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Cotton made in Africa

A Partnership Project supported by NABU

Cotton made in Africa is a project that helps African small-scale farmers and their families to improve their standard of living and in doing so, reducing the harmful im-pact that cotton cultivation has on the environment.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the Deutsche Entwicklungs- und Investitionsentwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), in cooperation with local non-governmental organisations and trade representatives, have all joined forces to promote the sale of cotton that is certified as sustainable and grown in Africa. The organisation responsible for the project is the Aid by Trade Foundation based in Hamburg.

NABU critically follows the project and gives advice on nature protection issues such as sustainability or the introduction of new farming methods. Our aim is to raise consumers’ awareness of fair production conditions, environmental sustainability and health aspects and to persuade people to shop ethically not just for their food, but for their clothes as well.

Pilot projects have been launched in countries including Burkina Faso, Benin and Zambia, where farmers are being trained to take care of the environment by using specially selected fertilizers and pesticides more efficiently. To help in the fight against poverty, the local health and education systems will also be improved.

It is particularly important for the farmers that there is a secured demand for the cot-ton. Textiles companies, such as the Otto Group, are establishing an international alliance of companies to ensure this; the companies agree to only use sustainably produced cotton from Africa and to make the products accessible to a wide market of customers. All products are labelled so that customers are able to recognise the CmiA brand.

Contact
Svane Bender-Kaphengst
Officer for International Species Protection
Email: Svane.Bender@NABU.de

Further information about the Cotton made in Africa Project