Textile Exchange publishes farm engagement report 2013

Textile Exchange has released its 2013 Farm Engagement Annual Report. It is dedicated to ICCO, TE’s Farm Engagement program partner and funder for the past eight years. In the report, TE recognizes the vital contribution ICCO provided as TE’s farm work evolved from value chain development in the early days to more of an industry engagement role from production to sales such as sharing of best practices and facilitating value chain engagement. “During this time with ICCO we have seen organic cotton production expand by 456 percent, with more brands, retailers, and consumers recognizing the positive impact of organic farming, and as a result increase their demand for organic products,” LaRhea Pepper, Managing Director of Textile Exchange, says. 
 
In 2013, the Farm Engagement Program focused on strengthening Textile Exchange’s position as a key connector and leader in organic cotton. A large part of this work has been accomplished through TE’s Organic Cotton Round Table and the three task forces focusing on the sectors greatest challenges: Seed Security, Business & Investment Models (Matching Supply and Demand), and Engaging Consumers. Other pieces of work for 2013 included the organization's first Collaborative Learning Series designed to bring people around a virtual table to discuss sourcing practices and how to improve impact right back to the farm.

 
Looking forward, TE’s first Life Cycle Assessment for Organic Cotton Cultivation (LCA) will be launched midyear, in partnership with LCA experts PE International, and with the support of TE member companies. The farm team is also finalizing an Organic Cotton Sustainability Assessment. Both projects will bring comprehensive, credible, and comparative data to light. More information is available from Textile Exchange