The first Multistakeholder Dialogue with cotton producers, exporters, textile associations, retailers, brands, government representatives, financial bodies, and non-governmental organisations took place in Brazil’s capital Brasília on 26 March.
During this gathering, attendees pinpointed climate resilience, traceability, and enhanced cooperation as critical focal points to inform forthcoming strategies. These strategies are expected to establish industry benchmarks and address widespread agricultural issues.
Better Cotton chief operating officer Lena Staafgård said: “Brazil’s agricultural industry is vast and is not only a leading producer and exporter of cotton but of many other commodities. By bringing together key stakeholders across Brazil, we create a platform to overcome mutual challenges and champion best practices. Together, I’m confident we can accelerate change, and I look forward to future meetings.”
For over ten years, Better Cotton has been active within Brazil’s cotton sector in partnership with ABRAPA (Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers).
Given that cotton cultivation often alternates with other crops, it is vital for various sectors to work closely together to overcome mutual challenges and encourage the uptake of exemplary practices.
ABRAPA executive director Márcio Antonio Portocarrero stated: “I see dialogue as a way for us to build a coalition of ideas and solutions together with diverse sectors that often tend to isolate themselves and think differently. This can only lead to progress and improvement.”
This endeavour provided Brazilian cotton farmers with an opportunity for more robust interaction with key players in the industry. It allows them to share their experiences and concerns while fostering innovative solutions to challenges that affect the entire sector.
Kamila Garantizado, a sustainability specialist at Brazilian department store chain Lojas Renner said: “This was a highly educational environment with very active listening. It became very clear that the needs [of others] are relatively similar to ours—like improving communication.”
The participants have pledged ongoing cooperation and plan to meet again in the near future to continue making strides toward enhancing sustainable cotton farming practices in Brazil.
In April last year, Better Cotton was criticised for conducting an allegedly ‘flawed’ audit into ‘dirty’ Brazilian cotton.
Better Cotton said at the time: “The allegations made by Earthsight, a non-profit organisation, relate to two companies that own or manage a number of farms in the state of Bahia and cover illegal deforestation, green land grabbing and coercion of local communities, amongst other issues.”
It added that its audit report, which was carried out by independent global advisory firm Peterson, confirmed that three of the farms mentioned were licensed to sell Better Cotton during the timeframes specified in Earthsight’s report, but stated: “These three farms were not in breach of the Better Cotton Standard”.
“Better Cotton unites Brazil’s cotton sector on sustainable production” was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.
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