vulnerable smallholder farmers, whose location work with partners
and practices have traditionally been hard to trace. This is vital in ensuring that Measurement projects
smallholders retain access to global markets and improve their livelihoods.
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
Traceability 2. Farmer Results

Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Better Cotton traceability timeline Delivering impact
Overview of the
Level of and Learning Approach
resources Engaging the market
required
Phase 2: Phase 3: Working with
Development Engagement civil society
& Build & Adoption Growth and
Phase 4:
Innovation Fund
Phase 1: Improvements
and continued
Planning roll out (through
& Design to 2024) 4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
2021 2022 2023 2024 Ongoing improvement over time
• Consensus building • Chain of Custody revision • System pilots • User support
• Requirements mapping • Data standardisation • Training and capacity building • System refinement Strengthening our
• Research • Solution procurement and design • System roll-out and scaling • Maintenance
work with partners
• Fundraising • System and process build
Traceability
Glossary of terms
Back to contents

1. Introduction
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
set up for Impact
Delivering impact
Overview of the
Engaging the market
Working with
civil society
Growth and
Innovation Fund
4. Continuous
Improvement
for Impact
Demonstrating
Strengthening our
work with partners
Glossary
Traceability
of terms
Glossary of terms
Back to contents
101
1. Introduction
Glossary of terms
2. Farmer Results
Introduction
Countries in Focus
Core Indicators Smallholders (SH) set up for Impact
Core Indicators are a subset of the Better Cotton P&C – v 2.1, which define Farmers who are not structurally dependent on permanent hired labour, and
Delivering impact
a globally consistent baseline for more sustainable cotton production. Core whose farm size does not exceed 20 ha of cotton.
Indicators provide the critical first steps in reducing the environmental impact of Overview of the
cotton and improving livelihoods among cotton farming communities. To receive Large Farms (LF) Monitoring, Evaluation
a licence to sell Better Cotton, a Producer must meet all Core Indicators. Farmers who have a farm size above 200 ha of cotton, and either have and Learning Approach
mechanised production, or are structurally dependent on permanent hired labour Engaging the market
Field Facilitator(FF)
Field Facilitators are field-based staff (typically employed by the IP or Local Medium Farms (MF): Working with
Partner) who engage directly with farmers in Producer Units. Field Facilitators Farmers who are structurally dependent on permanent hired labour, and whose civil society
work closely with farmers to assess baseline practices and deliver training, farm size is between 20 to 200 ha of cotton. Growth and
awareness-raising activities, and other interventions (i.e. demo plots). Field Innovation Fund
Facilitators also assist with collecting farm-level data and monitoring farmer Producer
awareness and practice adoption. The term Producer in the context of the Better Cotton Standard System refers 4. Continuous
to either an individual Large Farm or a Producer Unit (group) of Smallholders or Improvement
Implementing Partner (IP) Medium Farms. Licences to sell Better Cotton are administered at the Producer for Impact
Better Cotton’s Implementing Partners are organisations with local expertise who level.
oversee the set-up and management of Producer Units under Better Cotton’s Demonstrating
assurance model. Implementing Partners assume full responsibility for project Producer Unit (PU) improvement over time
delivery at the field level, including establishing the management structure of A Producer Unit is a group of Smallholders or Medium Farms who participate Revising our standard
Producer Units, recruiting and training Producer Unit Managers/Field Facilitators, in the Better Cotton programme through a group assurance model. Each PU is
and providing Producer Units with ongoing oversight and support, including overseen by a dedicated PU Manager, who is responsible for implementing an Strengthening our
regular field-level engagement. internal management system to support, train, and monitor farmers across the work with partners
PU. The size of a PU depends on local circumstances, although the optimal size Measurement projects
is between 3,500 to 4,000 farmers for Smallholders and around 100 farmers for a
Medium Farm PU. Farmers in a Smallholder PU are further divided into Learning Traceability
Groups (LGs) Glossary of terms
Back to contents

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2020

Navigating through this report

There is a contents page on page 3. You can

If you want to go back to the contents page 4. Continuous

side of the page number. Measurement projects

Introduction 4 Continuous improvement for impact 86

2020 Impact Report

Introduction – Exploring impact

2020 Impact Report 5

Introduction – Exploring impact in 2. Farmer Results

Better Cotton Introduction

2020 Impact Report 6

Understanding the results

2020 Impact Report 8

Explanation of Farmer Results

2020 Impact Report 9

TURKEY Organic Fertiliser

Explanation of Farmer CHINA

Environmental indicators Economic indicators

m3/ha Results Indicator data

*Frequency of use is compared, not amount. Traceability

*Frequency of use is compared, not amount. Traceability

2020 Impact Report 13

and hazardousLabour Issues Level

% 31% 7% 39% 19,002 0.1%298 6% %6 Demonstrating

0% Basic Strengthening our

Women’s 57,132 904,497 501,690 838 2,523 set up for Impact

China India Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey

2020 Impact Report 15

14,998 329,034 81,365 4,424 981

Season with Cotton Australia, who manages

2020 Impact Report 17

Australia 2. Farmer Results

The impact of climate change Soil testing Overview of the

2020 Impact Report 18

Australia 2. Farmer Results

Queensland pesticides we use, and we factor in the number of

2021 Impact Report 19

Season with the Brazilian Cotton Growers

2020 Impact Report 20

Brazil 2. Farmer Results

2020 Impact Report 21

Farmer profile Delivering impact

and Cassio Sitta “More sustainable cotton means implementing better

2021 Impact Report 22

2019-20 Cotton Highlights Comparison Farmers.

Season Better Cotton Farmers achieved

2020 Impact Report 23

China 2. Farmer Results

2020 Impact Report 24

China 2. Farmer Results

2019-20 Farmer Results: China

2020 Impact Report 25

China 2. Farmer Results

sounded interesting, so I applied to join in Overview of the

to improve my yield and income. The Better Growth and

2021 Impact Report 26

2019-20 Cotton Highlights Delivering impact

Season Challenges Overview of the

hectares practices. will continue to be addressed

2020 Impact Report 27

India 2. Farmer Results

2020 Impact Report 28

India 2. Farmer Results

Season Better Cotton Farmers achieved

Season Better Cotton Farmers continued C

Season etter Cotton Farmers developed