The importance of a sustainable farm system to a successful fashion industry Simon Ferrigno Consultant Sustainable & Organic Farm Systems Simon Ferrigno - sustainable & organic farm systems Texworld forum In search of organic and other sustainable textiles September 15 2010
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The importance of a sustainable farm system to a successful fashion industry
The importance of a sustainable farm system to a successful fashion industry. Simon Ferrigno Consultant Sustainable & Organic Farm Systems. Texworld forum In search of organic and other sustainable textiles September 15 2010. Simon Ferrigno - sustainable & organic farm systems. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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The importance of a sustainable farm system to a successful fashion industry
Simon FerrignoConsultant
Sustainable & Organic Farm Systems
Simon Ferrigno - sustainable & organic farm systems
Texworld forum In search of organic and other sustainable textiles
September 15 2010
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
Cotton: zero to...?
Cotton remains one of the most important fibres in the world: 35% of textiles market and global production in 2010/11 of 25.3
million tonnes
It is the most important natural fibre (2/3 of total)
Cotton's use of pesticides has declined, however, serious challenges remain including:
Water use, land use, soil fertility, use of chemicals, energy/GHGs, etc.
However, many sustainable options are now available
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
Introducing Better Cotton
September 15 2010
www.bettercotton.org
BCI is a multi-stakeholder initiative - from producer to retailer – to reduce the damaging
environmental and social consequences ofcotton production.
www.bettercotton.org
To demonstrate the inherent benefits of Better Cotton production, particularly the financial profitability for farmers
To reduce the impact of water and pesticide use on human and environmental health
To improve soil health and biodiversity
To promote Decent Work for farming communities and cotton farm workers
To facilitate global knowledge exchange on more sustainable cotton production
To increase the traceability along the cotton supply chain
Goals
www.bettercotton.org
Target: 300,000 tonnes by 2012 (1.3% global cotton)
BCI members already account for 4% of global cotton production
BCI complements, rather than competes with, existing initiatives such as Fairtrade and organic cotton.
All three are working to increase the amount of environmentally and socially sustainable cotton.
BCI is focused on the long-term transformation of the mass market, making smaller improvements on a larger scale
BCI will not use a labelling scheme and there will be no fixed premium for Better Cotton.
BCI is actively working towards aligned activities with Fairtrade and organic
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
However...
Sustainability is not just about which system, but also how you implement the system...
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
The farm is the core and foundation of the cotton value chain
Farm/Farmers
Primary Marketing & support
Value Chain
Marketing & Retail
Consumers
Natural resources: land, soil, water, energy
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
An example of a sustainable fibre value chain and support services
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
On the farm
COTTONCOTTON
An im a lsBe es a nd H oneyC ow s a nd goa ts
An im a lsBe es a nd H oneyC ow s a nd goa ts
Beneficial and harmful organisms(fungus, m ites, insect, b irds, m am m als and o thers)
Beneficial and harmful organisms(fungus, m ites, insect, b irds, m am m als and o thers)
S oil(fun gus, lich ens, m ites, insects, and o th ers)
S oil(fun gus, lich ens, m ites, insects, and o th ers)
C rop R otation
Food C ash- M a ize - Se sam e- Bean s - G round nu t- Le n til - So ya- Vegetab les - S w ee t
po ta to
C rop R otation
Food C ash- M a ize - Se sam e- Bean s - G round nu t- Le n til - So ya- Vegetab les - S w ee t
po ta to
A ssoc ia tion
Foo d C as h- B ean s - S esam e- M a ize
A ssoc ia tion
Foo d C as h- B ean s - S esam e- M a ize
B order (use fu l p lan ts)
- C arob- S unflow er
B order (use fu l p lan ts)
- C arob- S unflow er
P eriphe ry
F ood C ash- C assava - C o ffee
- Bana na- M ango
P eriphe ry
F ood C ash- C assava - C o ffee
- Bana na- M ango
water
energy
Chemicals
Seeds
Sun
Fertiliser
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010
Inputs to the farm system: water – labour – seed – finance – inputs – training – land – soil – biodiversity -
Outputs from the farm system: fibre – food – water – pollution – money – soil degradation – loss of resources – social change/issues -
Extractive systems- deplete soils through poor management- increase poverty through poor productivity, low prices, high costs, labour exploitation- pollute land, air and water through improper chemical use
Constructive systems- train people- study and balance agronomy, productivity, people and planet- reduce water use- build soil fertility- invest in research, development e.g., improved varieties
Texworld, Paris - www.sustainableorganicfarmsystems.co.uk - 15-09-2010