#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.

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.

Object Carpet tests production of rPET BCF yarn on Neumag BCF line

In a joint project with Object Carpet GmbH, Denkendorf; the Institute for Textile Technology (ITA), Augsburg; and Next Generation Recyclingmaschinen GmbH (NGR), Feldkirchen, Austria, Barmag investigated the processing of recycled polyester for BCF yarn. The goal was to evaluate the fundamental suitability of 100% recycled carpet material for reuse in carpet yarn production to create a closed-loop system in carpet manufacturing. To date, commercial rPET BCF processes have been based solely on rPET from bottle pellets.

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.

Yarns and technologies in symbiosis: Biella Yarn presents Fall/Winter 2027/2028 collection “New Romance_”

Biella Yarn, the flat knitting brand of Suedwolle Group, launches new Fall/Winter 2027/2028 collection, inspired by the symbiosis of yarns and technologies – elements that blend, adapt and evolve together, forming something new without losing their origin. The name “Neu Romance_” reflects the emotional and neurological dimension of the yarns: a connection that engages the senses, experienced through material, touch and interaction. The collection is further brought to life through design collaborations, featuring selected yarns used in different design approaches.