Issues in Cotton Industries Research Bibliography

  1. Environmental Justice Foundation (2020). The Casualties of Cotton. EJ Foundation.

    Examines heavy pesticide use in Indian cotton farming, documenting health risks like farmer poisonings and environmental contamination. Promotes organic cotton to eliminate toxic pesticides.

    Published by EJF, a reputable NGO, based on field research. Access: ejfoundation.org.

  2. Kouser, S., & Qaim, M. (2013). Impact of Bt Cotton on Pesticide Use and Environmental Health in India. Environmental and Resource Economics, 55(3), 391–406.

    Evaluates Bt cotton’s impact on pesticide use in India, finding a 50% reduction in insecticide applications but persistent environmental risks from residual chemicals. Suggests integrated pest management (IPM) to further reduce impacts.

    Published in a peer-reviewed journal, based on longitudinal data. Access: link.springer.com.

  3. Ortiz, O., et al. (2017). Adoption of Integrated Pest Management in Cotton Farming: Evidence from Peru. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9(5), 123–134.

    Studies IPM adoption in Peruvian cotton, reducing pesticide use by 40% through biological controls and farmer training. Highlights cost savings and environmental benefits.

    Published in a peer-reviewed journal, based on field experiments. Access: www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jas.

  4. Earthsight (2024). Fashion Crimes: The Cerrado Cotton Scandal. Ethical Consumer.

    Tracks cotton from Brazil’s Cerrado, linked to deforestation, through supply chains to brands like H&M and Zara. Highlights traceability challenges and the need for transparent supply chains.

    Published by Earthsight, cited in Ethical Consumer, based on satellite and shipping data. Access: www.ethicalconsumer.org.

  5. MacDonald, A. M., et al. (2015). Supply Chain Challenges in the Cotton Industry: A Case Study of India. International Journal of Logistics Management, 26(2), 408–426.

    Analyzes supply chain inefficiencies in Indian cotton, including delays due to poor infrastructure and lack of real-time data. Recommends digital tracking systems to improve coordination.

    Published in a peer-reviewed journal by Emerald, based on case study data. Access: www.emerald.com.

  6. Reinecke, J., & Donaghey, J. (2021). Towards Worker-Driven Supply Chain Governance: The Case of Cotton in Bangladesh. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 57(2), 14–33.

    Examines supply chain governance in Bangladeshi cotton, noting power imbalances favoring brands over producers. Proposes worker-driven models to enhance transparency and equity.

    Published in a peer-reviewed journal, based on qualitative research. Access: onlinelibrary.wiley.com.

  7. COSH! (2023). The Organic Cotton Integrity Crisis: The Industry Needs to Act. COSH!.

    Highlights governance failures in India’s organic cotton sector, including weak certification standards and fragmented regulations. Calls for collaborative governance involving NGOs and governments.

    Published by COSH!, based on industry interviews and data analysis. Access: cosh.eco.

  8. Sneyd, L. (2014). Governance Challenges in African Cotton: The Case of Mali. Journal of Agrarian Change, 14(4), 552–574.

    Analyzes governance issues in Mali’s cotton sector, including corruption in cooperatives and weak regulatory enforcement. Recommends decentralized governance to empower farmers.

    Published in a peer-reviewed journal by Wiley, based on field research. Access: onlinelibrary.wiley.com.

  9. Responsible Sourcing Network (2020). Cotton Pledge Against Forced Labour. Ethical Consumer.

    Discusses governance challenges in preventing forced labor in cotton supply chains, particularly in Turkmenistan and Xinjiang. Outlines the Cotton Pledge for brands to enforce traceability and engage governments.

    Published by Responsible Sourcing Network, cited in Ethical Consumer. Access: www.ethicalconsumer.org.

  10. International Finance Corporation (2018). Investing in Sustainable Cotton: Opportunities and Challenges. IFC.

    Examines investment barriers in sustainable cotton, including high upfront costs for organic transitions and market volatility. Suggests blended finance models to attract private investment.

    Published by IFC, a World Bank Group member, based on market analysis. Access: www.ifc.org.

  11. Qaim, M. (2020). Role of Biotechnology in Cotton Farming: Economic and Investment Perspectives. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 12, 389–409.

    Analyzes investment in Bt cotton, noting high seed costs deter smallholders despite yield gains. Recommends public subsidies to support technology adoption.

    Published in a peer-reviewed journal by Annual Reviews, based on global data. Access: www.annualreviews.org.

  12. Textile Exchange (2022). Preferred Fiber and Materials Market Report. Textile Exchange.

    Discusses underinvestment in sustainable cotton infrastructure, particularly for recycling and organic processing. Calls for industry-wide investment to scale sustainable practices.

    Published by Textile Exchange, a leading sustainability organization. Access: textileexchange.org.