NCC encourages participation in Trust Protocol

More than 660 cotton producers, representing more than 1.2 million acres, enrolled their 2021 crop in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, a sustainability initiative which is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, soil loss, energy use and water use, according to the National Cotton Council of America, Cordova, Tennessee.

These aggregated and verified environmental metrics of Trust Protocol producer members are made available to brands and retailers in the fashion and textile industries. The initiative will help them satisfy their customers’ desire for sustainable products. Almost all the top 100 global brands have created lists of sustainable raw materials, including cotton, and have committed to sourcing 100% from those lists over the next five to 10 years.

To streamline enrollment in the Trust Protocol, cotton producers now can commit to enroll their 2022 through 2024 cotton crops. To enroll, producers must submit details about their crop. Providing that data makes them a Trust Protocol member for 2022 and eligible to market their 2022 crop as Trust Protocol cotton. Producers who have completed enrollment for the 2021 crop only need to update past information.

A significant benefit is that enrolled producers who complete their data entry for a particular crop year in the Trust Protocol will be eligible for a potential redistribution of program revenue.

“Along with the three-year enrollment feature, cotton producers now can authorize account access for their crop consultant who can enter information on their behalf at TrustUSCotton.org,” says Gary Adams, Trust Protocol president and National Cotton Council president and CEO. “Also, if producers utilize the John Deere Operations Center, they can pre-populate up to 40% of the data needed to complete their Fieldprint Analysis.”

Other enhancements aimed at streamlining the enrollment process soon will be available. Questions regarding the Trust Protocol, including the enrollment process, can be directed to the Trust US Cotton Grower Helpdesk.

Read more about the National Cotton Council.