Press release
Under embargo until 09:00am GMT on 9 December 2024
CottonConnect publishes insights on the future of regenerative cotton in Türkiye in collaboration with industry and government stakeholders
9 December 2024, Türkiye – CottonConnect has today released an insights paper that highlights how regenerative agriculture has the potential to support the cotton sector in Türkiye for next generations and support better livelihoods.
With rising consumer demand for sustainable textiles and stricter environmental regulations coming in to force across Europe and beyond, there is a real opportunity for Türkiye to significantly contribute to regenerative cotton production.
In order to help facilitate this transition, CottonConnect, in collaboration with Turkish government officials, industry experts, local partners, manufacturers, brands and academics has identified in the paper some of the most pressing challenges threatening
both agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of farmers. These include:
- Soil health: Conventional farming practices have degraded organic matter and water retention capacity, reducing yields.
- Climate change: Erratic weather patterns and pest surges threaten crop resilience and productivity.
- Knowledge gap: Awareness of subsidies and sustainable farming resources among farmers remains limited.
- Socio-economic conditions: Disparities in resources and generational gaps in farming techniques hinder transitions to regenerative methods.
Whilst regenerative farming practices are just one part of the solution, they can play a critical role in addressing many of these complex and interconnected challenges.
By promoting practices like responsible optimum tilling, water usage, use of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers and intercropping, regenerative agriculture not only helps minimize pollution and emissions, but also protects and improves soil health and biodiversity. Better soil and less reliance on resources also mean increased crop yields and reduced costs, ultimately helping improve farmers’ livelihoods and their resilience against climate change.
CottonConnect has been working on localizing its REEL Regenerative Cotton pilot programme in Türkiye in the Nazilli region, Aydin, adapting the REEL Regenerative Code to the specific needs and conditions of Turkish cotton farming. Through engagement with farming communities to educate farmers about regenerative practices and support them to put them in place, the programme has demonstrated the transformations that regenerative farming can bring into the agro-ecosystem.
Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, said ‘By prioritising education, financial support, collaboration and impact monitoring, Türkiye can accelerate the adoption of regenerative cotton farming to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the cotton sector. Through initiatives such as our REEL Regenerative Code, we look forward to continuing to work with the Turkish government, local farmers and global brands to make regenerative farming a reality for more farms.’
Many initiatives are already in place and in the pipeline across Türkiye, where a multi-faceted approach will be necessary to implement change at scale, but the insights paper also identifies further actions that will be critical to creating this change. Support in the form of grants, subsidies and low-interest loans for farmers looking to adopt regenerative practices, and further investment into comprehensive training programmes for farmers and research to develop innovative technologies to improve the efficiency and sustainability of cotton production.
The private sector in Türkiye also has a critical role to play in the development of these technologies, as well as in fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors to share knowledge, resources and best practices. At a brand level, encouraging brands and the fashion sector as a whole to promote the benefits of regenerative products to consumers could help drive greater demand and achieve a premium for farmers.
Türkiye’s textile industry plays a vital role in the global market, accounting for 6% of the country’s GDP and positioning it as the 7th largest cotton producer globally1. However, domestic cotton production faces notable challenges around soil degradation, water scarcity, and the impacts of climate change.
For any enquiries, please contact: Maggie Hiu Tsun Leung [email protected]
Deepti Ann Joseph [email protected]
About CottonConnect
CottonConnect is a pioneering social enterprise that is reimagining the future for supply chains. With headquarters in London and on-the-ground teams around the world, we help improve the sustainability of global textile supply chains, enabling producers and raw material farmers to work more responsibly and enjoy better livelihoods. Our work helps brands to access more sustainable cotton and other natural fibres, creating a more transparent and resilient supply chain that will continue to deliver the best cotton, now and in the future. At CottonConnect, we believe in helping brands, suppliers and farmers develop and maintain partnerships that are truly transformational.
For more information, please visit www.cottonconnect.org.