Better Cotton joins WTO-FIFA push for sustainable African cotton

Better Cotton, a sustainability-focused cotton initiative, will assess cotton farming in West and Central Africa. This will help them understand the needs of small farmers and create better ways to produce sustainable cotton. The project is funded by Afreximbank and will benefit cotton farmers in Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, totaling 200,000 people.

This initiative aligns with a wider effort by the WTO, FIFA and other organizations to improve the cotton industry in West and Central Africa. Their goal is to create a stronger cotton value chain in the region, allowing farmers to get more income by processing cotton locally instead of just exporting raw materials.

Better Cotton's assessments will connect farmers with this wider effort. The organization is committed to growing its presence in Africa and recently launched a program in Côte d’Ivoire. Better Cotton's CEO highlighted Africa's potential for cotton production. By conducting these assessments, they aim to improve support for farmers and communities, ultimately driving sustainable economic development in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire.

An Afreximbank official said the initiative aims to empower farmers and the entire cotton industry by allowing them to get more value from their crops and create higher quality products.