BCI-Licensed US Cotton Growers Show The Power Of Regenerative Agriculture In Pilot Project

A group of US cotton growers licensed to the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) standard have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 54% in a single season compared to regional averages by implementing regenerative agricultural practices. This impact improved to 77% when including carbon removals.

In the 2024-25 cotton season, the growers – based in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Missouri – took part in a collaborative project led by BCI and agricultural solutions provider Indigo Ag, and committed to implementing a selection of four regenerative practices.

They were able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon totalling more than 17,500 metric tonnes (MT) over 19,000 acres. This impact, calculated and verified using Indigo Ag technology, creates opportunities for BCI Members to address their own supply chain emissions by directly investing in field-level decarbonisation – and for growers to subsequently earn more money.

Lars van Doremalen, Director of Impact at the Better Cotton Initiative, said: “This project captures the power of regenerative agriculture and the valueof field-level data. The growers we work with have driven change for years. But by quantifying that impact, we can unlock tangible incentives for both farming communities and fashion businesses to drive change together.”

Indigo Ag technology verified these results, generating impact data that allows carbon reductions to be monetised, factoring in the costs of practice adoption and subsequent benefits per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). This monetisation would be crucial considering the challenging economic climate currently faced by US cotton growers.

Leigh Cooper Swisher, Director of Sustainability Solutions at Indigo Ag, commented: “By combining rigorous field-level measurement with trusted verification, this pilot demonstrates how regenerative agriculture can deliver real, quantifiable climate impact within the cotton supply chain. Supported by Indigo’s data collection, verification, and quantification platform and policy expertise, brands and retailers can directly invest in verified carbon reductions while creating meaningful new revenue streams for farmers, at a time when many US farmers are struggling to keep the lights on. It’s a powerful model for aligning environmental progress with economic opportunity – accelerating Scope 3 decarbonization and scaling regenerative practices where they matter most: in the field.”

“This collaboration builds on Indigo’s track record for deploying rigorous Scope 3 programs for the food and beverage sector across hundreds of thousands of acres. We are excited about the opportunity to bring learnings from agrifood value chains to the cotton supply chain, supporting growers who cultivate both food and cotton crops while enabling meaningful progress at scale for fashion brands and retailers.”

Retailers and brands can now purchase carbon reductions per metric tonne of CO₂e. With that investment, farmers will earn an additional US$53 per MT, creating opportunities for increased incomes at a time when profit margins have decreased, and incentivising the continued implementation of regenerative practices.

Note to Editors

• Regenerative practices adopted by US farmers during the pilot project include crop rotation, cover cropping, nitrogen management and no-till.
• Scope 3 emissions are all indirect greenhouse gas emissions occurring in a company’s value chain, excluding purchased energy. According to the Science Based Targets Initiative, they typically account for more than 70% of a business’ carbon footprint.
• BCI members interested in supporting this initiative and learning more can contact BCI’s Director of Impact, Lars van Doremalen.
• BCI brand and retail members sourcing Physical BCI Cotton via the organisation’s traceability solution can connect verified carbon reductions to their cotton sourcing and support farmers directly by rewarding their regenerative practice implementation and field-level impact.