#Natural Fibers

2025-08-06

Registration is now open for ICAC's 83rd Plenary Meeting in Mwanza, Tanzania

Registration is now open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee's 83rd Plenary Meeting, to be held at the Malaika Beach Resort on the shores of Lake Victoria in Mwanza, Tanzania, from November 17-20, 2025.

The local Organizing Committee in Tanzania has chosen “Leveraging Sustainable Cotton and Textiles for Industrial and Rural Development” as the theme for the event.

The four-day conference will feature a variety of sessions covering all sectors of the supply chain, including:

+ Deep Learning and Sensor Technologies for Automated Detection and Monitoring of Cotton Diseases and Insect Pests,

+ Financing Investment in Textiles and Apparel Value Chain in Emerging Markets,

+ Marketing Cotton: What Works, for Whom?, and

+ Reports from the ICAC Secretariat.

The conference will also feature the World Café, a dynamic session that focuses on the views and ideas of attendees rather than the speakers on stage. The theme for the 2025 World Café is, “Exploring the Challenges and Potential of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)."

At the conclusion of the 83^rd Plenary Meeting, attendees will have the option to participate in a two-day technical tour (November 21-22) to see Tanzania's iconic wildlife.

The registration page for the 83^rd Plenary Meeting is now open; it contains detailed information about the sessions, speakers, hotel options, the Technical Tour, and more — please click here.

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

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.

ICAC announces postponement of the 83rd Plenary Meeting in Tanzania

Due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the recent developments in Tanzania, the ICAC has announced that its upcoming 83rd Plenary Meeting has been postponed. Scheduled for Nov. 17-20 in Mwanza, the delay was recommended by Tanzania, and the decision was made out of an abundance of caution, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all participants.

World Cotton Trade declined 4.1% in 2024/25, according to ICAC's 2025 World Cotton Trade Report

Washington, DC — The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has released the 2025 World Cotton Trade Report, which covers trade developments in raw cotton since 1980. An annual publication, it provides analysis of world trade by region; import/export projections by country; matrices of trade flows; and seasonal estimates of export commitments to date.

Rieter adjusts group structure in preparation for Barmag integration

The planned acquisition of the “Barmag” Division of OC Oerlikon will create the leading system provider worldwide for natural and man-made fibers. Rieter is confident it will receive all regulatory approvals to complete the acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Rieter Group is therefore adjusting its Group structure as of January 1, 2026, to take this acquisition into account and to be able to provide an even more agile response to market challenges.

Navis TubeTex announces U.S. partnership with Icomatex

Navis TubeTex, a global leader in advanced dyeing and finishing machinery solutions, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Icomatex (www.icomatex.com), a respected European manufacturer of high-quality stenters and textile finishing equipment. Under this agreement, Navis TubeTex will exclusively represent the Icomatex stenter line in the United States.

ADVANSA launches ADVA®tex: A new step toward textile-to-textile recycling

ADVANSA has introduced ADVA®tex, a new filling fibre made entirely from recycled pre-consumer textile waste, positioning the material as a significant step forward in textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling. The fibre is designed for use in duvets, pillows, mattresses, and furniture applications and is available in three versions.

KARL MAYER celebrates 35 years of EL pattern drive

KARL MAYER is celebrating an anniversary this year: on 30 November 1990, the first warp knitting machine with electronic guide bar control, the KS 4 EL, was delivered – another milestone for patterning. As early as 1980, the SU gearbox with the MRS42SU had initiated the transition from mechanical chains to digital data.