Better Cotton selected APROCOT-CI as its strategic partner for Côte d'Ivoire after receiving its Declaration of Interest to launch a Better Cotton programme last year

The field-level sustainable farming initiative aims to provide training and resources to farming communities across the country to foster more sustainable cotton production practices.

APROCOT-CI will oversee efforts to enhance the climate resilience and economic outlook of local farming communities.

Representing the interests of cotton companies throughout the country, APROCOT-CI comprises six member organisations across the country: CIDT, Ivoire Coton, Global Cotton SA, CO.I.C-SA, SICOSA 2.0, and Seco SA.

These organisations will serve as Better Cotton Programme Partners, contributing expertise and resources to facilitate social and environmental improvements within cotton communities.

Jean François Toure, president of APROCOT-CI, underscored the shared commitment to making a positive impact with the sustainable farming initiative and said: "By integrating Better Cotton's sustainable farming practices and APROCOT-CI's local expertise, we aim to enhance cotton yields, reduce environmental impact, and improve social and economic outcomes for farmers in the region.”

In March of this year, Better Cotton hosted a multistakeholder event in Abidjan to discuss sustainability challenges and opportunities in Côte d'Ivoire's agriculture sector.

The cotton initiative at the time announced it was engaging with sector stakeholders across West and Central Africa, in countries such as Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Cameroon.

The initiative said it remains committed to expanding its presence across Africa, enabling smallholder farmers to address climate change challenges and adopt sustainable agricultural practices continuously.

With a membership network spanning from the farm to the retailer and brand level, Better Cotton claims it is strategically positioned to meet the growing demand for sustainable cotton.

Alan McClay, CEO at Better Cotton added: "Our partnership with APROCOT-CI will be fundamental to the delivery of our work in the country, helping domestic cotton farmers to reap the environmental and economic rewards of more sustainable cotton production.”

Earlier this month (3 November), Better Cotton unveiled a traceability solution to help fashion companies accurately trace and disclose the origin of raw materials in line with forthcoming regulations and the growing demand for supply chain transparency.