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our impact
05
Bringing the Sector Together – From Farm to Fashion
With each new endeavour, our goal remains the same: to unite the sector around a shared vision of a transparent, responsible, and robust supply chain—one that places farmer prosperity at the forefront and empowers stakeholders to achieve their sustainability objectives. In 2023, we strengthened our global community and sparked meaningful conversations around organic cotton. We co-hosted the Organic Cotton and Textiles Conference in Indore, India, together with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements - Organics International (IFOAM). We welcomed Contributors and donors on the field, where they could meet with farmers and experience our work on the ground.
A growing platform convening the sector
An increasing number of organisations are seeing the value of OCA’s mission. In 2023, we welcomed 15 new Contributors to our platform, representing a 24% growth over last year. This includes ten Suppliers and Manufacturers, two Brands and Retailers and three Civil Society Organisations, taking our platform to a total of 58 Contributors and Partnering Seed Producers.
In February 2023, OCA, in collaboration with GOTS and IFOAM held an international conference in Indore, India bringing together a diverse group of key players from every part of the textile supply chain. Farmers, Farm Groups, industry representatives, non-profits, academics, Suppliers, Brands, certifiers, government representatives and policymakers joined almost 200 guests in this multi-day event. One of the highlights of the event was the farmers taking the stage, joining as panelists in a dedicated Q&A session with seven organic cotton farmers from the region.
A dedicated stakeholder meeting with our main partners from Pakistan in August of 2023 marked a key moment in our journey to expand organic cotton farming practices in South Asia. The meeting attracted diverse participants, including representatives from Brands, local Farm Groups, NGOs, as well as individuals from integrated vertical units, seed companies, and procurement agencies. The event placed a strong emphasis on involving Implementation Partners and vertically integrated textile setups.
Throughout the year, OCA hosted field visits for numerous Contributors and Donors alike. Field visits are an excellent opportunity to get a firsthand look at our programmes’ impact on the ground and get a better understanding of organic practices and different community-owned solutions such as bio-input production centres. These visits are key in increasing the mutual understanding among the key actors at the different ends of our international cotton supply chain - through discussions with farmers and brands focused on addressing common challenges in transitioning to organic practices, efficient solutions and identifying new opportunities. Those who travel to the field with us take away the crucial support for market linkages during the transition to organic farming.
OCA kicks off Public Affairs work
In November 2023, kicked off our Public Affairs efforts to ensure that forthcoming regulations are conducive to the needs of farmers transitioning to organic practices. Our commitment extends to providing support for policy development with our wealth of knowledge and data. Simultaneously, we will monitor regulatory developments to remain a crucial ally for industry partners, assisting them in navigating and complying with the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
"We're excited to partner with the Organic Cotton Accelerator, as it allows us to support farmers directly and promote organic and regenerative farming practices. This partnership enables us to work collectively with others in the industry to identify scalable solutions. What sets Organic Cotton Accelerator apart is its commitment to traceability and a collective approach that unites the global organic cotton sector. This collaborative approach enhances farmers’ livelihoods and benefits local communities, driving sustainable change. It provides new opportunities to tackle the industry's challenges and strengthens our strategy to source more sustainable cotton."
René Mulder
CSR manager, The Sting
