Study reveals environmental benefits of organic cotton cultivation
The OCA, which collaborates with more than 100,000 Indian farmers, commissioned climate solutions provider South Pole to conduct the research.
The analysis draws on verified data from more than 18,000 farmers spanning three growth periods from 2020 to 2023, within varied irrigation conditions: rain-fed, intensive irrigation, and a mix of both.
The research aims to develop environmental profiles for raw cotton derived from seed cotton grown by participants in OCA's agricultural programme in India. It examines the variations in irrigation and farming methods, leading to distinct environmental profiles across 15 specific supply regions within India, spanning three separate growth cycles.
The study covers five Indian states, namely Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, and Telangana.
OCA executive director Bart Vollaard said: "OCA's first regional LCA doesn't only provide unique local insights into the environmental benefits of organic cotton for our sector, it also helps us identify how to deepen the impact of our work and improve OCA's own data systems so we can deliver increasingly accurate LCAs in the future - showcasing the positive impact delivered by the fantastic work of the farmers in our programme.'
The OCA's LCA aimed to establish a reliable baseline for cradle-to-ginning-gate evaluations, support verifiable environmental claims, and aid in Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting for associated brands. Additionally, the OCA sought to refine its data collection and management processes for future assessments and monitoring.
The study's findings suggest organic cotton farming has a smaller environmental footprint in several impact categories such as climate change potential, water consumption, acidification, and eutrophication. More specifically it shows:
• Emissions directly from fields are identified as significant contributors to climate change effects, acidification, and eutrophication. For instance, these emissions account for between 45% to 99% (averaging at 88%) of the impact across most categories (ten out of 16) within the Control – Irrigated group
• The use of fertilisers — both synthetic and natural — is a determining factor in the environmental impact of cotton production.
• Water use impacts differ greatly depending on irrigation practices with rain-fed systems showing the least impact.
South Pole environmental impact accounting LCA lead Caroline Peyer said: 'At South Pole we are proud to partner with OCA on this innovative study offering an extensive, farm-level dataset, providing valuable insights into the environmental impacts of different farming systems, underlining the benefits of organic cotton cultivation. The large sample size, combined with third-party verification, enhances the robustness and reliability of the results - a step forward in empowering businesses to design robust sourcing strategies.'
To lessen the environmental footprint of cotton production, the study recommends a mix of strategies. Promoting organic cotton cultivation is crucial due to its lower reliance on synthetic inputs and its alignment with sustainable farming practices.
Moreover, it says adopting less impactful irrigation techniques and enhancing fertiliser management can substantially reduce cotton farming's environmental footprint. Increased energy efficiency on farms also aids in reducing resource consumption and GHG emissions.
The study suggests that it is vital to enhance LCA data quality and consistency for sustainability initiatives to be effective and measurable. This includes refining secondary data for irrigation through partnerships with local bodies to improve water footprint assessments. Periodic updates to LCA studies are necessary for tracking advancements and evaluating intervention impacts over time.
OCA plans additional regional LCAs to more accurately assess organic cotton's contribution towards addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and social issues. Brands affiliated with OCA gain access to tailored LCA insight dashboards that enable them to monitor progress, shape sourcing decisions, and drive tangible results.
The regional LCA underscores the need for collaborative efforts within the industry to scale up sustainability measures.
The organisation also invites textile brands, NGOs, policymakers, and suppliers to leverage these findings in fostering sustainable practices and policies.
Recently, OCA recognised Soorty's Soorty Organic Cotton Initiative (SOCI), making it the first private-sector textile manufacturer initiative in Pakistan.
