Breaking down language barriers: supporting a global sustainability initiative for cotton farmers

The Better Cotton Initiative, headquartered in Switzerland, is a non-profit organisation and operates the largest cotton sustainability programme in the world. The main focus of BCI is the players at the heart of the industry who are crucial to creating a more sustainable future: farmers, farm workers and their communities.

Great attention is paid to training farmers to use more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable practices so they can enjoy improved yields, better working conditions and greater financial security.

BCI connects supply and demand by working with over 2,500 members, including major retailers, to fund field programmes and scale more sustainable production. Some 1.39 million farmers in 15 countries are currently licensed to sell their cotton as BCI Cotton.

The team at AgroLingua is proud to support this leading international sustainability initiative by providing high-quality translations of the requirements that all producers must comply with for BCI certification. These principles and criteria are translated into a range of languages, including Chinese, Turkish and Uzbek. Clear, accurate communication is essential to ensure this information is accessible to all participants.

Making information on more sustainable farming practices, integrated pest management, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods and resilience accessible to farmers in multiple languages bridges linguistic gaps that could otherwise limit the impact of sustainability programmes.

Expertise beyond translation

Agricultural and sustainability terminology requires specialist knowledge. Our linguists understand the importance of precision when translating subjects such as environmental stewardship, responsible farming practices, biodiversity, water management and labour standards.

Quality assurance ensures the terminology remains consistent across languages and that the translations reflect the technical requirements and cultural context of the target audience.

“AgroLingua has supported us in making our farm-level Standard more accessible to a wider audience. Their team is highly responsive, professional and flexible, making it easy to collaborate and manage evolving requirements. We have particularly appreciated their reliable delivery and collaborative approach.”