#Sustainability

2022-05-12

Aid by trade foundation and partners invest EUR 2.8 Million in climate adaptation project

Despite its key function in climate protection, soil management often falls by the wayside. The way we use our soil has significant implications for our climate, and it also plays a role in deciding whether unique species of plants and animals remain extant and whether humanity will be able to live from the soil in the future.

The livelihoods and continued survival of small-scale farmers in Africa largely depend on how changing climate conditions affect the fertility of their soil. To enable the farmers to develop resiliency and adapt to the changing climate, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), which administers Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), launched CAR-iSMa, a co-operative project with a total budget of around EUR 2.8 million.

Promoting Climate Protection and Resilience for Small-Scale Farmers in Africa Through Sustainable Soil Management

CAR-iSMa is short for “Climate Adaption and Resilience: A Pan-African Learning and Knowledge Exchange Project on Improved Soil Management”. Created at the initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation, the project is being supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is being implemented together with the agriculture organisation LDC Suisse and with three CmiA-verified cotton companies: CIDT from Côte d’Ivoire, JFS from Mozambique, and LDC from Zambia. This co-operative project’s primary objective is to improve soil management through sustainable production methods in order to better the livelihoods of small-scale farming families, reduce the effects of climate change for this target group, and strengthen their resilience. Soil & More Impacts (SMI), a company that provides services for sustainable agriculture with a focus on soil and composting, is supporting the project by offering advice on how to increase soil fertility. SMI is also working with three cotton associations in Africa to start providing small-scale farmers with training in composting and regenerative agriculture.

“Through the CAR-iSMa project, we are making an important contribution to climate protection and are assisting small-scale farmers in Africa in developing strategies to counteract the effects of climate change. Our goal is to enable both current and future generations of farmers to earn a living from the cotton produced in their soil. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to sustainably manage soil as a natural resource, which is why that is our primary focus in this project,” summarises Tina Stridde, the managing director of the Aid by Trade Foundation. “Soil is crucial to the livelihoods of many small-scale farming families. The farmers are suffering as climate change renders the soil increasingly parched and infertile, and they have little access to the knowledge and means they need in order to adapt accordingly. Through an on-site assessment, we were able to confirm that the cotton farmers are interested in learning more about composting and other aspects of regenerative agriculture because they want to reduce erosion, conserve soil fertility, and ensure the long-term productivity of their soil,” adds Britta Deutsch. As the foundation’s head project manager for CAR-iSMa, Ms Deutsch travelled to Côte d’Ivoire to set up the project. The West African country is one of three project countries and a long-time CmiA partner country.

A total of around 100,000 people working in cotton production are expected to benefit from the project activities. The focus is on the small-scale farmers supported by local, CmiA-verified cotton companies. This co-operative project is also planned to include a qualification programme for soil-management trainers as well as training material for agricultural consultants. Innovative approaches like self-cultured compost microbes and pyrolysis—which produces vegetable carbon, thereby capturing carbon in the soil for the long term as well as improving the soil structure and water-retention capacity—are planned to be tested as part of the project before being rolled out in CmiA’s wider network if possible. The plan is to enhance 92,000 hectares of land by improving soil fertility; this is roughly equivalent in size to greater Berlin. Another area of focus is a transnational and inter-organisational knowledge exchange between the participating cotton associations. To scale up the long-term benefits of the lessons learnt and of the positive experiences, successful approaches should be implemented throughout the CmiA network in Africa after the end of the project. In this way, AbTF aims to continue improving the small-scale farmers’ production practices.

The CAR-iSMa project is part of the Sub-Saharan Cotton Initiative, which supports four public–private partnerships under a global programme pursuing sustainability and value creation in agricultural supply chains under the umbrella of SEWOH, a German special initiative for a world without hunger. At the behest of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the programme promotes sustainability in a selection of agricultural supply chains.

Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 signed by Governor

Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) is proud to announce that Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, has been signed into law by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. This groundbreaking legislation establishes the country’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) textile recycling program, marking a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to combat waste and promote sustainability.

Modtissimo promotes sustainability with 28 coordinates in the Green Circle

Modtissimo is proving more and more to be a textile and clothing show that delivers the latest innovations in the area of sustainability, with the iTechStyle Green Circle being the main showcase for companies' creations. In this 60+4 edition, taking place on 12 and 13 September, 28 coordinates will be exhibited in a section organised by CITEVE and curated by Paulo Gomes.

The EU and Egypt team up to mobilise private sector investments at Investment Conference and sign a Memorandum of Understanding underpinning €1 billion in macro-financial assistance for Egypt

At the EU-Egypt Investment Conference, co-organised by the EU and the Government of Egypt on 29-30 June, the EU and Egypt are teaming up to intensify private sector investments in Egypt. They are also signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the disbursement to Egypt of up to €1 billion in Macro-Financial Assistance.

Pioneering open-source framework shows how early innovation drives a just and net-zero fashion future

The non-profit H&M Foundation, in collaboration with Accenture, has unveiled From Signals to Systems Change, an insight report calling on the fashion industry to rethink its role in transformation. At its core is the Reimagined System Map, a pioneering open-source framework that visualises how early-stage innovation could drive a just and net-zero textile future.

Lenzing confirmed as global leader in Canopy sustainability ranking

Lenzing AG has once again taken first place in this year's Hot Button Report published by the Canadian non-profit organization Canopy. With 34.5 out of 40 points and no known risk of sourcing from ancient and endangered forests, Lenzing remains one of the most sustainable companies in regenerated cellulose fiber production – setting a benchmark for responsible business practices in the textile and nonwovens industries.

Nike unites innovation, design and product teams to accelerate athlete-centered innovation

Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse are joining forces under a new, athlete-focused creation structure aimed at accelerating innovation and driving growth across NIKE, Inc. The new setup unites the Innovation, Design and Product teams from all three brands into a single “creation engine” that will enable greater sharing of insights, technology and manufacturing methods throughout the innovation process. This integration is part of Nike’s new Sport Offense strategy and is designed to enhance the creation of products that help athletes perform at their best.

DORNIER celebrates its anniversary at ITMA Asia + CITME

To mark its 75th anniversary, machine and plant manufacturer Lindauer DORNIER will be presenting the latest developments in its rapier and air-jet weaving machines at ITMA Asia + CITME in Singapore (Hall 2, Stand B401) from 28 to 31 October 2025. The focus will be on energy-efficient weaving technologies, new IoT solutions for networked textile production and systems for the series production of modern fibre composite components.

BCI warns against ‘dangerous dilution’ of EU corporate directives

The approval of the European Commission’s Omnibus I proposal by the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs, accepting controversial changes to key sustainability directives is of great concern. These changes, namely to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), threaten to significantly dilute business reporting and due diligence obligations.