World Cotton Day 2023 Statement

World Cotton Day 2023 

 Statement

By

Dr QU Dongyu. FAO Director-General 

4 October 2023

 

Excellences,

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

I am pleased to address you on the occasion of World Cotton Day 2023, and I wish to thank UNIDO for hosting this year’s celebration, which reflects the excellent collaboration between our organizations.

 

World Cotton Day offers an opportunity to renew our commitment to enhancing the efficiency, inclusivity, resilience and sustainability of the cotton sector.

 

It brings together all partners who support the sector, and it reminds us of the significance of cotton for the livelihoods of millions of households globally.

 

It is estimated that cotton sustains about 80 million growers and over 300 million families across 90 countries in 5 continents.

 

It is a key source of income, particularly for many low-income countries that depend on foreign exchange to pay for their food import bills, and to access a variety of goods and services from world markets.

 

The Cotton Sector can play a significant role and contribute to our efforts to transform the way we produce, consume, and protect our environment and ecosystem.

 

The global demand for cotton is projected to increase by 1.8 percent per year over the next decade due to industrialization, urbanization, and population and income growth.

 

Future increases in cotton production are expected to be mostly driven by higher yields, and the need for sustainability remains critical.

 

We must transform these challenges into opportunities. For this, we need to do things differently – we need to adapt and transform the business model.

 

We need to produce more with less.

 

Increasing productivity is especially critical in Africa and in the Cotton Four (C-4) countries, where there is a real potential to boost yields in a sustainable manner.

 

Science and innovation can provide the technical support needed by farmers and producers, and we need to mobilize more and better targeted investment, with new financial instruments.

 

We also need to promote the development of cotton by-products, like edible oil and animal feed, and also for manure to grow mushrooms, for example, this is the experience I had in China, to help farmers generate additional income.

 

It is essential to ensure a level playing field for all players in the global cotton trade for equitable accessibility, affordability and availability.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

FAO continues to work with all partners to provide the required technical support needed to transform the cotton industry for the benefit of all.

 

FAO’s support is guided by our Strategic Framework 2022-31, based on the aspiration of the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

 

To ensure a better future, which is more prosperous, more equal, and free of hunger and malnutrition. With no one left behind.

 

Thank you.