China to set new standards for cotton, defies BCI norms

Xinjiang, China

Declaring Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) standards sub-par, China plans to launch a new set of quality guidelines and standards for cotton production to encourage high-quality cotton farming and improve production. Established in 2009, BCI – having its head offices in Geneva (Switzerland) and London (The UK) – sets universal standards for cotton industries and cotton farms globally.

According to Luo Yan, Secretary-General, Zhongnong Guoji-backed Xinjiang Digital Cotton Research Center, the current BCI standards for cotton is very low and focuses mainly on controlling cotton resources instead of improving the quality of cotton. Therefore, China wants to up its game by following its own enhanced standards.

Luo further stated that the new standards will focus on digitalising the process to improve production efficiency, trace the cotton production process and ensure the farming of low-carbon and high-quality cotton.

Zhongnong Guoji, one of China’s reputed cotton service providers, mentioned that the cotton program was launched two years ago and the first version of the standards will be released soon.

China is the world’s second-largest producer of cotton and Xinjiang is the biggest cotton-producing region in the country.

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