Cottonseed Research Increases Value

Contributing Author

Through years of “The Fabric of Our Lives” television advertising campaigns, Cotton Incorporated successfully established cotton as a brand with consumers.

Since 1993, an average of about $300,000 has been dedicated annually toward reducing gossypol levels in cottonseed, while allowing it to be retained in the plant itself. Through the use of a gene-suppression technology, this goal was realized in 2006, and in 2009 a field trial was successfully completed with this material.

This achievement positioned cottonseed for the food market which now allows us to begin thinking about how to establish plans for branding cottonseed as a high protein, low cost food source.

Although we are still years away from implementing any plans, it is truly exciting to think that one day, products like protein bars, crackers and cookies could potentially make cottonseed just as valuable as cotton fiber.

Researchers think ultra-low gossypol seeds will be commercially available in the next five to eight years.

It’s important to remember that this development will increase cotton’s overall value package, further expanding its overall marketing possibilities. A great deal of work still remains, but one of our future goals will be to successfully brand cottonseed as a food source with consumers.

Say ‘I Do’ in Cotton

Cotton Incorporated’s consumer website, thefabricofourlives.com, is a great resource for any bride-to-be.
The section entitled “Say ‘I Do’ to Cotton” showcases the work of designer Chris Kole, founder of The Cotton Bride collection. Kole feels so strongly about using natural cotton fiber that he created a magnificent line of all-cotton wedding gowns.
According to Kole, the versatility of cotton creates infinite eco-friendly possibilities when it comes to design, while also allowing the bride to stay comfortable and fashionable.
Cotton offers some of the lightest, softest, most luxurious fabrics and The Cotton Bride designs come in every shade from ivory to the purest white.
Kole’s cotton creations have been featured on programs such as “Good Morning America” and in the publications Modern Bride and The Knot. Chris Kole’s Web site, www.thecottonbride.com, is home to images of the full collection and provides a list of retailers that carry the line.

Software for Merchants, Warehouses

The EFS System was developed by Cotton Incorporated to help mills more efficiently process cotton fiber so they would ultimately use more cotton. And to that end, the EFS System has become a brand name recognized around the world for mill fiber management.
Having designed EFS specifically for textile mills, Cotton Incorporated decided there was an emerging opportunity to work with other segments of the industry, such as merchants and warehouses, to improve their management decisions and overall efficiency.
Cotton Incorporated recently began working with merchants and warehouse operators to better understand their specific segments of the industry. From that work, Cotton Incorporated developed and now is introducing Cotton Management System (CMS) software programs. Cotton Expedite, the first package of the software, provides a complete solution for contract management and logistics control for merchants and cooperatives. The CMS software is also designed to be implemented very easily into a company’s current operation.

 

 

 

 

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