"Study reveals environmental benefits of organic cotton cultivation" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Miami Herald
‘Armored' creatures with ‘whip' tails and four other new species discoveries
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent new species discoveries: 'Armored' creature with 'whip'-like tail pulled from river. It's a new species In southeastern Brazil, researchers discovered a new species named Rineloricaria buckupi, or Buckup's whiptail catfish, in the rivers near Rio de Janeiro. This 'armored' catfish, covered in body plates and sporting a 'whip'-like tail, was found in shallow streams often near bridges and highways. | Published May 30 | Read More | Camouflaged creature found in 'sacred forests' of Madagascar. It's a new species In the 'sacred forests' of southern Madagascar, scientists discovered the Paragehyra tsaranoro, or Tsaranoro half-padded gecko. This camouflaged creature, with its 'flattened' body and 'rounded' snout, was found in forest fragments surrounding the Andringitra Massif. The species is considered critically endangered due to its limited distribution and ongoing habitat threats. | Published June 2 | Read More | 'Large'-tongued creature found in water tank at India home. It's a new species In northeastern India, researchers discovered the Amolops shillong, or Shillong cascade frog, perched inside a water tank in the city of Shillong. These frogs, with 'large' tongues and 'fluorescent green' sides, were found in urban habitats, showcasing their adaptation to human-modified environments. The species faces threats due to being harvested for its meat. | Published June 3 | Read More | 2-foot-long ocean predator with 'blade-like' teeth discovered as a new species Off the southern coast of India, scientists identified a new species called Iago gopalakrishnani, or the Indian houndshark, after it was accidentally caught by shrimp trawlers. This deep-sea predator, with 'blade-like' teeth and 'slender' bodies, was found in the Arabian Sea. The species is named in honor of a marine fish geneticist for his contributions to fish conservation. | Published June 4 | Read More | Pregnant creature with 'large' golden eyes found in Cambodia. It's a new species In western Cambodia, researchers discovered the Cyrtodactylus kampingpoiensis, or Kamping Poi bent-toed gecko, on rocky karst hills in the Banan District. This gecko, with 'large' golden eyes and 'bent' toes, was found in unexplored rock formations, indicating the region's undocumented biodiversity. The species was named after the hill where it was first discovered. | Published June 4 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
'Joy,' a plush baby swan, will launch with Axiom Mission-4 crew as zero-g indicator
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. When an international astronaut crew lifts off on a commercial space mission this month, they will be joined by a स्वैन, a łabędź or a hattyú. Or, in English, a swan. The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) astronauts, including American commander Peggy Whitson, Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, chose a small plush swan named "Joy" as their zero-gravity indicator. The doll, attached to a tether, will be released to float aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, signaling that the Ax-4 crew safely made it into low Earth orbit. "Joy, the baby swan, embodies the shared pursuit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Hungarian to Orbit program (HUNOR) to soar high above our home planet," reads Axiom Space's description of the zero-g indicator. "In this way, Joy represents cultural unity as three nations realize the return to human spaceflight, together as one crew." The Ax-4 crew chose a swan because it symbolizes similar characteristics across their different countries. "'Joy' represents the shared aspirations of three nations united in their return to human spaceflight," said Whitson as she revealed the zero-g indicator during the crew's pre-launch press briefing on Tuesday (June 3). "This one is rich in cultural symbolism. It stands for wisdom in India, resilience in Poland and grace in Hungary. Through 'Joy,' we'll celebrate our diversity and our unity in the shared journey of space exploration." "In Indian culture, the swan is the vehicle of Goddess Saraswati, symbolizing wisdom, learning and purity," said Shukla. "It is said to have the rare ability to separate milk from water, a symbolism that is a powerful reminder of discernment in an age of distraction. To carry the symbol is to carry the essence of our mission: pursuit of knowledge, clarity of purpose and grace under pressure.""The biggest journey is about to start in just couple of days. I still do not realize how big this moment will be," said Uznański-Wiśniewski. "This will be such a joy, just as the name of our extra passenger in our Dragon and on the ISS." The Ax-4 crew arrived at a baby swan after deciding they wanted it to be an animal, as inspired by the interests of one of their children. "We wanted to go with with a dinosaur or a lion, but we just couldn't find the right one," said Kapu. "We were extremely happy when we found 'Joy.'" "Joy," as named by Kapu, is otherwise known as "Alina Swan," a part of Aurora's "Adorable Palm Pals" line of pocket-size play dolls. Measuring all of 5 inches tall (12.7 centimeters), Joy/Alina is fluffy to the touch and is filled with bean pellets, such that (in a gravity environment) it sits in your hand or wherever you chose. Flying zero-g indicators is a tradition that can be traced back to the first human spaceflight in 1961. Soviet-era cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin brought a small doll with him on his Vostok mission to see it float. Since then, the Russian crews that followed Gagarin into Earth orbit flew small dolls, often chosen by their children. The custom reached the United States with the introduction of crewed capsules after the end of the space shuttle program. Now, commercial spaceflights operated by SpaceX and Boeing, as well as NASA Artemis flights, include zero-g indicators. Once at the International Space Station, Joy will join the Expedition 53 dolls, including "Droog," a crocheted origami crane, flown by SpaceX's Crew-10 and an angel blowing a horn selected by Russia's Soyuz MS-27 crew. Related stories: — Ax-4 private astronaut mission to the ISS is 'go' for its SpaceX launch — Axiom Space: Building the off-Earth economy — Axiom Space eyes the moon while continuing to dream big in Earth orbit "A team that has joy is a team that is healthy," said Kapu. "That has become my personal motto, because it captures the essence of this crew. We are focused, we are committed, but above all, we are joyful, and the joy is a sign of trust, resilience, and in my mind, friendship. So, in the spirit of sharing that joy, we wanted to bring one more crew member with us, a symbol of what holds us together." It is believed that "Joy" is the first swan to be used as a zero-g indicator. Northrop Grumman, an aerospace company that resupplies the space station for NASA, had swan dolls made in reference to its Cygnus series of cargo vehicles, but they were not used for the same purpose. Follow on Facebook and on X at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Fighter pilot takes next giant step for India's space plans
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla blasts off into space next week as the first Indian to join the International Space Station (ISS), bearing with him New Delhi's dreams of its own manned space flight. An airforce fighter pilot, 39-year-old Shukla is joining a four-crew mission launching from the United States with private company Axiom Space, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. He will become the first Indian to join the ISS, and only the second ever in orbit -- an achievement that the world's most populous nation hopes will be a stepping stone for its own human flight. "I truly believe that even though, as an individual, I am travelling to space, this is the journey of 1.4 billion people," Shukla was quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper this year. Shukla said he hopes to "ignite the curiosity of an entire generation in my country", and "drive the innovation that will make many such projects possible for us in the future". The airforce group captain -- equivalent to an army colonel or navy captain -- will pilot the commercial mission slated to launch June 10 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a joint team between NASA and ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation. - 'New era' - India's Department of Space calls it a "defining chapter" in its ambitions, naming Shukla as "among the top contenders" for its maiden human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, "sky craft" in Hindi, scheduled for launch in 2027. "His journey is more than just a flight -- it's a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration," the Department of Space said ahead of the launch. New Delhi has paid more than $60 million for the mission, according to Indian media reports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced plans to send a man to the Moon by 2040. India's ISRO said in May that it planned to launch an uncrewed orbital mission later this year, before its first human spaceflight in early 2027. Shukla's voyage comes four decades after Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma joined a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in 1984. "What sets Shukla's mission apart is its strategic importance," the department added. "Unlike the symbolic undertones of India's first human spaceflight, this time the focus is on operational readiness and global integration." Shukla also trained in Russia, in 2020 along with three other astronaut hopefuls, at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center -- before further training at ISRO's centre in the southern city of Bengaluru. He has said the journey aboard the Axiom Mission 4 -- and then the expected 14 days on the ISS -- will provide "invaluable" lessons to bring back home. - Space yoga - Shukla will be led by mission commander Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, and joined by European Space Agency project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. The son of a government ministry official, from Lucknow in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Shukla is a veteran fighter pilot experienced in flying Russian Sukhoi and MiG jets. He has promised to perform yoga poses in the ISS. If he is unable to fly on Tuesday, fellow airforce pilot Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, 48, is expected to take his place. India has flexed its ambitions in the last decade with its space programme growing considerably in size and momentum, matching the achievements of established powers at a much cheaper price tag. In August 2023, it became just the fourth nation to land an unmanned craft on the Moon after Russia, the United States and China. Waiting at home will be Shukla's family, including his wife and son. "I've been having goosebumps by just thinking that soon my brother will be in space," his older sister Suchi, a school teacher, told the Times of India newspaper. abh/pjm/fox/sco
