Independent audit says Brazil farms did not breach Better Cotton standard
Cotton sustainability initiative Better Cotton has published the findings of an independent audit that it commissioned to investigate allegations linking cotton production in Brazil.
The allegations, made by campaign group Earthsight, relate to two companies that own or manage cotton farms in the state of Bahia. Earthsight says these farms have links to illegal deforestation, land grabbing and coercion of local communities.
Independent global advisory firm Peterson conducted the audit report and has confirmed that three of the farms mentioned by Earthsight were licensed to sell Better Cotton, but that these three farms were not in breach of Better Cotton’s standards.
In Brazil, Better Cotton’s strategic partner is national cotton growers’ association ABRAPA. The Brazilian association’s Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) programme is recognised as equivalent to Better Cotton’s standard.
Chief executive of Better Cotton, Alan McClay, said: “We welcome the scrutiny of organisations such as Earthsight as they help to shine a spotlight on areas where both farm and regulatory oversight need to improve. Better Cotton’s mission is to promote more sustainable agricultural practices globally, helping cotton communities survive and thrive while protecting and restoring the environment.”
According to a statement from Better Cotton on April 23, the Peterson audit found no relation between the accusations that Earthsight made relating to community impact and the three farms that produce Better Cotton. There was, therefore, no breach of standards, it said.
It added that, with regards to violations of land rights, the audit found that the farms in question are fully registered with a database called the Rural Environmental Registry. This means these farms are compliant with the ABR standard. The farms are also certified by federal environment agency Ibama.
“The use and conversion of land for cotton farming on these farms complies with national legislation and meets the ABR standard. Better Cotton cannot comment on the ongoing legal investigations into landowners,” it said.
In relation to deforestation, the Earthsight report refers to fines at the farms in Bahia, but the audit has found that these fines relate to breaches that occurred years before the farms started working with Better Cotton. Satellite imagery has confirmed that no new land has been converted at these farms since 2008 and there are no areas currently under embargo.
The auditor’s report found that the ABR standard “should evolve to become more focused on issues such as community needs and cultural values of lands, and to ensure that land conversion does not occur in areas of high conservation value”. In addition, the report said that the ABR criteria should be strengthened to ensure that producers are not engaged in acts of corruption.
