The report also included, for the first time, estimates for the amount of land in organic cotton cultivation globally, as well as the number of farming families involved. The Organic Exchange estimates that 100,000 households are now involved in organic cotton farming.

Along with historical data published by PAN UK, the report provided a clear overview of organic cotton production's dramatic expansion since it began in the late 1980s, said PAN UK.

This year, new projects were identified in Australia, China, Greece, India, Peru, Spain, Turkey, Syria, Malawi and Uganda. While Turkey and India remained the biggest producers, said PAN UK, it appeared that China was rapidly catching up. Extra Long Staple (ELS) organic cotton is also grown in India, Turkey, Peru, Egypt, the USA and Israel, and accounts for 8% of organic cotton production.

However, the report highlighted several areas of concern about the way the market is progressing, and made several recommendations in order to ensure farmers continue to benefit from the sector, said PAN UK.

“The organic cotton sector is now facing its greatest challenge to date, as it enters the mass market,” it said. “Huge orders placed by giant retailers provide great opportunities to expand the sector and benefit farmers. However they could also overwhelm the fledging industry with their own agenda.”

PAN UK will address this subject in the next issue of WearOrganic News.

Visit www.organicexchange.org to request a copy of the report Organic Farm and Fibre report 2007

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---