Date Posted: October 21, 2025
Washington, DC — The ICAC has released the newest edition of the Specialty Cotton Report, a free publication that was created in 2023 to highlight the many new “identity cotton programs” that have been emerging around the world, in addition to covering long-staple (LS) and extra-long staple (ELS) cotton. For the ICAC’s purposes, “specialty cotton” refers to any cotton that is remarkable in some way — LS, ELS, or falls under a specific identity program.
The publication opens with a letter from the editor, Economic Affairs Officer Parkhi Vats, who highlights the modern consumer — one who values fair wages for producers and genuinely cares about the environmental impacts of the products they buy.
“The sector embraced climate change and sustainability more closely and saw the rise of the new value-oriented consumer who demands cotton that is climate friendly, sustainable, ensures fair prices to its producers, supports livelihoods and gender equality, and protects the environment,” Ms Vats says.
After an overview of the global long- and extra-long staple cottons and the primary countries that produce it, Ms Vats highlights the major identity cottons, including:
- Australia’s myBMP;
- Better Cotton Initiative and equivalents;
- Brazil’s ABR program;
- Cotton made in Africa;
- CottonConnect’s REEL;
- Regenerative Organic Alliance; and
- US Cotton Trust Protocol.
To read the 2025 ICAC Specialty Cotton Report, pleased click here.
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About the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
Formed in 1939, the ICAC is an association of cotton producing, consuming, trading, and investing countries. It acts as a catalyst for change by helping member countries maintain a healthy world cotton economy; provides transparency to the world cotton market by serving as a clearinghouse for technical information on cotton production; and serves as a forum for discussing cotton issues of international significance. In addition, members can take advantage of the ICAC’s global network of cotton researchers, whose expertise covers the supply chain from farm to textile manufacturing and have free access to its cutting-edge technologies like the voice-based app and virtual technology cotton training program. Committed to ensuring cotton’s continued sustainability, the ICAC is the only intergovernmental commodity body covering cotton that is recognized by the United Nations. For more information, please visit www.icac.org, Twitter or LinkedIn.