Amsterdam, March 8, 2026 – The Organic Cotton Accelerator and Textile Exchange will co-host the Organic Cotton Summit in Istanbul from June 2 to 4. This landmark event underscores a shared, long-term commitment to bringing together the global organic cotton sector, while emphasizing the strategic importance of Türkiye as a key hub for sustainable cotton production and trade.
By uniting their communities, OCA and Textile Exchange will create a space for organic cotton actors to explore region-specific opportunities, address barriers to growth, and strengthen the supply chain through shared learning and collaborative action.
This first joint summit marks an important step for stronger alignment across programs and global supply-chain actors. Designed as a dynamic solutions-driven forum, the event will transform industry commitments into actionable, scalable solutions, providing a vital platform for turning sustainability goals into measurable progress.
″By joining hands with our partners at Textile Exchange, we are creating a unique opportunity to convene the full breadth of the organic cotton community, from those growing cotton in the fields to those shaping markets and policy. It’s a chance to recognize the incredible progress achieved across supply chains and to be inspired by peers from across the globe. Most importantly, it’s a space to challenge ourselves to go further in a rapidly shifting sustainability landscape and continue scaling organic cotton for lasting impact.″
Ashley Gill, Chief Standards and Strategy Officer, said: “The future of organic cotton depends on our ability to collaborate more deeply and act more decisively. By joining forces with the Organic Cotton Accelerator, this summit offers a rare opportunity to unite leaders from across the global organic community to learn from one another, challenge our assumptions, and to co-create solutions that are grounded in real-world experience. “We’re excited to co-host this event, where connection, insights, and innovation can inspire collaborative action and accelerate the scale and impact of organic cotton worldwide.”
A global forum advancing solutions to global challenges
With increasing regulatory pressure on supply chains and growing climate risks affecting cotton production, the Organic Cotton Summit responds to both global and regional priorities. It reflects rising demand for credible sustainable fibers and shared commitment to scaling organic cotton responsibly through collective action.
The event will bring together representatives from global fashion brands, retailers, suppliers, and farmers from key production countries. Policymakers, sustainability leaders, and innovators working on traceability, climate resilience, and finance are also expected to participate.
Inspiring speakers and a dynamic agenda
The agenda will feature Paul Holmbeck, World Board Member at IFOAM – Organics- International, delivering a keynote address on global lessons from organic policy and market initiatives for mainstreaming organic cotton.
The two-day agenda focuses on key themes, including market demand, farmer perspectives, and system trust. Participants will take part in co-creation workshops on topics such as unlocking investment for scale, leveraging data for climate and nature outcomes, the role of traceability, and navigating sustainability policy. Day two will spotlight regional dialogues, creating space for more targeted exchange and cross-learning from key organic-cotton producing regions.
Throughout the event, the Organic Cotton Pavilion, hosted by OCA, will showcase organizations working directly with organic cotton, from farm groups, seed producers, certification bodies, and traceability solutions. Attendees can also join an exclusive, optional field trip to an organic cotton farm near İzmir.
Full agenda and registration details can be found at organiccottonsummit.org. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
