The International Rescue Committee (IRC) partners with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance and LVMH to implement a new cotton production and land restoration project in Chad

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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has partnered with the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA) - an initiative by King Charles III - and LVMH to launch a project which aims to address the negative impact of climate change on the Lake Chad basin in Central Africa, while supporting sustainable cotton growing which is a major source of income for local communities.

Approximately 80% of Chadians work in the agricultural sector, which contributes to more than half of the country’s GDP. Cotton is a major cash crop in Chad and is mainly grown in areas bordering Lake Chad since it needs a lot of water to grow. According to FAO, the lake has shrunk by 90% since the 1960s due to reducing rainfall, raising fears that it could disappear 20 years from now.

In support of the country’s efforts to regenerate land and boost cotton production, the new 4-year program will support sustainable cotton farming in Logone Occidental and Lac provinces, and plant over half a million indigenous trees across 4,800 hectares of land around the lake. Through local farmers’ associations, it will also support other agricultural value chains like timber and fruit farming, while facilitating access to markets.

David Miliband, President, and CEO of the IRC, said, “A core component of the global work of the IRC is to develop innovative, scalable, and resilient solutions with local communities most impacted by the growing climate crisis. The IRC is delighted to join hands with CBA, LVMH and partners to restore biodiversity, heal degraded soil and strengthen local livelihoods through sustainable and resilient farming solutions in Chad.’’

‘’Sustainable cotton growing not only provides a vital source of income for farmers but also has the potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change by promoting responsible land use practices. By adopting these methods in the Logone Occidental and Lac provinces, we can reduce water usage and prevent soil degradation, while also protecting fragile ecosystems. At the same time, we can ensure that local communities have access to markets for their cotton and are able to continue to support themselves and their families,’’ added Ali Amadou, IRC Chad Deputy Director of Programs.

Marc Palahí, CBA Chair, said, "The program is special to the Alliance as it demonstrates how the need to decarbonise economic sectors like the fashion industry can act as a catalyst to restore degraded landscapes,’’

“The Group has committed to making the protection of biodiversity and fighting climate change an absolute priority and being an exemplary actor of change, targeting to implement regenerative agriculture in all its strategic supply chains,’’ noted Hélène Valade, LVMH Environmental Development Director.

The program will be implemented in partnership with the Pretaterra, the largest agroforestry intelligence hub in the world, Reforest'Action, which preserves, restores, and grows forests globally, Olam International which works in the agribusiness value chain, CotontChad SIV partly owned by the Olam International and the Government of Chad, and RAPS Mandoul based in Chad’s Longone province and works in agroforestry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee.