News and Notes from the ICAC 68th Plenary Meeting
September 16, 2009 The 68th Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee concluded on September 11 in Cape Town, South Africa. The meeting yielded some significant market news, including:
• Due in large part to the recession that affected economies around the world, global cotton consumption declined by 12 percent for the season ending July 31, 2009. This marked the largest year-to-year decrease since the 1920s. The ICAC secretariat predicted that, given a gradual improvement of world markets, cotton use will rise modestly this season and price volatility may moderate.
• The ICAC secretariat estimated that in 2009-10 more than half of all global cotton area was planted to biotech varieties. According to the secretariat, biotechnology will play a dominant role in the development of new cotton varieties to control insects and use inputs more efficiently. As these advances occur, regulatory systems will need to be updated.
• Cotton Incorporated reported that research on gossypol-free cottonseed is expected to facilitate an increased use of cottonseed meal for human consumption.
• Specialists in instrument testing of cotton agreed to create a “Best Practices Manual” under the auspices of the Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton.
• The inaugural ICAC Researcher of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Keshav R. Kranthi, Director of the Central Institute for Cotton Research in Nagpur, India. The award includes a $1000 (U.S.) honorarium.
• The International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) elected Mr. Zbigniew Roskwitalski for a third consecutive term at the Annual Business Meeting of the membership, which was held concurrently with the ICAC 68th Plenary Meeting. Mr. Roskwitalski is the Executive Director of the Izba Bawelny w Gdyni (Gdynia Cotton Association).
Nayan C. Mirani, Vice President of the Cotton Association of India (CAI), remains in his role as IFCP Vice Chairman. Jan B. Wellmann of Bremer Baumwollbörse (Bremen Cotton Exchange) continues as Treasurer. The Immediate Past Chairman is Mark Messura, Executive Vice President, Global Product Supply Chain Division, for U.S.-based Cotton Incorporated. Jeffrey Silberman continues in the post of Executive Director of the IFCP.
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