The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol announced its sixth consecutive year of growth, with 2.58 million planted acres enrolled for 2025, including 18,500 acres in Arizona.

The Trust Protocol reports an 18% rise from the prior year. Grower participation also increased by 14%, now totaling 1,512 U.S. cotton farmers. This growth highlights the program’s value amid challenges like fluctuating input costs, variable weather, and shifting market demands.

Participating growers gain data-driven insights to optimize practices, understand their environmental footprint, and demonstrate responsible farming through verified metrics.

“The Trust Protocol’s sustained growth shows its importance to U.S. cotton growers, enhancing their resilience against economic and environmental pressures while expanding sourcing opportunities for global brands,” said Daren Abney, Executive Director of the Trust Protocol.

Some time ago, Arizona cotton farmer Adam Hatley spoke on the value of this program. “My family has been farming since 1976, so we've seen a lot of changes over the years. By keeping up with industry innovations, we've been able to make changes that have not only improved our agriculture practices and our profitability but have also reduced our greenhouse gas emissions and our carbon footprint.”

The program offers a transparent, verifiable system for tracking U.S. cotton to finished products, supporting over 2,500 global mill and manufacturer members and 45+ brands, including Ralph Lauren, Gap, Levi’s, Carhartt, J.Crew, and Urban Outfitters, in meeting sustainability and reporting goals.

 

About the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
 The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is a voluntary sustainability and traceability program for U.S. cotton, driving continuous improvement in six key areas: land use, soil health, water management, greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and fiber quality. Through robust data collection and independent third-party verification, it ensures measurable progress in responsible cotton production.