2020 Organic Cotton Round Table Virtual Summit Series

Global OCRT Summit 2020

On December 16 and 17, 2020, the worldwide organic cotton community was warmly invited to join our 2020 Global OCRT Summit, which was based around the theme of driving impact through the journey to regenerative organic cotton.

In order to enable as many people to engage as possible, the Summit was repeated over two days, with different panelists.

There are many reasons why we need to rapidly scale the growth of organic cotton, yet doing so can present a number of challenges, not least because it takes several years for farmers to transition to organic.

Over the two sessions, we heard a rich diversity of voices from the worldwide organic cotton community, discussing the practical steps needed to urgently scale the conversion of cotton farms to organic, in order to help achieve the ambitious Climate + targets. The high level of engagement and quality of discussion really showed that the OCRT is a vital platform for collective action and incubating great ideas.

OCRT Regional Meetings

This year’s OCRT Regional Meetings mirrored the regional breakout sessions that would normally be a big part of our in-person Global OCRT Summit. One benefit of hosting these meetings virtually this year was that it enabled much wider and more representative participation. In line with this, we were pleased to offer simultaneous translation for several of the meetings. The agenda of each meeting is provided below.

Head over to our OCRT HUB to access all recordings, presentations, and notes, and to hear the latest announcements and engage with other OCRT members. Not an OCRT member yet? Sign up here.

Africa 

November 23, 2020 | Access recording via the OCRT HUB

This meeting was hosted by the OCRT’s Pan-Africa Sourcing Working Group. During the meeting, participants learned about the current context of organic cotton production and policy in Africa, discussed sector-wide strategies for better market access and integrated value chain development, and shared best practices on designing organic cotton farming systems from the farm to the market. French simultaneous translation was available.

Agenda

• • • Updates from Textile Exchange’s Pan-Africa Sourcing Working Group​
    • Policy incentives for organic agriculture and cotton production in Africa​
    • Status of organic cotton production in Africa and globally​
    • Panel: Organic cotton production and practices across the African continent​
      • • Insights from Tanzania, Uganda, Burkina Faso, and Mali​
        • Q&A​
    • Breakouts:​
      • • Organic cotton farming systems ​
        • Market access​
        • Collective action to promote organic cotton from Africa​
    • Key take-aways​

South & Southeast Asia 

December 1, 2020 | Access recording via the OCRT HUB

This meeting was co-hosted by Textile Exchange and the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) under the theme “Securing a green recovery: building back better by supporting organic cotton farmers.” The focus was on in-conversion farming, the direct-to-farm sourcing model, and the new frontier of impact data.  

Agenda

• • • Update from Textile Exchange
    • Panel: In-conversion | Defining a playbook for supporting in-conversion.
      • • Lavinia Muth, Armedangels
        • Amit Shah, Spectrum
        • Amish Gosai, Textile Exchange
        • Sumit Gupta, GOTS
        • Q&A
    • Panel: Best Sourcing practice, Securing your supply in the first mile of organic cotton
      • • Jaskiran Warrik, OCA
        • Velavan K, Inditex
        • Hitesh Sharam, H&M
        • Atul Mittal, Pratibha
        • Q&A
    • Tools by Textile Exchange to support in-conversion and best sourcing practices
    • Impact data: The new frontier
      • • Amish Gosai, Textile Exchange
        • Bart Vollaard, OCA

Latin America & the Caribbean 

December 2, 2020 | Access recording via the OCRT HUB

It’s an exciting time for organic cotton in Latin America and the Caribbean and we were delighted to bring the community together to make progress in establishing a strong regional network. This meeting was co-hosted by Textile Exchange, EMBRAPA, and the FAO. In the meeting, organic cotton producer groups and support organizations shared their experiences and best practices and highlighted the unique benefits of organic cotton grown in this region, particularly when it comes to environmental regeneration and social equality. The focus was on scaling organic cotton production. Spanish and Portuguese simultaneous translation was available. 

Agenda

• • Panels​

1. 1. 1. Perspectives from regional organic cotton producer groups​
      2. Insights from the market​
      3. Barriers to organic cotton production growth and a more sustainable textile industry in Latin America​

• • Breakouts​

1. 1. 1. How to improve organic cotton farming systems?​
      2. How to how to build a stronger and more fair value chain? ​
      3. How to break the barriers to organic cotton production growth?​

• • Key take-aways

China

December 8, 2020

Given the significant risks posed to the organic cotton supply chain, this year’s OCRT China Regional Meeting took the form of an “Open Dialogue on Social Risks of Organic Cotton in Xinjiang, China”. The session, facilitated by Joy Saunders, Textile Exchange Ambassador and Integrity Expert, aimed to explore where we are at, what we as a community might like to do collectively, and what role Textile Exchange OCRT might play going forward to address this challenge. Given its sensitivity, the session was by invitation only and held under Chatham House rules without recording.

