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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol: Collaborating for a Smarter Cotton Future

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol seeks to expand its reach and efficacy by increasing grower participation and self-assessment capabilities. This initiative aims to enable cotton producers to critically evaluate their agricultural practices and identify potential areas for enhancement. To achieve this objective, we have implemented a multifaceted approach to education and outreach since 2020 including, but not limited to: master farmer program, train-the-trainer facilitation, and interactive workshops.

These efforts will be piloted, and successful methods will be documented and used in other cotton growing states to scale meaningful participation. By leveraging these scientifically validated educational and outreach techniques, we aim to foster a culture of continuous improvement within the cotton growing community. This, in turn, should lead to more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, benefiting both individual producers and the broader cotton industry.

Active
Insight

Engagement Targets

Growers

Chart shows new, retained and total number of growers enrolled in each year of the project. Per the project registration, this project has a target of 100 unique growers.

Acres

Chart shows entered and enrolled acres in each year of the project. Per the project registration, this project has a target of 500000 enrolled acres.

Notes: (1) Minor fluctuations in the number of retained growers is expected from year to year. These fluctuations may be due to year-over-year crop rotation effects or other factors beyond the control of the project. Enrolled acres represent the total number of acres on an individual farm in a specific year. The ability to report enrolled acres is based on the Fieldprint Project Standard requirement that individual growers enrolled in projects enter at least 10% of the acres managed for a specific crop. (2) Entered acres represent the actual number of enrolled acres for which data is entered in the Fieldprint Platform for analysis.

Objectives

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is committed to driving continuous improvement in the sustainability of U.S. cotton production
Our core methodology includes -

1)Drive continuous, measurable improvement in six metrics: land use, soil loss, soil carbon, irrigated water, energy, and GHG emissions.

2) Give brands and retailers verified, farm-level data and traceability for compliance and storytelling.

3) Help the U.S. cotton sector meet its 2025 environmental targets while enrolling at least 1/3rd of the national acreage.

4) Maintain integrity through independent third-party verification and transparent annual reporting.

5) Boost farmer profitability and innovation in regenerative practices, advancing both sustainability and traceability
2024
Third Party Verified

Supported 1327 growers with documenting sustainability performance on 2.1 million acres. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol's annual report serves as a comprehensive repository of successful methodologies, documenting their implementation and outcomes.

2023
Third Party Verified

The approaches, among others, have been systematically evaluated over the past four years. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol's annual report ( https://report.trustuscotton.org/) serves as a comprehensive repository of successful methodologies, documenting their implementation and outcomes. This scientific data collection and analysis approach enables us to refine our strategies continually.

Furthermore, we have initiated the transfer of these evidence-based methods to other cotton-growing states, ensuring a standardized yet adaptable framework for meaningful participation across diverse agricultural contexts. This expansion is conducted with careful consideration of regional variations in growing conditions, cultural practices, and economic factors.

2022
Third Party Verified

Supported 975 growers with documenting sustainability performance on 1.7 million acres. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol's annual report serves as a comprehensive repository of successful methodologies, documenting their implementation and outcomes.

Participants

Project Lead Organization

Cotton IncorporatedFull
National Cotton Council of AmericaFull
U.S. Cotton Trust ProtocolFull

Research Partner

University of Tennessee ExtensionFull

Project Details

Status
Active
Pathway
Insight
Primary Crops
Cotton
Natural Resource Concern
Counties the project is located in:

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