New insights into regenerative and agroforestry-based cotton in the Mediterranean
There is growing concern around the environmental impacts of cotton fibre production, including high water consumption, high synthetic inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, as well as soil degradation, loss of biodiversity and water pollution. Regenerative and agroforesty-based cotton production has emerged as a sustainable nature-based solution to overcome environmental and socioeconomic challenges. However, knowledge on and uptake of regenerative practices is often limited and fragmented.
New research from the CBA in collaboration with Affiliate Members EFI and Pretaterra, as well as CREA shows cotton-based agroforestry production systems could be a potential entry point for regenerative practices in the Mediterranean region and beyond.
Agroforestry (integrating trees with crops and/or livestock) in the Mediterranean dates to the Neolithic period, with a variety of trees and management systems used since. The most common agroforestry systems today are olive cultivation with understorey grazing by goats and sheep.
However, agroforestry could be one of the main options to overcome land scarcity and integrate cotton in the Mediterranean region. Adding trees to cotton would provide multipurpose products (food, fodder, fuelwood and timber) and diversify incomes, as well as the trees providing ecological benefits for understory crops. There are several potential trees which could be integrated with cotton in agroforestry systems in the Mediterranean such as poplar, olive, oak, chestnut, carob, apple, peach, almond and date trees.
What regenerative practices could be used?
Regenerative soil management practices in cotton production include zero or minimum tillage, and the use of cover crops, mulches and green manures to improve soil fertility, conserve water, increase yields, reduce emissions and enhance biodiversity. Cover crops are also used to suppress weeds, alongside weed management practices such as rotation with legume crops, appropriate sowing timing and plant spacing.
What would be the benefits?
Making the conventional cotton production sector regenerative could reduce the negative environmental footprint, promote the resilience of farming systems to climate extremes and increase economic profitability with product diversification. It would also improve soil health, reduce chemical inputs, increase biodiversity and enhance the quality and quantity of water available, as well as enhancing carbon sequestration.
What are the challenges?
Challenges such as scalability, knowledge transfer, and farmer adoption limit the widespread use of regenerative practices. Supportive policies, education and stakeholder collaboration are needed to aid implementation and dissemination of practices.
More information
Negash, M., Tegegne, Y.T., Palahi, M. et al. Overview of regenerative and agroforestry-based cotton systems in the Mediterranean and beyond: a review. Agroforest Syst 99, 117 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-025-01207-7
