#Raw Materials

2026-06-02

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.

Dr Vigneshwaran is a distinguished cotton scientist with academic qualifications in Agriculture, Agricultural Microbiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Operations Management. He has emerged as a global leader in nanotechnological innovations for cotton cultivation, processing, textiles, and biomass utilization. His pioneering research spans nanocellulose from cotton linters and stalks, nanofinishing of cotton textiles, nanofertilizers, biohydrogen production from cotton biomass, and value-added applications of cotton residues.

Over the past two decades, Dr Vigneshwaran has developed several breakthrough technologies that have had significant scientific and industrial impact. His nano-silver and nano-zinc oxide finishing technologies for cotton fabrics impart more than 99% antibacterial activity and UPF 50+ ultraviolet protection with wash durability of up to 20 cycles, and have been licensed for commercial production. He also led the development of energy-efficient nanocellulose production technologies from cotton linters and comber noil, reducing energy consumption by more than 50%. Under his leadership, India’s first pilot plant for nanocellulose production from cotton biomass, with a capacity of 10 kg per 8-hour shift, has been operational since 2015. Additional innovations include specialty-grade paper production from cotton comber noil blended with banana fibre and antimicrobial technologies licensed to the Bank Note Paper Mill, Mysuru, India.

Dr Vigneshwaran’s scientific contributions are reflected in more than 35 high-impact cotton-related research papers published in leading international journals. Several of his publications have achieved exceptional global recognition, with individual papers receiving more than 700, 650, 360, 340, and 250 citations, respectively. He has also authored or co-authored 11 books and book chapters published by internationally renowned publishers including Elsevier, Springer, CRC Press, Wiley-VCH, Woodhead Publishing, and Nova Science Publishers. His innovations are protected through four granted Indian patents covering microbial synthesis of silver nanoparticles, production of cellulose nanoparticles, nanocellulose manufacturing technologies, and novel nanosulphur production methods.

His outstanding achievements have earned numerous national and international honors. Nationally, he is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and a Fellow of the Textile Association (India). He has received the Sajjan Gupta-Konark Memorial Award, AMI Young Scientist Award, MRSI Prize, DOGRA Educational Endowment Award, and several technology commercialization awards. Internationally, he received the prestigious ICRA-Asia Young Scientist Innovation Award (2019), the NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Award (2014), recognition for a Top-Cited Elsevier Paper, and has been listed continuously among Stanford University and Elsevier’s World’s Top 2% Scientists from 2020 to 2025.

Through his innovative research, successful technology commercialization, scholarly excellence, and leadership in cotton nanotechnology, Dr Vigneshwaran has made exceptional contributions to advancing the scientific, industrial, and sustainability dimensions of the global cotton sector. His work has expanded opportunities for value addition in cotton, strengthened the competitiveness of cotton-based industries, and demonstrated the transformative potential of advanced technologies in creating a more sustainable future for cotton.

The ICAC Researcher of the Year Award is among the highest international recognitions in cotton research. It honors scientists whose research has made outstanding and lasting contributions to cotton science, technology, sustainability, productivity, and value addition. Dr Vigneshwaran exemplifies these ideals through a career marked by innovation, scientific excellence, and tangible impact on the global cotton community.

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.

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.

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.

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.