Study reveals region-specific benefits of organic cotton farming in India

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A new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) released by the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) provides region-specific evidence of the environmental advantages of organic cotton cultivation compared to conventional methods in India. The study, conducted by climate solutions provider South Pole and commissioned by the OCA, analysed verified data from over 18,000 Indian farmers across three growing seasons (2020-2023) and various irrigation systems, including rain-fed, intensive irrigation, and mixed approaches.

The research, which examined cotton farming practices across 15 distinct supply regions in five Indian states – Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, and Telangana – aimed to develop detailed environmental profiles for raw organic cotton produced by farmers participating in OCA’s agricultural program. It specifically investigated how different irrigation methods and farming techniques impact the environment.

The OCA’s LCA was designed to establish a reliable baseline for evaluating environmental impact from farm to ginning, support credible environmental claims made by brands, and assist with Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting for partner companies. Furthermore, the OCA aimed to refine its data collection and management processes for future assessments and ongoing monitoring.

Key outcomes of the OCA’s India organic cotton study indicate that organic cotton farming has a smaller environmental footprint across several crucial impact categories, including climate change potential, water consumption, acidification, and eutrophication. Notably, the study revealed that direct field emissions are significant contributors to climate change effects, acidification, and eutrophication, accounting for a substantial portion (averaging 88 per cent, and ranging from 45 per cent to 99 per cent across most categories) of the impact within the irrigated control group. The research also highlighted the significant role of fertiliser use, both synthetic and natural, in determining the environmental impact of cotton production. Water use impacts were found to vary considerably based on irrigation practices, with rain-fed systems demonstrating the lowest environmental impact.

Based on the data, the study recommends a combination of strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of cotton production. It emphasises the importance of promoting organic cotton cultivation due to its reduced reliance on synthetic inputs and its alignment with sustainable farming methods. Additionally, the study suggests adopting less impactful irrigation techniques and improving fertiliser management as key ways to significantly lower the environmental impact of cotton farming. Enhancing energy efficiency on farms is also identified as a crucial step in reducing resource consumption and GHG emissions.

The research underscores the necessity of improving the quality and consistency of LCA data for sustainability initiatives to be effective and measurable. This includes refining secondary data related to irrigation through collaborations with local organizations to enhance water footprint assessments. The study also recommends regular updates to LCA studies to track progress and evaluate the impact of interventions over time.

Looking ahead, OCA plans to conduct further regional LCAs to gain a more precise understanding of organic cotton’s contribution to addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and social issues. Brands partnering with OCA will have access to customised LCA insight dashboards, enabling them to monitor progress, inform sourcing decisions, and drive meaningful impact.

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