International Cotton Advisory Committee
International Cotton Advisory Committee
03/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/19/2026 09:55
Innovations, Technologies, and Organization in Latin American Cotton
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date Posted: March 19, 2026
Washington, DC - Latin America is emerging as both a historic foundation and a future driver of the global cotton sector - as outlined in the March 2026 issue of The ICAC Recorder, a free publication that presents Special Issue (Part II) of the 15th ALIDA Meeting, highlighting innovations, technologies, and regional collaboration shaping cotton across the region.
In his editorial, ICAC Chief Scientist Dr. Keshav Kranthi underscores Latin America's unique role as the origin of the two species that account for nearly all global cotton production, emphasizing the region's potential to combine heritage, sustainability, and innovation.
This issue features peer-reviewed articles from Session 4 of the ALIDA Meeting, covering key developments across the cotton value chain, including:
- Advances in traceability, fiber quality, and certification systems
- The impact of the FAO-supported +Cotton Project on capacity building and public policy
- Technological innovations in crop management, harvesting, and post-harvest systems
- The rise of Agriculture 4.0 tools such as drones, sensors, and digital platforms
- Country reports from major cotton-producing nations across Latin America
The issue also highlights the growing importance of traceability and sustainability in global markets, as new regulations and consumer expectations reshape competitiveness. At the same time, it emphasizes that innovation must remain grounded in local realities, particularly for smallholder systems.
Together, these contributions position Latin America as a key player in building a more sustainable, competitive, and inclusive global cotton sector.
To read the free March 2026 issue of The ICAC Recorder, please click here.
About the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
Formed in 1939, the ICAC is an association of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries. It acts as a catalyst for change by helping member countries maintain a healthy world cotton economy; provides transparency to the world cotton market by serving as a clearinghouse for technical information on cotton production; and serves as a forum for discussing cotton issues of international significance. In addition, members can take advantage of the ICAC's global network of cotton researchers, whose expertise covers the supply chain from farm to textile manufacturing, and have free access to its cutting-edge technologies like the voice-based app and virtual technology cotton training program. Committed to ensuring cotton's continued sustainability, the ICAC is the only intergovernmental commodity body covering cotton that is recognized by the United Nations. For more information, please visit www.icac.org, Twitter or LinkedIn
Formed in 1939, the ICAC is an association of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries. It acts as a catalyst for change by helping member countries maintain a healthy world cotton economy; provides transparency to the world cotton market by serving as a clearinghouse for technical information on cotton production; and serves as a forum for discussing cotton issues of international significance. In addition, members can take advantage of the ICAC's global network of cotton researchers, whose expertise covers the supply chain from farm to textile manufacturing, and have free access to its cutting-edge technologies like the voice-based app and virtual technology cotton training program. Committed to ensuring cotton's continued sustainability, the ICAC is the only intergovernmental commodity body covering cotton that is recognized by the United Nations. For more information, please visit www.icac.org, Twitter or LinkedIn
International Cotton Advisory Committee published this content on March 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 19, 2026 at 15:55 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]