Organic cotton certification is undergoing a groundbreaking transformation with a new project spearheaded by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the European Space Agency (ESA). These two organizations have joined forces to leverage remote satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence (AI) in order to improve organic cotton certification.
The main goal of this project is to enhance the reliability of organic cotton cultivation while reducing fraudulent practices within the organic cotton supply chains. By utilizing AI and satellite imagery, this collaboration will be able to identify organic cotton fields and differentiate them from non-organic ones. This technological advancement is poised to have a significant impact on the organic cotton industry by simplifying the certification process and ensuring the veracity of organic cotton products.
Additionally, Marple, a prominent German software start-up known for its cutting-edge machine learning and data fusion algorithms for earth observations, is also a part of this innovative initiative. Their expertise in AI technology will contribute to accurately detecting and classifying cotton fields based on their cultivation practices.
The project will be implemented in India and is expected to yield its initial outcomes by the end of this year. Through the Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) program by ESA, AI will be trained to utilize satellite data provided by the agency to automatically classify cotton fields. This incorporation of standardized yield metrics will enable GOTS to generate realistic estimates of organic cotton yields in specific regions.
Furthermore, aside from fortifying the integrity of organic cotton, this project seeks to develop advanced risk assessment technology to preempt fraud from the early stages of the supply chain. By integrating this technology with the existing measures implemented by GOTS, the certification body will be better equipped to identify cotton fields that have not yet obtained organic certification but have the potential for transitioning seamlessly into organic cultivation. These fields, which adhere to traditional and ecologically-friendly farming practices, will subsequently be acknowledged by GOTS, thereby incorporating more small farmers into the certified organic sector and supply chains.
The benefits of this project extend beyond the organic cotton industry. The inclusion of more small-scale farmers in the certified organic sector will create new economic opportunities for them and their communities. Furthermore, this technological advancement will allow the textile sector to respond to the escalating consumer demand for organic cotton, bolstering the industry’s sustainability efforts.
The collaboration between GOTS, ESA, and Marple signifies a significant milestone in the certification of organic cotton. By harnessing the potential of satellite imagery and AI technology, this project will revolutionize the process of certifying organic cotton, ensuring heightened transparency and authenticity within the supply chain. With the initial outcomes expected in the coming months, the future of organic cotton certification appears promising, propelling the industry towards a more sustainable and ethically-conscious future.
Useful links:
– Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
– European Space Agency (ESA)
