#Raw Materials

2022-09-22

ICAC recorder highlights organic cotton during the southern and eastern African Cotton Forum

During the most recent meeting of the SEACF, speakers and attendees spent three days considering one critical question: Is organic cotton an answer to the low productivity and yields seen in Africa — or will it worsen the crisis?

Executive Summary

Highlights from the most recent ICAC Recorder include:

Low productivity and yields have plagued Africa's cotton sector for decades

Many researchers now consider organic cotton as the solution for two primary reasons:
- The cost of fertilisers in African nations is prohibitive
- Regenerative practices like organic production can help improve soil fertility and health

As ICAC Chief Scientist and Recorder Editor Dr Keshav Kranthi says in his opening editorial, the answer might very well be the former. One of the biggest reasons organic production might be the solution is the high cost of synthetic fertiliser in Africa, where prices can be more than 12 times higher than they are in India. For this reason, among others, researchers are now increasingly voicing their preference for regenerative agricultural practices over chemical-intensive methods to improve soil fertility and soil health.

The XV Meeting of the SEACF was held from 29 June to 1 July 2022 in Montebelo Indy Maputo Congress Hotel, Maputo Province, Mozambique. The meeting was jointly conducted by the ICAC and the Mozambique Institute for Cotton and Oilseed (IAOM). The theme of the meeting was ‘Prospects for Organic Cotton in Africa’. There were 95 delegates from 12 countries — Colombia, Germany, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, Zambia and Zimbabwe — at the meeting.

Summaries and photos from each of the 19 sessions held during the SEACF account for the first 27 pages of this edition, followed by a feature assessing organic cotton's prospects in Nigeria.

The 30-page issue is free to all, with no subscription required. To access the latest edition of the ICAC Recorder, click here:

https://www.icac.org/Content/PublicationsPdf%20Files/10434729_e9e3_4884_8949_121f8a9aa94b/Recorder-June-2022-V1.pdf.pdf

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

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.

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.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

YKK invests USD 150 million in new manufacturing facility in India

YKK Corporation has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the world's fastest-growing textile and apparel production hubs. The new factory will be built at Origins by Mahindra in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and will become the third manufacturing site of YKK India Private Limited. The facility is expected to be completed by February 2028 and represents an investment of approximately USD 150 million, covering land, buildings, machinery and equipment.