#Natural Fibers

2025-11-13

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

Mr Bhowmick, Dr Abdurakhmonov and Dr Kranthi © 2025 ICAC

The Government of Uzbekistan has allocated 55,000 hectares of land to implement a regenerative agriculture program for cotton as part of a collaborative project with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Bizpando, a company with a a blockchain-based internet platform designed to ensure supply chain compliance.

Dr Keshav Kranthi, ICAC Chief Scientist, conducted an intensive three-day training program from October 21-23, 2025, at the Cotton Research Institute in Tashkent, which included both theoretical sessions and practical field demonstrations. The training was attended by 50 participants, including both scientists and government officials from the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This training session was followed by a one-day field training camp conducted jointly by Dr Kranthi and Dr Abdurakhmonov held in Jizzakh on October 24, 2025, attended by 98 farmers. Mr Jasper Bhowmick and Mr Mark Li from Bizpando also participated in these training programs.

Subsequently, Dr Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Agriculture — along with senior officials Mr Javlon Raimov and Mr Abrorbek Kosimov — visited ICAC Headquarters in Washington, DC, where Dr Abdurakhmonov, Dr Kranthi, and Bizpando CEO Jasper Bhowmick signed the Memorandum of Understanding on their collaboration.

The Ministry of Agriculture is now in the process of identifying carbon testing laboratories for accreditation and certification in consultation with Dr. Kranthi, who is providing technical guidance on testing standards and accreditation procedures.

The Ministry has given Bizpando a list of participating farmers to initiate registration and documentation for carbon payment processes. Bizpando has agreed to dispatch Mr Li to Uzbekistan from November 17-21, 2025, to train farmers and government officials on documentation procedures for carbon credit verification and payments.

Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead

Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorder cuts through the ideology to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of both sides of the debate.

Dr N Vigneshwaran is named 2026 ICAC Researcher of the Year

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr N Vigneshwaran, Principal Scientist and Head of the Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division at the ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, India, as the ICAC Researcher of the Year 2026.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.