Program of Brazil-FAO International Cooperation

FAO, Brazil, and international experts discuss the sustainable future of cotton and the benefits of certification

In celebration of World Cotton Day, the +Cotton project held a webinar with over 60 experts to discuss the benefits of certification and its importance for access to international markets.

Santiago, Chile, October 9, 2024 – To commemorate World Cotton Day 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/MRE) held the webinar “Certification Models: Pathways to a Sustainable Future for Cotton” on October 8, as part of the +Cotton project.

The event brought together more than 60 experts from the cotton sector to discuss the importance of certification opportunities and the benefits for the competitiveness of the cotton sector in the region.

In his opening remarks, João Luiz Clementino, project analyst at ABC/MRE, highlighted the importance of celebrating World Cotton Day, emphasizing that this natural fiber is key to the global economy. Clementino pointed out that a more responsible and sustainable approach to cotton production can improve its quality and facilitate access to international markets. “Today, Brazil is the largest cotton producer in the world,” he said. The analyst commented that this successful experience is shared with other countries through South-South cooperation.

Ingrid Zabaleta Chaustre, executive assistant of the +Cotton project, recalled that since October 7 was established as World Cotton Day, this cooperation initiative has promoted spaces for reflection on the future of the sector. Zabaleta emphasized that between 80% and 85% of production in the project’s partner countries comes from family farming. On the webinar’s topic, certification, she said it is essential for accessing international markets and noted that there are opportunities to strengthen Latin American cotton production with certifications, such as the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) seal, which represents 22% of the cotton produced worldwide in the 2022/2023 harvest, including its equivalent certifications like the Brazilian Responsible Cotton (ABR).

Márcio Portocarrero, executive director of the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa), presented Brazil’s experiences in certifying cotton production, highlighting that the country is currently the world leader in exporting natural fiber, with 4 million tons projected for the next year. Portocarrero stressed that sustainability and quality are growing market demands, driving the use of innovative technologies, biotechnology, and the establishment of traceability programs to ensure certification. According to the director, Abrapa's program, which represents 99% of Brazilian cotton production, has been a driving force for transformation over the past 25 years, promoting improvements in quality, sustainability, and access to international markets.

Natalia Pedraza, coordinator of the Fashion System at Colombia Productiva, an entity of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, shared the experience of the certification process for Colombian cotton, which is being carried out in four phases. According to Pedraza, the initiative is currently in the pilot implementation phase, and the Colombian cotton sector is expected to move towards more sustainable and internationally competitive production. The coordinator commented that “Brazil has been an inspiration” in terms of cotton organization and certification, and that Colombia has received support from the +Cotton project in its journey toward sustainable and traceable cotton production.

From Paraguay, Genaro Coronel, representative of the National Plant and Seed Quality and Health Service (SENAVE), shared his country’s experience in implementing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), designed to facilitate the certification of organic products at a lower cost by reducing bureaucracy and promoting responsible and sustainable production in family farming. This system is based on mutual trust and participation among process stakeholders, creating local knowledge networks and strengthening relationships between producers and consumers.

The event concluded with a joint reflection on the need to continue promoting certification to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of cotton in Latin America, aiming to strengthen its presence in international markets and ensure a more prosperous future for this value chain in the region.