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#Natural Fibers

Better Cotton Initiative partners with FarmRaise to simplify data management for US cotton growers

Peyton Straley of Quarterway Cotton Growers uses the FarmRaise platform, which will help US cotton producers simplify data management, document regenerative farming practices and meet Better Cotton Initiative certification requirements. (Photo: © Quarterway Cotton Growers/Kylie Kitten)
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has announced a partnership with agricultural technology company FarmRaise to simplify data collection, reporting and program participation for cotton growers in the United States. The digital platform will help farmers manage certification requirements, document agricultural practices and track progress towards regenerative agriculture goals while reducing administrative work. The solution is scheduled to become available in January 2027.

The partnership will enable BCI-certified growers and group managers to review, update and manage existing farm and practice data more efficiently. FarmRaise's technology is designed to reduce repetitive data entry while providing information about available agricultural programs, market access opportunities, changing requirements and deadlines.

Ashley Barrington, Senior Manager of Better Cotton Initiative’s U.S. program, said: “Today, cotton growers can spend a tremendous amount of time documenting program participation and practice implementation each season. FarmRaise can give them valuable time back by streamlining that process and bringing key information together in one place. We are excited to forge this partnership to make BCI participation simpler and more valuable for U.S. growers and field-level partners.”

Supporting the transition to regenerative cotton production

FarmRaise is an online platform developed for US agriculture that supports thousands of growers across several national programs, including Avalo, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), NRCS-related programs and conservation and cost-share initiatives. It provides a centralized system for enrollment, reporting and agricultural data management.

The partnership follows BCI's acquisition of Co, a digital solution designed to help farmers streamline data collection, optimize agricultural operations and accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices.

It also builds on BCI's recent transition to a regenerative standard system. Under the updated requirements, producers certified to grow BCI Cotton must introduce improvement plans covering at least three of six areas: soil health, biodiversity and natural habitats, water, pesticides, fertilizers, and livestock.

FarmRaise will help US cotton producers document the implementation of these practices and monitor their progress over time.

Jayce Hafner, CEO at FarmRaise, said: “Every day, billions of humans touch the work of cotton farmers without ever meeting them. Our partnership with the Better Cotton Initiative brings that connection closer, giving cotton producers a straightforward way to share their practices and be recognized for the resilient future they’re building. BCI champions the grower’s role in a more sustainable cotton sector, and their global leadership has helped farmers around the world learn, improve, and thrive. We’re honored to build alongside them.”

Reducing administrative barriers for cotton producers

For growers, the ability to reuse existing farm data and document improvements without additional paperwork is a central benefit of the new system.

Todd Straley, CEO at Quarterway Cotton Growers, commented: “For producers, regenerative agriculture starts with what makes sense on the farm, not with paperwork. As we continue to implement and document practices that improve our operations, we need tools that make it easier to track that work without creating additional administrative burden. FarmRaise makes participation simpler while ensuring the progress producers are making in the field is captured.”

Rebecca White, Chief Product Officer at Avalo, added: “BCI’s partnership with FarmRaise puts the grower first. By letting producers reuse the farm data they’ve already entered, it removes one of the biggest barriers to joining sustainability programs and makes it simpler for U.S. cotton growers to show the regenerative progress they’re making.”

FarmRaise will be available to cotton growers and field-level partners interested in participating in the BCI program from January 2027, ahead of the 2027–28 cotton season.



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