U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Launches Streamlined Three-Year Enrollment

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MEMPHIS, TENN (June 1, 2022) – The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced streamlined, three-year grower enrollment for the 2022 through 2024 crops. The new process is designed to be quick, easy and efficient, thereby allowing grower member cotton to enter the supply chain sooner. 

The Trust Protocol’s mission is to bring quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement to key sustainability metrics of U.S. cotton production with a vision where full transparency is a reality and continuous improvement to reduce our environmental footprint is the central goal. The program’s core values include a commitment to U.S. cotton’s legacy of authenticity, innovation and excellence, environmental stewardship, caring of people, and personal and corporate integrity.

“We understand that demands on a grower’s time are high and after listening to their feedback, the Trust Protocol has implemented a more streamlined and efficient enrollment process,” said Dr. Gary Adams, president of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. “We thank the growers who helped double participation in 2021. As supply chain membership continues to increase, we need to collectively ensure there is enough participation in the program to meet demand and that the U.S. remains a leading producer of sustainable cotton to markets around the world.”  

Under the new enrollment process, growers should be able to complete all requirements in one sitting. The new process will also allow production by participating growers to be more easily identified and uploaded into the Protocol platform, thus paving the way for a potential redistribution of program revenue. As before, data entered into the program is secure and remains confidential, only being used in aggregate form.

To assist with enrollment, crop consultants can be authorized to enter information and ensure accuracy on a growers’ behalf. Additionally, the John Deere Operations Center can pre-populate up to 40% of the data needed to complete the Fieldprint analysis for those who utilize the platform.

The Trust Protocol has welcomed more than 700 brand, retailer, mill and manufacturer members since its launch in 2020. This includes J.Crew, Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co. and, Gap Inc. as well as global apparel manufacturer Gildan

The program is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, recognized by Textile Exchange and Forum for the Future, and part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cotton 2025 Sustainable Cotton Challenge, Cotton 2040and Cotton Up initiatives. The program has also been recognized and published in the ITC Standards Map.

To learn more or begin enrollment, visit TrustUSCotton.org or reach out to the Grower Help Desk at growers@trustuscotton.org.

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About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Launched in 2020, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was designed to set a new standard in more sustainably grown cotton, ensuring that it contributes to the protection and preservation of the planet, using the most sustainable and responsible techniques. It is the only farm level, science-based program that provides quantifiable, verifiable goals and measurement in six key sustainability metrics as well as article-level supply chain transparency. 

The Trust Protocol is overseen by a multi-stakeholder Board of Directors comprised of representatives from brands and retailers, civil society and independent sustainability experts as well as the cotton-growing industry, including growers, ginners, merchants, wholesalers and cooperatives, mills and cottonseed handlers.


Media Contact: Karlie Bowman, karlie.bowman@hkstrategies.com; +1 (217) 379-7232

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Deepika Mishra

Standards and Data Lead (consultant)

Deepika Mishra is the Standards and Data Lead for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, acting as a consultant for the program. As an accomplished scientist and data analytics specialist, Deepika leads on analysis of the Trust Protocol’s environmental metrics. She collaborates extensively with agricultural research institutions, conservation groups, and food and trade organizations, playing a vital role in the establishment of sustainability and social standards within the industry.

Deepika earned her Ph.D. in plant and soil science from Texas Tech University, specializing in cotton breeding and genetics. With over a decade of experience, she has spearheaded diverse agricultural projects in both India and the United States, covering crops like cotton, cowpeas, castor, sesame, guar, guayule, tomato, and field pennycress (cover crop). Her contributions also include the development and release of multiple cowpea varieties in India during her M.S. studies in vegetable breeding and genetics.