Enrollment in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is now open for the 2026 crop year with a new Field Partner Program offering expanded opportunities for growers demonstrating responsible production with measurable data.

The Trust Protocol is the voluntary, field-level sustainability program and traceability platform for U.S. Cotton. Participating growers receive a unique set of data and resources to support informed decision making, meet growing demand for responsibly produced U.S. Cotton, and help them compete successfully in the global market.

The new Field Partner Program is a voluntary opportunity that helps growers evidence regenerative farming practices using the existing Trust Protocol system, while providing brands and retailers access to verified, traceable regenerative U.S. Cotton at scale. Participation in the Field Partner Program is optional, but growers must be enrolled in the Trust Protocol for the 2026 crop year to be eligible to participate.

The Trust Protocol is celebrating five years of advancing sustainability in the cotton industry. Marjory Walker, recently appointed as co-director of the program, says it has grown rapidly since it launched in July 2020. “We actually have 2,500 global members representing 25 brands in 26 countries,” said Walker. “We have 2,800 mills and manufacturers. We’ve had a 14% increase in our grower enrollment. We encompass 2.58 million acres. So that is quite an accomplishment for a little five-year-old program.”

Growers interested in participating in the Trust Protocol for the 2026 crop year are encouraged to visit TrustUSCotton.org to enroll now and begin preparing required farm and field information. Growers who are also interested in the optional Field Partner Program can explore eligibility and next steps after completing Trust Protocol enrollment.