The Soorty Organic Cotton Initiative (SOCI) announced this week that its first private-sector textile manufacturer project in Pakistan will be recognized by the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) as a partner in the OCA Seed Commercialization Initiative.
Through a seed multiplication initiative, SOCI ensures farmers receive high-quality, high-yield, non-genetically-modified seeds at sustainable costs, creating a path for a stronger, more resilient organic cotton supply chain. The OCA Seed Commercialization Initiative supports farmers in transitioning to organic practices, boosting crop yields, and reducing reliance on chemical inputs.
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Soorty launched SOCI in 2021 as a program that brings organic farming practices and a better way of life to farmers in the Balochistan region of Pakistan. The program debuted with 800 farmers, and enrollment ballooned to 13,000 by 2023. In 2020, SOCI achieved an In-Conversion Year-1 (IC1) certification, which is provided by the Control Union (CU), a third-party certification firm. The achievement confirms the transition to organic farming.
SOCI is one of several programs the Pakistani vertical denim manufacturer has in progress to uplift local farmers and promote traceability.
Launched last year, the Soorty Regenagri Initiative (SRI) project in collaboration with the Rural Education and Economic Development Society (REEDS) aims to revitalize agricultural ecosystems through regenerative farming.
With SRI, Soorty seeks to produce cotton in a more environmentally friendly manner that fosters transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain. By implementing regenerative agricultural practices, SRI focuses on enhancing soil health, conserving biodiversity, reducing chemical dependency, and promoting water conservation.
Additionally, Soorty is working toward regenerative organic certification by the end of the year.
The mill is building traceability into its cotton as well with a project that will help brands (and eventually consumers) gain visibility into the origins of their cotton. The first QR-coded cotton bales are expected to be produced by the end of this year. A state-of-the-art laboratory recently opened at Soorty’s facilities in Karachi to monitor and enhance cotton quality, specifically off-season testing under climate-controlled growth room, testing fiber purity, GMO-free seed, and sustainability metrics to ensure high industry standards.
Soorty is also partnering with SAWiE, a digital agricultural platform that leverages data analytics and AI to provide farmers with real-time insights, resource optimization, GIS-based remote sensing, farmer advisory, and climate-smart farming solutions.
