Environmental footprint of CmiA cotton better: Study
The environmental footprint of Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) cotton is relatively better than other cotton-growing regions in terms of water consumption and climate change, a study commissioned by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has found. The study also includes biodiversity impact assessment for cotton production in the cultivation regions.
CmiA cotton does better than most, primarily because it is cultivated by small-scale farmers who rely on rain-fed agriculture and apply considerably less fertiliser.
The second life cycle assessment (LCA) investigated the impact of cotton farming on climate change, eutrophication, acidification, blue water consumption, and biodiversity. In the course of the assessment, CmiA-verified cotton companies from Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Zambia completed questionnaires on their practices, and data was collected on factors like average farm size, crop yields, and fertiliser application rates, said CmiA in a press release.
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