The International Cotton Advisory Committee has launched a new initiative aimed at creating additional revenue streams for cotton farmers by enabling their participation in global carbon credit markets.

The programme links sustainable farming practices directly to financial returns, with participating growers expected to generate up to $200 per hectare in additional income. At the same time, it promotes improved soil health, greater climate resilience and reduced environmental impact.

At its core, the initiative integrates regenerative agriculture practices, biochar application and a robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) framework to produce high-quality carbon credits aligned with international standards. The approach is designed to combine scientific credibility with practical, on-ground implementation, ensuring both environmental integrity and economic viability.

A pilot project is currently underway in Uzbekistan, where early results indicate strong potential for scaling the model across other cotton-producing regions. The initiative is positioned as a pathway to accelerate climate-smart agriculture while enabling farmers to monetise sustainable land management practices.

To facilitate implementation and market access, ICAC has partnered with Merago Inc, which will manage MRV processes, certification and carbon credit trading.

ICAC has invited governments, industry stakeholders and certification bodies to collaborate in expanding the initiative, with the aim of building a scalable, globally aligned framework for sustainable cotton production and carbon finance.