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US Cotton Trust Protocol opens grower enrollment for 2021 crop

US cotton growers can now enroll their 2021 crop in the US Cotton Trust Protocol.

Dr. Gary Adams says the Trust Protocol sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton.  “It is about ensuring that we can maintain and grow the demand base for US cotton,” he says.  “And that’s very important.”

He tells Brownfield they’re also working to create a database and educational resource tool for producers from the data they collect on their management practices.  “The growers are the only ones who see their data, but we hope by having greater insight into farming practices and their data, they can identify some areas of continuous improvement,” he says.  “Hopefully it is twofold in terms of the benefits producers see out of this program.”

Existing members will need to re-enroll their operations to receive the year-over-year data from the Fieldprint calculator that helps track sustainability progress at the farm level.

Adams says the Trust Protocol recently announced it has added more than 300 brand, retailer, mill, and manufacturers since its launch in 2020. 

AUDIO: Gary Adams, US Cotton Trust Protocol