ICAC Launches Carbon Credits Initiative to Deliver New Income Streams to Cotton Farmers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date Posted: April 30, 2026

Washington, DC - The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has announced a new initiative designed to unlock additional income streams for cotton farmers through participation in carbon credit markets, linking sustainable production practices directly to financial returns.Under the program, participating producers could generate up to $200 per hectare in additional revenue, while simultaneously improving soil health, enhancing resilience, and assisting in the fight against climate change.

The initiative integrates regenerative agriculture practices, biochar application, and a robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system to generate high-quality, certified carbon credits that meet international market standards. By combining scientific rigor with practical on-the-ground implementation, the program aims to ensure both environmental integrity and financial viability.

A pilot phase is currently underway in Uzbekistan, where early results indicate strong potential for replication across cotton-producing countries. The model offers a scalable pathway to climate-smart agriculture, enabling farmers to benefit economically from sustainable land management while contributing to global climate goals.

To support implementation and market integration, ICAC has partnered with Merago Inc, which will oversee MRV processes, certification, and the trading of carbon credits generated under ICAC-led regenerative agriculture and carbon sequestration programs.

The ICAC Secretariat invites governments, private sector businesses, certification bodies, and industry experts to collaborate in scaling this initiative and expanding its impact across the global cotton sector.

For more information, please contact , Upstream Lead for the project.

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.