Cotton Australia enters into a new agreement with BCI to boost cotton into global market

Cotton Australia, already a member of the BCI program has entered into an agreement with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). With the signing of new agreement Australian cotton produced under its myBMP certification, which is Australia’s best management practice certification system for the cotton industry can now be sold into the global market as BCI cotton. This agreement will recognize Australia’s leading role in the production and promotion of responsibly grown cotton. Cotton Australia CEO, Adam Kay, said that the agreement would be welcomed by Australian cotton growers and the wider industry. As the Australian cotton growers will now on have the ability to use one system to produce cotton under both the myBMP and BCI banners. Access to future growth markets is of tremendous importance to Australian cotton growers, particularly as they contend with competition from synthetic fibres. This new agreement and its promise of enhanced market access will encourage more Australian growers to achieve full myBMP certification. Cotton growers will also have the opportunity to participate at varying levels of practice recognition with certification within the myBMP system requiring independent auditing – it recognises that the cotton-growing enterprise has met all best management practice requirements and is operating at the pinnacle of cotton-growing practice. According to Patrick Laine, CEO of the Better Cotton Initiative, they are pleased to recognise myBMP as providing a credible, verified framework for documenting this continuous improvement. myBMP farmers are leading by example. Australian producers have made remarkable progress, far beyond legal compliance, in growing cotton for the benefit of people and planet.