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Growers share views on the future of myBMP
The future direction of myBMP was in focus at Cotton Australia’s General Meeting, held on 3 June 2025 in Coogee. A dedicated one-hour workshop brought together growers and industry representatives to discuss how the program can continue to support best practice on farm while responding to evolving sustainability expectations.
The session centred on three key questions:
- What should the primary purpose of myBMP be?
- What will help ensure it delivers value to growers into the future?
- And should myBMP take on a more market-facing role?
Discussions were wide-ranging and reflected both opportunities and concerns. The following is a summary of the workshop outcomes.
Future Purpose of myBMP by Stakeholder
At Farm Level:
- Guide sustainability and best practice
- Support risk management, record keeping and legal compliance
- Benchmark performance and facilitate continuous improvement
- Set expectations for new industry entrants
Australian Cotton Industry:
- Strategic leverage / advocacy tool / use to influence regulations
- Standardise credentials through minimum benchmarks
- Ensure legal compliance / manage industry risk
- Clearly demonstrate sustainability to strengthen social licence
Cotton Communities:
- Strengthen social licence
- Promote sustainable, resilient farmers and communities
- Foster community safety
Cotton Market & Customers:
- Ensure market access
- Build trust
- Clear definition of the Australian cotton product
- Control the narrative
- Explore opportunities for a premium
What Must Be Included in a New myBMP Program
Value to Growers:
- Obtainable and achievable goals
- Marketability and potential for premiums
- Clear incentives to participate: cheaper insurance, access to finance, reduced audits/regulation
- Peace of mind (legally compliant if something goes wrong)
- Staff retention
- Protection from external pressures (e.g., regulators, lobbyists)
- Enable traceability
Core Features & Functions:
- Streamlined, simplified system with strong functionality
- Online platform with automated data collection and integrated systems
- Flexibility and relevance for diverse users
- Support resources (templates, learning tools)
- Support for group-level learning/workshops and on-call assistance
Performance & Compliance:
- Compliance and legal protection
- Verification/certification for credibility
- Risk mitigation and due diligence
- Benchmarking and support for continuous improvement
Should myBMP be Market-Facing?
This question was asked via a Slide poll:
- 84% said YES
- 16% said NO
Next steps
Following the General Meeting, a strategic workshop was held with the Cotton Australia Board, CRDC Board, and staff from both organisations to explore the future direction of myBMP. The session built on earlier review workshops and focused on the program’s role in farm-level compliance, market access, risk management, and sustainability.
Discussions covered the strategic purpose of myBMP, its value as a certification tool, and the importance of branding, legal compliance, and industry alignment.
The group concluded that myBMP must evolve to balance practical on-farm application with growing expectations from markets and stakeholders. Strong industry ownership, underpinned by robust data and effective branding, will be essential to position Australian cotton as a leader in sustainable agriculture.
Next steps include reviewing the interim report from the external review and preparing for the next phase of work, which will focus on integration with the industry’s data platform and further engagement with growers and stakeholders.
