The annual gathering under the theme, 'It Starts with Farmers', took place in İzmir, Türkiye on 18-19 June 2025.
It saw over 370 participants from more than 20 nations engage in discussions on various issues such as gender equality, climate finance, traceability, and inter-commodity cooperation.
Alan McClay, the outgoing CEO of Better Cotton, led the organisation for ten years.
“We need to take our place more loudly and explicitly and authoritatively in the broader community. For too many years we’ve been doing our own thing almost under the radar to the extent that some legislation now gets passed without even knowing the constraints and the opportunities, the conditions and the impact that this can have on several hundreds of millions of farmers around the world,” McClay said while addressing the attendees.
McClay will be replaced by Nick Weatherill, who previously served as executive director of the International Cocoa Initiative.
Weatherill said: “You are leaving a very powerful legacy, and I am inheriting a very precious lifeforce. You have my word that I will look after it.”
Better Cotton announced its intention to transition into a regenerative standard over the next 12 months.
Better Cotton demand and engagement senior director Eva Benavidez Clayton said: “It is increasingly clear that we need approaches that don’t simply mitigate or reduce harm, but that actively restore the environment. While Better Cotton’s field level standard is already recognised to cover many of the core tenets of regenerative agriculture, this move will further ensure that farmers who meet our standard are adopting the most commonly agreed regenerative practices.”
During the conference, Better Cotton shared the first US Impact Report, which reflects upon the programme’s expansion and influence in the US from 2014 to 2024.
In addition, the report introduces its US programme and partners, offers insights into large-scale cotton farming in America, and provides a detailed view of the country's cotton sector.
“Better Cotton is a global standard, but we firmly believe in local application. [The report] does have key data on acreage, production, practice adoption, water, and input usage. Since storytelling is so important, and making things real for people, there are also profiles on farmers and projects that really bring the work to life,” Benavidez Clayton said while introducing the report.
Farmers and representatives from various countries including Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, India, Pakistan, the US, and Uzbekistan participated in the event.
Alan McClay said: “While it takes all of us to create lasting change, real progress must start with farmers. That is increasingly the framing that will drive all of Better Cotton’s work moving forward.”
