A Global Solution for the Future

• Message from the President & CEO
• Biotechnology & Sustainability
• Future Opportunities

Future Opportunities

Cotton Incorporated leads the global cotton industry by providing the research and resources necessary for meeting the demand for cotton and its myriad products in ways that are profitable and sustainable. Looking to the future and understanding the key role cotton plays in a sustainable future, Cotton Incorporated works to achieve the following goals:

1. Promote U.S. cotton that is grown under the most sustainable practices worldwide and that make full use of biotechnology for increased yields and less environmental impact.
2. Support and develop technologies to expand cotton yields, thereby reducing the land required to produce cotton.
3. Continue to develop integrated pest management strategies in order to more effectively control harmful insects, while at the same time, continuing to reduce chemical applications.
4. Continue to search for effective alternatives to sole reliance on synthetic sources of nitrogen, and further our efforts to develop new technologies for improved nitrogen management.
5. Research and promote soil tillage practices that will both improve yields and reduce the harmful erosion of topsoil.
6. Improve water management strategies and support the development of drought-resistant cotton in order to use water more efficiently.
7. Continue to develop and promote "precision agriculture" technologies, which result in more precise applications of fertilizers and other materials to fields, thereby reducing overall applications and inputs.
8. Promote strategies to reduce the water used in the textile processing of cotton, and research and develop ways to reuse water in the processing.
9. Research and explore more environmentally friendly chemistries in textile processing and promote their use worldwide.
10. Continue to actively collect data in the U.S. and worldwide in order to monitor the industry's overall performance in sustainability. The information will guide further efforts to improve cotton's sustainability.