Citizens of Humanity's regenerative cotton standard widens net
US-based Advancing Eco Agriculture (AEA) has launched a cotton standard called Integrity Grown that aims to increase yields, lower chemical inputs and water usage and improve soil health and is backed by denim company Citizens of Humanity.
The programme’s purpose is to attract more cotton growers to transition to regenerative practices.
AEA founder John Kempf said: “Many growers today are caught up in contemporary agriculture's cycle and myth that using more chemicals and water is required to increase yields.
“This is particularly true with cotton, a crop heavily sprayed with chemicals, depleting all soil nutrition and life. There is another tested, proven way to effectively grow cotton using regenerative agriculture. This way of farming offers a hopeful vision and an exciting path forward for farmers.”
AEA will provide support for growers throughout their three-year transition period and beyond. On-site visits will be conducted by AEA’s regional teams of agronomists and field consultants. They will use testing, such as plant sap analysis, soil testing and soil DNA sequencing, to measure criteria required to meet the standard.
Amy Williams, CEO of for Citizens of Humanity Group, added: “The Integrity Grown standard creates a deeper level of transparency for consumers into the cotton growing practices of the regenerative farmers who are supplying us.”
Read Inside Denim's new indepth feature on regenerative cotton
Image: Georgia Snow on Unsplash
