#Natural Fibers

2025-11-13

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

Mr Bhowmick, Dr Abdurakhmonov and Dr Kranthi © 2025 ICAC

The Government of Uzbekistan has allocated 55,000 hectares of land to implement a regenerative agriculture program for cotton as part of a collaborative project with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Bizpando, a company with a a blockchain-based internet platform designed to ensure supply chain compliance.

Dr Keshav Kranthi, ICAC Chief Scientist, conducted an intensive three-day training program from October 21-23, 2025, at the Cotton Research Institute in Tashkent, which included both theoretical sessions and practical field demonstrations. The training was attended by 50 participants, including both scientists and government officials from the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This training session was followed by a one-day field training camp conducted jointly by Dr Kranthi and Dr Abdurakhmonov held in Jizzakh on October 24, 2025, attended by 98 farmers. Mr Jasper Bhowmick and Mr Mark Li from Bizpando also participated in these training programs.

Subsequently, Dr Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Agriculture — along with senior officials Mr Javlon Raimov and Mr Abrorbek Kosimov — visited ICAC Headquarters in Washington, DC, where Dr Abdurakhmonov, Dr Kranthi, and Bizpando CEO Jasper Bhowmick signed the Memorandum of Understanding on their collaboration.

The Ministry of Agriculture is now in the process of identifying carbon testing laboratories for accreditation and certification in consultation with Dr. Kranthi, who is providing technical guidance on testing standards and accreditation procedures.

The Ministry has given Bizpando a list of participating farmers to initiate registration and documentation for carbon payment processes. Bizpando has agreed to dispatch Mr Li to Uzbekistan from November 17-21, 2025, to train farmers and government officials on documentation procedures for carbon credit verification and payments.

Dr N Vigneshwaran is named 2026 ICAC Researcher of the Year

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr N Vigneshwaran, Principal Scientist and Head of the Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division at the ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, India, as the ICAC Researcher of the Year 2026.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

European Flax-Linen & Hemp step into advanced manufacturing: Enabling filament winding, 3D printing and high-performance composite processes

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp announces a new wave of technological advancements demonstrating how flax-linen and hemp fibres are now being successfully integrated into advanced composite manufacturing processes. These developments mark a transition beyond traditional hand lay-up techniques, positioning natural fibres as credible, scalable solutions for high-performance industrial applications.

The Good Cashmere Standard expands Animal Welfare Assessment on audited farms

With the Animal-related Animal Welfare Assessment (ARAWA), the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) conducts a pioneering project for the second consecutive year in 2025, parallel to the independent verifications of The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS). ARAWA assessments provide a comprehensive overview of the health status of a herd on an audited farm, going beyond standard verification procedures. They are inherently complex, which still makes them a rarity in the standard sector, but offer support in identifying non-conformities and provide a holistic overview of the herd's well-being. Therefore, the Aid by Trade Foundation will continue this crucial project and even further expand it by 2027.

New U.S. cotton study uses real-world grower data to reveal where fiber impacts occur

Cotton Incorporated has released a critically reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) of U.S. cotton fiber production that examines how cotton’s environmental impacts are measured and where meaningful improvements can be made across the value chain. The new data, grounded in real‑world grower inputs, measures what drives U.S. cotton’s environmental footprint from field to gin.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.