Washington, DC
July 28, 2008
The Government of Burkina Faso has
authorized planting of 15,000 hectares of biotech cotton in
2008/09 for planting seed production and to evaluate impacts on
cotton yields, quality, rural economies and the environment.
Research conducted in experimental plots by the Institute
D'Economie Rural (IER) indicates that the use of Bt cotton in
Burkina Faso can lead to a gain in yields of as much as 30%
while reducing pesticide use by 60%. If commercial results from
the 2008/09 crop confirm the research results, the use of
biotech cotton will expand rapidly in Burkina Faso beginning in
2009/10.
The theme of the 67th Plenary Meeting is Technologies for
Cotton Development.
The theme will provide opportunities to showcase the role of
technologies in raising yields, reducing input costs and
improving the competitiveness of the cotton industry. The format
of each session is being designed to optimize time for
discussion.
Topics will include:
1. Cotton and Multilateral
Trade Negotiations
2. The Roles of Government and the Private Sector in
Technology Transfer
3. Biotechnology in Cotton: Lessons of Implementation
4. Social, Environmental and Economic Performance (SEEP) of
Cotton Production
5. Outlook for Cotton Supply and Demand
6. Technical Seminar: Improving the Sustainability of Cotton
Production in Africa
7. Competitiveness of African Cotton Production
8. Progress Toward Standardization of Trade Rules
9. Preparations for the International Year of Natural Fibres
10. The Implications of Rising Energy Costs on Cotton
Production and Trade
11. New Developments in Cotton Ginning
12. New Developments in Pre-Ginning and Post-Ginning
Processing Technology
The International Cotton Advisory
Committee (ICAC) is an association of 44 governments of
countries with an interest in cotton. The Secretariat of the
Committee publishes information related to world cotton
production, supply, demand and prices, and provides technical
information on cotton production technology. Detailed statistics
are found bimonthly in COTTON: Review of the World Situation,
$180 per year via email, $215 per year in hard copy. A monthly
outlook is available by email for $285 per year. Access to the
latest weekly estimates of world cotton supply and use by the
Secretariat is available on the Internet for $450 per year.
Access Secretariat reports at
www.icac.org. |
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