New traceable cotton programme

23/09/2025

Farmers 360° Link is a new cotton traceability programme created by two trading companies, ETG and Mistui, from Japan. It is made especially for small holders, initially reaching out to farmers in southeast Africa, such as South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe. They have been growing non-GMO cotton and using very limited chemical inputs since the 1960s, Beatrice Luini, head of sales and marketing for ETG, tells Sportstextiles. Following a successful four-year pilot, Farmer’s 360 Link was officially launched in December of last year.

The app-based system allows farmers to upload all operations on the field up to the gin. Each cotton bale is traceable back to individual farmers, with a QRcode providing access to data. “This allows brands to know exactly where their cotton comes from, and they can in turn place a QRcode tag on their products, to offer their customers information on the project or farmers’ stories,” she said.

The premium that buyers pay for the fully traceable cotton goes towards social initiatives and community projects for the farming communities. These can include community wifi services, solar lighting systems or video projectors for schools.

Farmers 360° Link cotton is certified Cotton made in Africa. It is currently being audited to obtain regenagri certification as well.

New traceable cotton programme - sportstextiles: Lea

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New traceable cotton programme

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