Türkiye has taken an important step towards strengthening the international recognition of its cotton with the signing of a cooperation protocol between the National Cotton Council (UPK) and Better Cotton, widely known as the Better Cotton Initiative or BCI.
Signed during the Farm to Fashion International Summit – Türkiye Cotton Summit in İzmir, the protocol supports the benchmarking process aimed at establishing equivalency between Turkish cotton certified under Good Agricultural Practices and the Better Cotton Standard.
The initiative seeks to expand the supply of sustainably produced cotton, strengthen traceability and improve the competitiveness of Turkish cotton in international markets.
National Framework Developed for Sustainable Turkish Cotton
The summit, organised through the cooperation of UPK, the Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD) and Better Cotton, brought together representatives from across the value chain, from cotton farming and ginning to textile production, apparel manufacturing and international sourcing.
Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has developed cotton-specific criteria and control points within the country’s Good Agricultural Practices system.
The framework addresses areas including efficient water use, soil protection and appropriate working conditions.
This national structure provides the technical foundation for benchmarking Turkish Good Agricultural Practices-certified cotton against the Better Cotton Standard. The protocol is intended to advance that process, rather than indicating that final equivalency has already been granted.
Cotton produced within the Turkish system is subject to independent inspection and certification as well as oversight by the Ministry. The initiative aims to increase its international recognition and make it more accessible to global brands seeking traceable and sustainably produced raw materials.
Uğur Erdem, Director General of Plant Production at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, described cotton as a strategic product connecting Türkiye’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
He emphasised that sustainability, traceability and certified production are becoming increasingly decisive in international markets. Greater recognition of Turkish cotton under global sourcing frameworks could therefore support both farmers and the country’s extensive textile and apparel industry.
Agreement Expected to Support the Entire Cotton Value Chain
Fevzi Çondur, Chairman of the National Cotton Council, highlighted that cotton is not simply an agricultural commodity. It supports an extensive economic chain covering ginning, yarn production, weaving, knitting, textile finishing and garment manufacturing.
According to Çondur, combining Türkiye’s established cotton quality with its strong textile and apparel manufacturing infrastructure—and supporting both through credible sustainability standards—could increase the international value of Turkish cotton.
The cooperation protocol is expected to benefit stakeholders across the value chain, from cotton growers and ginners to textile manufacturers, exporters and apparel brands.
Muzaffer Turgut Kayhan, Chairman of IPUD, said traceability is essential for demonstrating both the work of farmers and the sustainability performance behind cotton production. He argued that Turkish cotton has a strong story that needs to be communicated more effectively in international markets.
Turan Göksan, Chairman of the Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association, also underlined the importance of developing a credible sustainability model extending from the farm to the fashion industry.
Türkiye possesses one of the world’s most integrated textile and apparel manufacturing structures, but domestic cotton production has faced difficulties and periods of decline. Strengthening the connection between responsibly produced local cotton and Türkiye’s industrial capacity could provide an important competitive advantage.
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Traceability and Regenerative Agriculture in Focus
The Türkiye Cotton Summit, held on 6–7 October in İzmir, also examined sustainable production, certification, traceability, supply-chain expectations and the future of the cotton industry.
Industry sessions addressed regenerative agriculture as a response to climate change, with particular attention given to soil health, biodiversity protection and more efficient use of water resources.
International brands and textile manufacturers are placing growing importance on the origin and environmental performance of their raw materials. For Turkish cotton, internationally recognised verification could help producers communicate their sustainability performance more clearly and improve access to responsible sourcing programmes.
The UPK–Better Cotton protocol represents a significant step in this direction. Its longer-term impact, however, will depend on the successful completion of the benchmarking process, effective traceability and the ability to expand certified production at farm level.
If these elements are achieved, Turkish cotton could strengthen its market position not only through fibre quality and proximity to Türkiye’s textile industry, but also through measurable sustainability and traceability credentials.
