What are healthy communities?
Australian cotton growers have reduced their insecticide use by 89% over the last decade, with some crops not sprayed for insects at all!
Comparing five year averages between 2010-15 and 1998-2003, the Australian cotton
industry has reduced insecticide use by 92%.
The Australian cotton industry has achieved a 40% increase in water productivity since 2003. In other words, 40% less water is now needed to grow one tonne of cotton lint, compared to 2003.
Australia’s cotton growers have improved water use efficiency by 3-4 per year since 2003.
Australia uses Biotechnology in cotton production. Biotechnology refers to the use of cotton varieties with transgenic or genetically modified (GM) traits.
The social and economic benefits of biotechnology in cotton are:
The use of biotechnology in cotton has made a significant contribution in insecticides applied to Australian cotton crops. Most of the yield gains in Australia are attributed to plant breeding, exploiting genetic variation (known as seed technology) and genotype responses to modern management.
In some case, organic cotton is processed using the same dyes, fabrication and finishes as conventional cotton (unless stated on the product label)
Flourishing communities
The industry also addresses the need to improve the social capital of communities in cotton-growing areas. For example, in Moree in western NSW, the cotton industry works with the Clontarf Foundation to help Indigenous students find employment opportunities..The Clontarf Foundation provides Indigenous boys in many cotton growing regions to experience workplace visits, work experience, after school employment and traineeships within the cotton industry.
Comparing five year averages between 2010-15 and 1998-2003, the Australian cotton
industry has reduced insecticide use by 92%.
The Australian cotton industry has achieved a 40% increase in water productivity since 2003. In other words, 40% less water is now needed to grow one tonne of cotton lint, compared to 2003.
Australia’s cotton growers have improved water use efficiency by 3-4 per year since 2003.
Australia uses Biotechnology in cotton production. Biotechnology refers to the use of cotton varieties with transgenic or genetically modified (GM) traits.
The social and economic benefits of biotechnology in cotton are:
- Increased populations of beneficial insects and wildlife in cotton fields,
- Reduced pesticide run-off
- Improved farm worker and neighbour safety
- More time for farmers to spend with families
- Decrease in labour and fuel usage
- Improved soil quality
- Reduced production costs
- Increased yield
- reduced risks and further opportunities to grow cotton in areas of high pest infestation.
The use of biotechnology in cotton has made a significant contribution in insecticides applied to Australian cotton crops. Most of the yield gains in Australia are attributed to plant breeding, exploiting genetic variation (known as seed technology) and genotype responses to modern management.
In some case, organic cotton is processed using the same dyes, fabrication and finishes as conventional cotton (unless stated on the product label)
Flourishing communities
The industry also addresses the need to improve the social capital of communities in cotton-growing areas. For example, in Moree in western NSW, the cotton industry works with the Clontarf Foundation to help Indigenous students find employment opportunities..The Clontarf Foundation provides Indigenous boys in many cotton growing regions to experience workplace visits, work experience, after school employment and traineeships within the cotton industry.