Project Overview
The Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) worked with 22 cotton growers in California’s Central Valley helping them to identify and develop a market for high-quality, ecologically grown cotton. SCP’s strategy ensured that program growers learned effective risk management strategies by: 1) Providing technical support for the transition to the ecologically-based sustainable growing system (BASIC) that produces Cleaner Cotton; 2) Offering workshops and field days during which SCP growers identified markets for Cleaner Cotton, and conventional growers learned about BASIC growing strategies; and 3) Hosting a Sustainable Cotton Farm Tour where growers could make contacts with individuals throughout the cotton supply chain, including potential purchasers of Cleaner Cotton.
The project goal was to sell Cleaner Cotton at a premium to both offset financial and market risks inherent in growing for a new market and reward growers for leading the transition to biological cotton farming that protects the environment and supports the local farm economy. While a sale of 2007 cotton was not made, the marketplace is very interested in the Cleaner Cotton produced by SCP growers and efforts will be made to sell cotton from the 2008 season.
Number of Participants: 50
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
There are no educational materials available for this project.
REPORTS & EVALUATIONS
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.