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With each edition of the “Buyers Mission,” a commercial exchange where the Brazilian Association of Cotton Producers (Abrapa) hosts cotton importers in Brazil, the generalizations about Brazilian cotton production are replaced by a more realistic view of daily life in the field. In its eighth edition, the initiative brings together 21 representatives from the global textile industry, with a focus on professionalism in farm management and good environmental practices.

This year, the delegation welcomed by Abrapa includes executives from eight countries: Bangladesh, China, South Korea, the United States, Honduras, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. These cultures, languages, and realities are quite different from those of Brazilians, making it even more valuable to “open the gates” of farms to importers.

“Of the 21 representatives from global textile industries with us, 19 are visiting our country for the first time. It’s a great opportunity to practically showcase our commitment to people, the environment, and quality,” noted Alexandre Schenkel, president of Abrapa.

For Faizah Mahmoot from Bangladesh, the opportunity had a dual effect. The visit to the Bom Futuro farm in Campo Verde (MT) on Tuesday (30) was her first time in a cotton field. “We learned about everything from harvesting to processing. We saw how they classify the cotton and the social and environmental programs the group has. It was a great experience,” she commented.

At Bom Futuro, emphasis is placed on the verticalization of production. In addition to the cotton gin, the property has a biofactory for biological pesticides and a crushing plant that produces cotton oil. Still in Campo Verde, the delegation visited Cooperfibra, a cooperative involved in spinning and also housing a cotton classification laboratory. There, one of the highlights was seeing the different types of threads that can be made from Brazilian cotton.

Workshop

On Sunday (28), a workshop on Brazilian cotton production was held. The event was opened by Abrapa president Alexandre Schenkel and featured the presence of producer and former Minister of Agriculture Blairo Maggi. “Here in Mato Grosso, we cultivate with responsibility and efficiency. We have the potential to expand production; we just need demand,” stated Eraí Maggi, president of the Mato Grosso Association of Cotton Producers (Ampa).

Marcelo Duarte, director of International Relations at Abrapa, provided an overview of the main assets of Brazilian cotton (quality, traceability, and sustainability). Fernando Rati, manager of Cotton Brazil, presented updated data on cotton production in Mato Grosso, while Ariel Coelho, director of the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), provided a diagnosis of the national and international fiber market.

In the 2023/24 harvest, Brazil is expected to produce around 3.7 million tons of cotton lint, with exports estimated at about 2.6 million tons.

Learn more

The “Buyers Mission” is in its eighth edition in 2024 and is part of the scope of actions of Cotton Brazil, an initiative that represents the Brazilian cotton production sector internationally. Coordinated by Abrapa, the program is carried out in partnership with the Brazilian Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments (Apex-Brasil) and is supported by Anea. The mission is conducted in conjunction with the state associations of cotton producers from Mato Grosso (Ampa), Bahia (Abapa), and Goiás (Agopa).