Questions addressed during the meeting:

• • How can we as a community address the risk of social issues in Xinjiang, China? Looking at timeframes over the short, medium and long-term.
  • Is the community leaning towards collective action (whatever that may be), exit, or a hybrid of the strategies (i.e. exit but seek to influence on longer term systemic changes)?
  • Who is keen to be part of this discussion and what is the best method to co-ordinate responses or action?
  • Who else needs to be involved to bring systemic change?
  • What role should the OCRT play?
  • How do we take this discussion forward? What are the next steps?

United States 

December 9, 2020 | Access recording via the OCRT HUB

Scaling organic cotton production in the U.S.: Why and How. Speakers from Textile Exchange, the Organic Trade Association, The Organic Center, Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative, and Independent Organic Services addressed the role organic cotton production plays in mitigating climate change and discussed obstacles and opportunities to advancing domestic organic cotton production. Interactive, action-oriented, sessions captured participant suggestions for changes at the farm, brand, and government levels.  

Agenda

• • Welcome and introduction
  • Panels: Scaling organic cotton production in the U.S.
    • Why?
      • The benefits of organic agriculture – Dr. Jessica Shade, The Organic Center Director of Science Programs
      • Climate+ strategy – La Rhea Pepper, Textile Exchange CEO
      • Climate legislative and regulatory initiatives – Johanna Mirenda, Organic Trade Association Farm Policy Director.
      • Discussion and Q&A
    • How?
      • Global and U.S. transitional initiatives / Transitional Cotton Challenge – La Rhea, Textile Exchange Managing Director
      • Transitioning to organic: obstacles and opportunities – Kelly Pepper, Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative (TOCMC) General Manager
      • Seed availability and labeling – Angela Wartes-Kahl, Independent Organic Services Co-Owner and Consultant
      • Discussion and Q&A
  • Group strategizing: Expanding the supply and demand of U.S. organic cotton.
    • Session leaders: La Rhea Pepper and Sandra Marquardt
    • After a brief thought-starter presentation, participants discuss actions needed by farmers, brands, and government addressing seed availability, contract criteria, research focuses, market development plans, and in-conversion cotton commitments. This discussion will be very focused on creating a roadmap to expanding U.S. organic cotton production by addressing opportunities, challenges, and solutions and discussing both supply and demand. Come prepared to create a recipe for success!
  • Next steps
    • La Rhea Pepper and Sandra Marquardt

EMENA & Central Asia 

December 11, 2020 | Access recording via the OCRT HUB

This meeting examined the “four Ts” that are crucial for this region’s organic cotton sector to flourish and to benefit from the growing global demand: Transparency, Traceability, Technology, and Trust. During the meeting, participants heard insights from those deeply involved in this region’s organic cotton sector, and took part in meaningful conversations as we look to strengthen organic cotton’s future in this region.  Turkish simultaneous translation was available. 

Agenda

Welcome and Introduction

The 4 Ts: Traceability, Trust, Transparency, and Technology in organic cotton supply networks  

• • Plenary: our thought-starters will kick-off the discussion on the 4Ts  
    • Florian Nitzinger, Project Manager, GIZ   
    • Tolga Uskuç,  Owner, Akasya Agriculture   
    • Aydın Ünsal, Owner, Egedeniz Textile   
    • Gökhan Aydın, Asst.General Manager, SANKO 

• • Breakouts in a carousel: attendees will be divided into groups and have the chance to discuss in depth the 4Ts with each of the thought-starters  
  • Key takeaways from the breakouts  

Trust & Transparency – the Sağ Salim Labour Monitoring Program  

• • Panel with: 
    • Leisl Lancaster, Social and Environmental Impact Manager, Outland Denim   
    • Sandya Lang, Sustainability Manager, Nudie Jeans   
    • V.Besim Özek, Strategy & Business Development Director, BOSSA   
    • Richard Williams, Managing Director, PSG  
      

Q&A with the panelists  

Next steps for EMENA & Central Asia and Closing