Latin America ups cotton traceability drive

WASHINGTON DC – Latin America, the cradle of both cotton species that together account for 99% of global production, is making a concerted push to position itself as a world leader in traceable, sustainable cotton fibre supply.

ICAC chief scientist Dr Keshav Kranthi notes in a newly released report by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) that cotton in Latin America involves 28.67 million producers globally and underpins economic activity for an estimated 350 million people across the value chain. Of the 30.3 million hectares of cotton cultivated worldwide, 2.7 million are in Latin America and the Caribbean.