how cotton is grown

Throughout its history, cotton had always been grown organically.

The development of pesticides and chemical fertilisers during the Second World War saw this change. Although cotton is promoted as a natural fibre, 'conventional' growing methods use insecticides, pesticides (including herbicides and defoliants) and thousands of tons of synthetic fertilisers. These are thought to damage public health and the environment by contaminating water resources.

• 3% of the world's arable land produces over 40 billion pounds of cotton each year.
• It is the most heavily sprayed field crop on the planet.
• 25% of all insecticide used in the world is applied to cotton.

Environmentalists argue that organically grown cotton is the best way to safeguard health, the environment and the cotton crop. (Spinning the Web)