“What does the Better Cotton Initiative mean for cotton growers?”

That’s the question Robert Antoshak, managing director of Olah Inc., will pose to Patrick Laine, CEO of the Better Cotton Initiative and Michael Kobori, vice president of sustainability for Levi Strauss & Co., during the next Ag Market Network teleconference Thursday (Aug. 13).

The Better Cotton Initiative or BCI supports more sustainable ways to grow cotton. Since 2010 the organization has promoted measurable and continuing improvements for the environment, farming communities and textile supply chains.

But the BCI is more than that – it’s a way to help cotton gain greater acceptance among brands, retailers and ultimately consumers – as growers will learn when they dial in to the teleconference, which will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT Thursday.

“The interviews will be a chance for cotton growers to learn about the Better Cotton Initiative and the interest brands and retailers have in sustainable production,” Antoshak says. “In turn, the program will provide the opportunity for apparel sourcing executives throughout the industry to learn about cotton production.

“By doing so, it’s our hope that the program will help bridge an educational gap between both ends of the cotton textile supply chain.”

Pat McClatchy, executive director of the Ag Market Network, says “It is our intention to help outline the BCI program and its potential impact on the cotton supply chain. For farmers, this is a chance to hear directly from the BCI director and a key supporter of the initiative, one of the premier clothing brands in the world, Levi Strauss.”

In addition to the interviews, a panel of cotton experts will discuss the cotton market, crop conditions, domestic demand, exports and farm policy during the teleconference, which is a monthly presentation of the Ag Market Network.

Panelists will include O.A. Cleveland, professor emeritus, Mississippi State University; H.W. “Kip” Butts, senior cotton analyst, Informa Economics; Jarral Neeper, president, Calcot, Ltd.; John Robinson, professor and Extension specialist/cotton marketing, Texas A&M University; and the Ag Market Network’s McClatchy.

To listen live, call 1-712-775-7085 and enter code 969119, listen live at www.agmarketnetwork.net. Listen to an archived recording at www.AgMarketNetwork.net. During the program, questions may be submitted via Facebook (AgMarketNetwork) or Twitter (@AgMarketNetwork).

The Ag Market Network provides free agriculture market news, analysis and advice to all those involved in the ag community.

To read more about the Better Cotton Initiative, visit BetterCotton.org/USA.