Marks & Spencer and Pilio have launched the Affordable Clean Environment (ACE) cotton programme to support cotton farmers in India. The programme is designed to expand access to clean energy while encouraging farming practices that protect and restore biodiversity.

The ACE cotton programme will fund both on-farm and off-farm solar energy systems. These measures aim to lower carbon emissions linked to cotton production and strengthen the long-term stability of rural communities. The initiative places decision-making power with farmers and develops actions in close collaboration with local communities.

Farmers already licensed under the Better Cotton Initiative are expected to benefit from the expanded support. The programme goes beyond improvements in farming methods by also promoting land restoration, habitat development and the planting of native species to support wildlife. Additional efforts will focus on improving waterway ecosystems and creating nature corridors that connect agricultural fields across the region.