Cotton Australia’s Cotton to Market Lead, Brooke Summers, recently presented at the Australian Cotton Scientists Conference in Narrabri, highlighting the global issues shaping cotton’s future and how they link directly to research and data from Australia’s industry.

Brooke outlined the growing demand from brands and retailers for reliable sustainability data, traceability, and evidence of cotton’s environmental and social credentials, with legislation in markets such as the EU pushing requirements back to farm level.

She explained how Cotton Australia’s Cotton to Market program works with brands, retailers, and textile organisations to drive demand for Australian cotton and ensure the science underpinning its quality and sustainability is clearly understood.

“Our customers are operating in an environment where sustainability is shifting from voluntary to mandatory, and they’re increasingly looking for data that can only be delivered through the science and research coming out of our industry,” Brooke said. “It was great to see how interested the conference audience was in this global perspective and how their work contributes to Australia’s position in the world market.”

Brooke also outlined the Australian Cotton Strategic Roadmap, developed by Cotton Australia, the Australian Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA) and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC). The roadmap sets out priorities in sustainable cotton, traceability, data, human rights, and promotion to ensure the industry remains competitive in global markets.

The Australian cotton industry is ahead in some areas but still needs to improve in others. Partnerships between scientists and the industry will be important to support the roadmap and continue building the research and innovation needed for the industry to stay competitive.