BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE 

“Elevate your cotton cultivation with our best management practices, harmonizing sustainable techniques and cutting-edge expertise to yield superior quality fibers while caring for the environment.”

GET INVOLVED

Cotton Australia has formed a number of authentic partnerships with retailers, brands, manufacturers and supply chain partners who share the industry’s values. If your organisation believes in reducing environmental footprint, the fair and safe treatment of workers, quality product and supply chain traceability – then we may be in business.

WHAT BMP COVERS

BMP is structured into 10 modules covering all areas of cotton production. Each module is divided into key areas with specific industry standards supported by checklists, additional information and resources. The 10 modules are:

  • Biosecurity – Avoidance, management and control of pests and diseases
  • Energy and Input Efficiency – Efficient energy inputs such as electricity, fuel & fertilisers
  • Fibre Quality – Growing the best quality cotton possible
  • HR & Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) – Managing employees and contractors whilst providing a safe workplace
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – Management of pests, weeds and diseases
  • Natural Assets – Managing the vegetative and riparian assets on farm
  • Pesticide Management – Pesticide management, storage and use on farm
  • Petrochemical Storage and Handling – Managing fuels and lubricants on farm
  • Soil Health – Maintaining and/or improving soil quality
  • Water Management – Water quality, efficiency of storage and distribution

Each checklist item is assigned a level. These levels are broken into:

  • Level 1 – identified legal requirements (what you must do)
  • Level 2 – Industry identified best practice standards (what you should do)
  • Level 3 – Innovative practices (what industry leaders are doing)
VERIFICATION

To achieve full certification in the myBMP program, an independent audit is conducted to check that all Level 1 and Level 2 practices have been achieved on-farm. myBMP certification is valid for a period of five years, with a re-certification audit required to remain certified. To monitor the effectiveness of this certification process random surveillance audits are also conducted.

The objectives of the Certification Audit are to:

  1. Verify that the farm has met the myBMP certification standards
  2. Formally record the farm’s environmental performance and provide information that can be used to develop future on-farm plans

The objectives of the Random Surveillance Audit are to:

  1. Verify that growers are maintaining (or improving) their practices and management during their five year certification period, to ensure the process maintains credibility
  2. Provide feedback to the industry on the performance of growers during the certification period, in order to help target research and extension needs

Both certification and random surveillance audits consist of five core modules and one random module, selected by the myBMP Office. The modules included in every audit are:

  • Pesticide Management
  • Water Management
  • Natural Assets
  • Soil Health
  • Petrochemical Storage and Handling