Better Cotton Initiative Collaborates with Uzbekistan to Enhance Sustainable Cotton Standards
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uzbek Agency for Technical Regulation, known as Uzstandard Agency. The partnership aims to strengthen agricultural standards in Uzbekistan by supporting technical working groups and integrating BCI's Principles & Criteria into national regulations. These principles focus on sustainable practices such as resource management, crop protection, decent work conditions, and climate change mitigation. The collaboration also explores the development of a nationally owned cotton sustainability standard that could align with global benchmarks set by BCI. Uzbekistan is among the top 10 global cotton producers, generating between 600,000 to 750,000 metric tons annually. The partnership emphasizes transparency and responsible agricultural practices in response to growing international market demands for sustainability. This initiative follows assurances from the International Labor Organization that Uzbekistan has eliminated systemic child and forced labor in its cotton production. BCI launched operations in the country in 2022, supporting a strategic roadmap introduced in 2024 aimed at accelerating sustainable practices among local farming communities.
Topics: cotton industry international cooperation sustainability