Cotton is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, with its origins dating back to ancient times. It has been an important part of human history, from its use in textiles to food production. However, cotton production has had a big impact on the environment. That is why Kuyichi only uses 100% certified organic cotton. The interest in organic cotton has grown over the years, but still only 1,4% of all cotton is produced organically. To raise this percentage, we must support farmers to make the change. That is where cotton in conversion enters the stage. Let’s see how in-conversion cotton supports the organic revolution!

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What is cotton in conversion?

Cotton in conversion is the cotton fibre produced during the period where a conventional cotton farm transitions to organic cotton production. This process takes up to three years, in which farmers focus on soil health. The farmer follows organic farming practices during the conversion period, but the cotton fibre is not yet certified organic. Instead, the cotton harvested from the field during the transition period can be certified as cotton in conversion. The only difference between organic and in-conversion cotton is that the farm is in the transition period. The farmer follows the same farming requirements.

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How does the in-conversion cotton process work?

To transition from conventional cotton to organic cotton, farmers need to relearn how to grow their crops. They have to focus on the restoration of soil fertility and the balance of the ecosystem to get a healthy crop and good yield. They can not use the pesticides and synthetic fertilisers they relied on before. Instead, they use natural solutions, such as crop rotation, attracting predator bugs, and compost.

Unfortunately, this transition period will often go hand-in-hand with some challenges. Farmers may experience lower yields due to the change in farming practices. The cotton is also not yet certified organic, which means they cannot claim organic premium payments. The conversion period can be tough, so it’s not surprising that these farmers need support to push through.

Why do we use cotton in conversion?

We use cotton in conversion because we are committed to sourcing organic cotton, but we are also willing to support farmers during their transition to organic farming methods. That is why we started a cotton in conversion project with our denim mill Bossa. As the demand for organic cotton increases, providing farmers with more incentives to make the switch to organic is crucial. We should take accountability and incorporate in-conversion cotton in our supply chains so that future supply meets the demand. By going back to the source of our cotton, we rebuild the relationships in our supply chain and can directly contribute to positive change in the field.

Read more about why farmers struggle with switching to organic cotton.

"We must incorporate in-conversion cotton in our supply chains so that future supply meets the demand."

HOW DO WE CERTIFY IN-CONVERSION COTTON?

To put cotton in conversion on the market, a farmer must provide proof of organic farming under one of the standards that fall under the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). IFOAM standards are checked by endorsed companies, also known as certification bodies. These certification bodies perform audits at the farm to check if they follow organic practices and procedures during the three transition years. Through these audits, the cotton can get certified as organic or organic cotton in conversion. We use this proof to validate that the cotton in our capsule collection is, in fact, cotton in conversion.