#Raw Materials

2019-09-19

ICAC releases first-ever Annual Report

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has released its first-ever Annual Report covering the 2018-19 fiscal year, which runs from 1 July through 30 June. The project was initiated when Executive Director Kai Hughes joined the ICAC in 2018.

The 2019 ICAC Annual Report:

Is a 60+-page publication that provides transparency and accountability, especially in financial areas, and highlights projects, goals and initiatives for the coming year

Profiles the ICAC’s Committees, Research Networks, and Standing Committee Officers

Highlights two innovative projects currently in development: Virtual Reality Cotton Training and the Soil & Plant Health app

Offers the Final Statement from the 77th Plenary Meeting in Cote d’Ivoire, as well as a preview of the 78th Plenary Meeting, to be held 2-5 December in Brisbane, Australia

‘We had a vision for what we wanted to accomplish over the next few years, but first we needed to create a document that would make the ICAC both transparent and accountable for its efforts over the prior 12 months’, Mr. Hughes said. ‘This Annual Report not only provides information to our Members about the ICAC’s past performance and future goals, it also houses our Strategic Plan — the document that each member of the Secretariat uses to guide their efforts over the next three years’.

The ICAC Annual Report contains a wealth of information, including:

A variety of metrics that will serve as a baseline for future performance, including Actual vs Budgeted performance, how money was spent, and progress made on social media platforms

Columns from the heads of ICAC Committees and Research Networks that detail their efforts from the past year and offer their vision for the future

A massive feature on two exciting ICAC projects: A voice-based Soil & Plant Health app that can be used even by illiterate farmers, and a Virtual Reality Cotton Training Programme that will help growers everywhere produce more and better cotton

The 2019 ICAC Communications Plan, which guides both internal and external initiatives and communications

The Final Statement from the 77th Plenary Meeting held last year in Cote d’Ivoire, as well as a preview from the Organising Committee of the upcoming Plenary Meeting, to be held in Brisbane, Australia 2-5 December.

A PDF has been posted and you can view it here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zvRbmDLv4wFLUsx-8jVDPDfEfgenQJOt/view

For more information about the 78th Plenary Meeting, please click here:

https://icacaustralia2019.com/

To register for the event, please click here:

https://icacaustralia2019.com/registration/

Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead

Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorder cuts through the ideology to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of both sides of the debate.

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.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Christian Wichert appointed Chief Executive Officer to lead next phase of growth

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk”), a global leader in advanced biomaterials made from silk proteins, today announces the appointment of Christian Wichert as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 1 June. The appointment marks a pivotal moment in AMSilk’s journey, as the Company advances from development through scale-up to commercialization.

Ibrahim Fibres and Trützschler: A strong partnership enters its next phase with the TC 30Si

For more than two decades, Ibrahim Fibres and Trützschler have grown side by side, driven by a shared ambition to continuously improve spinning performance, strengthen technology leadership and set new benchmarks in the textile industry. Today, Ibrahim Fibres is a leading yarn and polyester staple fiber manufacturer in Pakistan. The company operates the largest number of Trützschler cards in the country, with more than 200 machines running across its mills in Faisalabad, and plays an important role in one of Asia’s largest textile industries.