Cotton SA’s sustainability programme has been operating for several years and Valterra Platinum began funding the programme in February 2025, supporting 2,096 jobs linked to smallholder cotton farming. These include jobs that existed prior to our involvement and have now been sustained through our support. New jobs will be created as the programme matures.

Global certification models such as Better Cotton play an important role, but their cost structures are often not viable for emerging farmers in South Africa. Accordingly, in 2024, we engaged with Cotton SA to develop a locally appropriate sustainability model that aligns with global requirements while remaining accessible to smallholder farmers.

The initiative supports farmers by strengthening production practices, promoting environmentally responsible farming and improving access to direct markets. Structured over a three-year period, the programme delivers benefits progressively, with a focus on maintaining existing employment, and enabling work creation through sustainable production, improved market access and fair-trade principles.

The programme has faced challenges, including changing rainfall patterns and the need to align training with planting seasons. Looking ahead, our aim is to expand the initiative closer to Valterra Platinum’s operations, particularly in historically significant cotton-growing areas such as the Far Eastern Limb and Amandelbult, supporting long-term livelihoods and new work opportunities in our host communities.