Ahead of World Cotton Day (7 October), UK-based CottonConnect and the Cotton Egypt Association (CEA) have formed a new long-term collaboration “to increase awareness and scope of regenerative cotton across Egypt”.

A co-signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlines “a commitment to regenerative cotton farming”, where they will jointly support the REEL Regenerative Programme “with the ultimate goal of building more resilient cotton supply chains and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers against climate change”.

As a non-profit “whose mission is to protect and promote the value-add of the Egyptian Cotton identity”, CEA will support CottonConnect to expand its existing REEL Cotton Programme.

The programme already claims visible impact in Egypt, with a 15-30% reduction in the use of water and chemicals, a 15% increase in yield, and about 30% increase in profits for the local farmers who participated in the programme.

Egypt is predicted to be categorised as ‘water scarce’ by 2025, according to the United Nations.

CottonConect added that there collaboration “is a timely response to the country’s experience of climate change and represents a proactive approach to adapt and mitigate its worst effects, echoing with World Cotton Day’s ongoing theme ‘Cotton for Good’”.