· Cotton is the world’s most important non-food agricultural commodity, yet it is responsible for the release of US$ 2 billion of chemical pesticides each year.

· Agricultural workers worldwide suffer from acute pesticide poisoning with at least 1 million requiring hospitalization each year.

· Cotton accounts for 16%of global insecticide releases – more than any other single crop.

· In India, home to over one third of the world’s cotton farmers, cotton accounts for 54% of all pesticides used annually – despite occupying just 5% of land under crops.

· Hazardous pesticides associated with global cotton production represent a substantial threat to global freshwater resources.

· Hazardous cotton pesticides are now known to contaminate rivers in USA, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Brazil, Australia, Greece and West Africa.

· Purchasing decisions made by consumers have the ability to directly impact production methods and thereby both environmental security and social equity.

· Purchasing decisions made by consumers have the ability to directly impact production methods and thereby both environmental security and social equity.

Eco-Bella wants you to know...