KC Sheperd, Farm Director, is visiting with the Program Operations Manager for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, Tillman White, talking about a few deadlines coming up for cotton producers.
“The enrollment period for 2024 U.S. cotton producers who want to enroll in the Trust Protocol is currently open, and the application for the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program is also available during the enrollment period.”
Growers who completed their enrollment during the 2023 period are able to reenroll this year, Tillman added.
Beginning in January, U.S. cotton growers can enroll in the Trust Protocol. Those who have completed data entry and bale uploads for the 2023 crop are also eligible to apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program until midnight on April 30.
The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is proud to lead the Climate Smart Cotton Program, which aims to improve the carbon footprint of the U.S. cotton industry. It is a five-year initiative that presents a transformative opportunity for U.S. cotton growers to enhance their profitability, operations, and environmental stewardship. For brands and retailers, the program will support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and allow reporting against Scope 3 emissions reductions for cotton used in products.
Producers who have completed enrollment in the Trust Protocol, which includes data entry and bale uploads, are eligible to apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program.
To apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program, CLICK HERE!
To register as a member of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, CLICK HERE!
For producers who are not familiar with the Cotton Trust Protocol, Tillman said the program is a voluntary farm-level and science-based sustainability program initiative that is free for all producers. Tillman said the Cotton Trust Protocol sets a new standard for value from fiber to finished products.
Launched in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is built on a foundation of robust data capture, aggregation and reporting that drives continuous improvement across six key sustainability metrics – water use, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, soil conservation, soil carbon and land use – and is the world’s first sustainable cotton fiber program to offer article-level supply chain transparency.
“For the U.S. Cotton Growers, one thing that is important is joining the Trust Protocol helps ensure U.S. cotton’s leading global producer status, and provides not only access to a viable market, but also it is providing personalized data to help further improve their sustainability, environmental footprint, and yield.”
Looking at the 2023 numbers, Tillman said the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was able to capture around 1.7 million planted cotton acres across the entire cotton belt. Tillman said the cotton belt represents around 23 percent of cotton grown out of all cotton-growing states.
