Our Innovation Programme is an incubator that develops and tests solutions that enable a healthy and resilient organic cotton sector. From research, to traceability innovations, and industry standards, we accelerate access to tools that ensure organic agriculture can be truly regenerative. Once proven, these innovations are rolled out in the OCA Farm Programme at scale, ensuring that programme’s continuous improvement. In this way we’re able to provide sector partners with best practices and challenges to help accelerate the organic cotton movement.
OCA’s Innovation Programme aims to accelerate access to tools that enable a healthy and resilient organic cotton sector. Here’s what we have achieved so far:
To confidently make organic cotton claims, the industry needs reliable screening that boosts credibility. In partnership with Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) and Textile Exchange, we developed a global testing protocol ISO/ IWA 32: 2019 to detect the presence of genetically modified organisms in organic cotton.
Finding reliable traceability solutions can make or break the industry. We participated in the Organic Cotton Traceability Pilot, which tested a blockchain-powered farmer-to-consumer traceability system and we’ve established the Textiles Traceability Task Force to further explore traceability solutions for the organic sector.
In collaboration with partner sustainable cotton standards, programmes and codes in Cotton 2040, we are developing a common impact indicator set for cotton farming systems. This will help brands and retailers to confidently track, optimise and communicate the impact of their sustainable cotton sourcing decisions.
OCA led a research project to identify the best crop diversification practices to optimise the agronomic, environmental and economic benefits for Indian organic cotton farmers. Supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the research project partnered OCA with the Research Institute of Agriculture (FiBL).
We are investing in new training curriculums for organic cotton farmers and trainers to support their knowledge development. The Organic Cotton Training Curriculum, developed in collaboration with the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL and with funding support from GIZ will be released in 2022.
In order for the organic cotton movement to flourish we need engaged farmers. We invest in and unite farm groups in an open community where they empower each other to develop and share agricultural knowledge, innovations, and best practices, using participatory approaches.
