A delegation from the Indian cotton industry visited Australia in early August, as part of a program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) aimed at strengthening trade relations between the two nations. The group attended the Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast before embarking on a tour showcasing local cotton farms on the Darling Downs.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay led the delegation on visits to local farms and industry facilities, providing an in-depth look at Australian cotton production. Highlights of the tour included a visit to the Bayer Research Centre in Toowoomba, where Dr. Kristen Knight, Head of the Centre, detailed Australia’s resistance management plans that have proven effective over 28 years of biotechnology use.

The delegation also toured the Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) cotton gin in Dalby and Cotton Australia Director Matt McVeigh’s property, where they observed the latest in camera spray technology and centre pivot irrigation systems designed to enhance water use efficiency.

The visit is part of ongoing efforts to foster collaboration and build the relationship between the Australian and Indian cotton industries.