ORGANIC COTTON PRODUCTS: AN ANSWER TO A MORE SENSITIVE DEMAND TO ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTHY AND ETHICAL ISSUE

Cotton crops are largely made of genetically modified plants. As a consequence, it is difficult to find areas for organic farming. Despite this, thanks to economic values and important development potential, organic cotton has managed to occupy wide market areas. The aim of this paper is to highlight the relationship between market potentialities of organic cotton both with the income expectations of producers and the growing interest of consumers on topics such as social and environmental sustainability. In particular, the strong image of environmental and social sustainability, related to organic cotton, make it particularly suitable to occupy market niches characterized by the demand of consumers with a high willingness to pay for products with these characteristics. Much sectors whose products have been involved with market niches of organic cotton provide an important base for significant future evolution. The solidity of this perspective is therefore linked to the ability of the sectors concerned to provide for adequate organisational and combined measures. In the absence thereof, the agricultural phase can scarcely realize profitable prices. As consequence, the quantity of product needed to sustain the potential of development cannot be available.