ICAC Recorder June 2025 Highlights Cotton’s Future Path
The June 2025 edition of The ICAC Recorder brings into focus the most pressing challenges and pioneering innovations within the cotton industry, with an emphasis on regenerative agriculture, international scientific collaboration, and sustainable water use.
Published under the overarching theme “Cotton: Bridging Innovation, Sustainability, and Equity,” the 36-page issue brings together leading global voices who explore how cotton production can evolve in response to rising climate pressures, water scarcity, and socio-economic disparities.
“Cotton cannot move forward with incremental adjustments,” said Dr Keshav Kranthi, ICAC Chief Scientist and Editor of The Recorder. “We need transformative strategies — and that means listening to farmers, investing in collaborative science, and managing water and carbon as shared responsibilities.”
Highlights of the issue include:
- Dr. Jodi Scheffler (USDA-ARS, USA) explores global research partnerships that aim to combat major cotton diseases like Verticillium Wilt and Cotton Leaf Curl Disease.
- Dr. Marcelo Paytas (INTA, Argentina) discusses the opportunities and risks of implementing regenerative cotton systems in South America.
- Dr. M.V. Venugopalan (Retd. ICAR-CICR) and Dr. Kranthi assess the challenges Indian smallholders face in adopting regenerative agriculture amidst varying climate and resource conditions.
- A comprehensive global analysis by Dr. Kranthi counters the widespread belief that cotton is a highly water-intensive crop. His findings provide a data-backed case for more equitable and efficient water resource management across the cotton-growing world.
The issue as a whole outlines a forward-thinking blueprint for the global cotton industry — one anchored in innovation, fairness, and resilience to climate shocks.
📖 [Read the full June 2025 issue of The ICAC Recorder here.