IDH and Better Cotton Promote Regenerative Farming for a Sustainable Future

New Delhi, October 15, 2023: IDH and Better Cotton brought together thought leaders, actors and innovators to build consensus on the scope and merits of regenerative agriculture through Agriclimate Nexus: Food, Fibre and Regeneration for Sustainable Growth in India. Hosted in New Delhi on October 13th, the event aimed to promote regenerative agriculture in the country through collaboration, innovation, and creating an enabling environment. The deliberations helped identify opportunities for action across policy, business, finance, and research.

The event provided a platform for participants from farming communities, the private sector, civil society and government to collaborate, share insights, and drive meaningful progress towards a sustainable and regenerative agricultural future that would protect the environment and improve the livelihoods ofsmall farming communities involved in the production of food and fibre crops in India.

The discussions enabled participants to share the barriers faced and hear about solutions, including the adoption of the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria as well as the importance of promoting a ‘Landscape’ approach that supports change within a geographic jurisdiction in collaboration with all the stakeholders in that region.

Pramit Chanda, Global Director Textiles & Manufacturing – IDH, emphasized the need for collective action, saying, "Through this event, we aspire to create a dynamic, multi-sectoral network and mobilize stakeholders towards a more sustainable and regenerative future for agriculture in India. In this, it is paramount that each stakeholder group considers the role they can play to make this a reality."

Jyoti Narain Kapoor, Country Director – India, Better Cotton, commented, "Scaling the use of regenerative agricultural practices will be important to farming communities globally if they're to ensure their operations are resilient in the face of climate change. This convening will go a long way in strengthening cross-commodity relations and aligning organizations committed to supporting this cause."

As the next steps, IDH and Better Cotton commit to continuing to engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue on regenerative agriculture, drawing participation from stakeholders across the food and fashion industries, as well as other key groups such as government entities, civil society organizations, academia, and the financial sector.