Cotton's Moment: The Truth About Cotton – Separating Myth from Reality

In honour of World Cotton Day 2026, this episode asks what happens when bad statistics go viral? This is where cotton has found itself over many years of misquoted and misrepresented data. On this episode we stress-test these statistics with the vast knowledge and experience of Dr. Keshav Kranthi, International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)’s Chief Scientist. Join us to hear the fascinating story of how much water and chemical it takes to grow cotton – and what other crops use far more of both. You can also learn about the constant evolution of cotton production, improvements to yields and the rapidly evolving use of technology and innovation in farming practices.

Dr. Keshav R. Kranthi is Chief Scientist at the ICAC in Washington, DC, and one of the world's leading cotton scientists. With more than 35 years of experience, he is internationally recognised for his work in cotton production, integrated pest management, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and global agricultural development.

Find out more about ICAC and World Cotton Day: www.icac.org