TRIGEMA Organic Cotton
Organic Cotton
While conventional farming focuses on achieving maximum yields in the shortest period possible, ecological farming is concerned with sustaining natural resources in the long-term. This long-term effort includes conserving the fertility of soils, retaining the purity of drinking water and the balance of the eco system. These goals are achieved by farming agrarian land as naturally as possible. Unfortunately, the current share of organic cotton in the production of cotton worldwide is a mere 0.7%.
Eco-friendly cultivation
Organic cotton is grown using mixed cultivation and rotation of crops. This means that different species of plants are cultivated on the same field in an interchanging manner. Following this principle, farmers might grow sunflowers and mungo beans as well as chickpeas at the edge and the centre of the field, respectively. This makes it possible to grow crop plants for the farmer’s personal consumption in addition to the cotton, which helps retain the fertility of the soil in a natural manner.
Apart from promoting the richness of the species, the diversity of the fauna keeps the natural balance between useful animals and pests and, thereby, prevents pests from spreading. Furthermore, this also prevents the cotton from insect infestation, as the added plants are more attractive to many insects, than the cotton. The fertilisers used by the farmers are organic and largely free of charge, as they use compost, cow dung and local plants.
Apart from promoting the richness of the species, the diversity of the fauna keeps the natural balance between useful animals and pests and, thereby, prevents pests from spreading. Furthermore, this also prevents the cotton from insect infestation, as the added plants are more attractive to many insects, than the cotton. The fertilisers used by the farmers are organic and largely free of charge, as they use compost, cow dung and local plants.
Water consumption
An important aspect of organic cultivation is the gentle handling of resources. With regard to cotton cultivation, this means, first and foremost, a reduced consumption of water. Cultivation takes climatic conditions into account to ensure that consumption is covered by the natural precipitation. If necessary, fields are supplied with water using the economic method of trickle irrigation, whereby the plants are continuously watered, yet with very small quantities of water.
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Financial security for organic farmers
The low production costs resulting from the omission of expensive fertilisers and pesticides and the higher selling price farmers can achieve by selling organic cotton allow the farmers to earn higher net profits. Moreover, long-term supply contracts guarantee them stable prices and sales volumes. These factors represent a decisive advantage over farms that are operated in the conventional way. Organic cotton, therefore, panders to fair social standards.
Advantage for consumers
The main advantage for consumers is that organic cotton is not contaminated by harmful substances. This is guaranteed by the sustainable and eco-friendly processing of the raw cotton, which results in a controlled treatment of the wastewater in the manufacturing facilities.
Economy of organic cotton
When compared to conventional farming, the yields achieved by organic cotton farming are lower. The ecologically friendly farming of the land is more labour-intensive and therefore more expensive and less efficient in the short term. On the other hand, this environmentally friendly farming saves on energy, chemicals and water. Furthermore, it protects the precious eco-systems, sustains the biodiversity of wildlife and improves the health and economic situation of the people. Comparing these benefits to the costs of society, arising from polluting farming methods, such as environmental and health problems, they make up for the short-term lack of economic efficiency.
The GOTS certificate
There are a number of different certificates that examine and approve organic cultivation in the eco-friendly cotton industry. Our organic cotton has been certified in accordance with the international “Global Organic Textile Standard” or GOTS. This seal of approval is awarded based on an extensive range of criteria and guarantees fair social conditions at the production location.
