Global Standard unveils initiative for monitoring of cotton farming

The non-profit organization Global Standard, responsible for overseeing the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has launched a groundbreaking initiative to showcase the potential of remote satellite monitoring in organic cotton farming systems.

Developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and software startup Marple, this initiative utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to classify cotton fields in India based on cultivation standards using data from ESA satellites. India, the largest producer of organic cotton globally, saw the launch of two significant projects in 2023, as highlighted in the GOTS Annual Report 2023.

The new initiative aims to provide accurate estimates of organic cotton yields in specific regions by utilizing standardized yield parameters, enhancing transparency and accountability in organic cotton production. Additionally, the initiative is expected to help identify cotton farms capable of transitioning to organic farming, even if they haven’t yet obtained organic certification.

Initial findings from the project are scheduled to be released in June. Another project introduced for the 2022–2023 harvest season acts as a liaison between farms and gin, gathering information from organic raw seed cotton producers to uphold integrity in the organic cotton supply chain.