Winter 1994 (v6n1)
by Robert
Bugg, SAREP
Some 250 farmers, fabric
and garment 0 manufacturers, scientists, agricultural consultants, entrepreneurs,
and environmentalists assembled in Visalia, California for the Second
Transitional Organic Cotton Conference September 7-8,1993. The meeting
reflected the high degree of vertical integration within the organic cotton
movement. The lead 0 organization was the California Institute for Rural
Studies, with financial support from fabric and garment companies, an
industry coalition and UC SAREP. The program included over 40 speakers
on topics including labor practices, marketing, organic production and
manufacturing techniques, and administrative issues such as the transition
to organic production, certification and tracking processes. A fashion
show featuring clothing made of organic cotton was one of the conference
highlights.
According to speaker Melanie
Moore of the National Cotton Council, more than 40,000 acres of certified
organic cotton are now grown in the U.S., representing about one percent
of the national crop. Organic acreage is projected to increase substantially
in the next three years, because many acres are currently in transition
to organic production.
Robert
Bugg, SAREP, facilitated a press session, and the "Discussion
of Sustainable Growing Practices." The press session was run as a
facilitated panel discussion, rather than as a more typical "free
for all," with questions by reporters prompting statements by, and
exchanges among, resource people.
SAREP staff in attendance
were impressed by the excitement of the conference, the unusually broad
constituency represented, and the alliances that were being forged. In
these respects, the event and the movement as a whole may serve as models
for other sustainable agricultural programs. Organizer Will Allen
of the California Institute for Rural Studies expressed overall satisfaction
with the conference. He noted that important agricultural labor issues
were highlighted by attorney Bill Monning of Salinas, and merit
additional attention at future cotton conferences.
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