Australian cotton to carry out once-in-a-decade environmental study
The Australian cotton industry has commissioned an independent expert to conduct an in-depth assessment of its environmental performance.
Cotton Australia, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) and the industry’s Sustainability Working Group have commissioned Melbourne-based professional services firm GHD to carry out the work. This will be the fourth external examination of cotton’s environmental performance in 30 years.
In 1991, cotton became the first major Australian agricultural industry to seek a full independent assessment of its environmental impact, CRDC general manager for research and development investment, Allan Williams, explained. This marked the first cotton-wide commitment to improved sustainability, he added.
Further assessments in 2003 and 2012 showcased progress, he said, and drove further improvements. “Collectively, the industry has committed to undertake assessments every 10 years,” Mr Williams said.
This new assessment will review the industry’s response to the recommendations from the 2012 report. It will identify current and emerging environmental issues and their implications for cotton.
The assessment will include interviews with industry stakeholders and visits to farms of all sizes across all of Australia’s cotton-growing regions. This work will start right away and will continue until June. The report will become available in late 2022.
Cotton Australia chief executive, Adam Kay, said the assessment would “reveal what we are already doing well, and importantly, also show us what we can do better”.
