Washington, DC — The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) has introduced the ICAC Carbon Footprint Application, a free digital tool accessible in both English and French, available as a web platform and a mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
The application is designed to assist farmers, researchers, and policymakers in measuring the net carbon footprint of cotton production and related processes. By entering input data, users can calculate CO₂-equivalent (CO₂-eq) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while also considering potential carbon sequestration from different agricultural practices.
Key Features of the Application:
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Calculates emissions for farms and households, with the ability to scale results to larger regions such as villages, towns, or districts, supporting net-zero assessments.
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Provides customizable evaluations across diverse parameters: soil types, seed use, mulching, transportation, 30+ tillage methods, 10+ planting techniques, pesticide application practices, weeding, and 14+ harvesting approaches.
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Incorporates factors such as human and animal labor, irrigation systems (9 types with depth and energy options), 30+ fertilizers, 16+ composts and manures, and over 550 pesticide molecules used in more than 4,400 commercial formulations.
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Considers emissions from land-use changes and carbon sequestration through cotton fiber, crop residue management (biochar, mulching, or fuel), and regenerative agriculture techniques like cover crops, reduced tillage, and soil carbon enrichment.
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Features an intuitive dashboard that presents CO₂-eq GHG emissions per hectare, carbon sequestration estimates, and the final balance of net carbon credits.
Commenting on the launch, Dr. Keshav Kranthi , ICAC Chief Scientist and developer of the app, said:
“With its comprehensive features, the ICAC Carbon Footprint Application equips farmers and policymakers with a science-based, practical tool to measure and reduce emissions, enhance sequestration, and advance sustainable cotton production. By enabling assessments from single farms to entire regions, this app supports the global mission for net-zero targets and responsible carbon management.”
