Latin America Home to 400,000 Organic Farmers, But Faces Export Challenges

Latin America has become a major supplier of organic products globally, yet it still faces hurdles before it can firmly establish itself as an international organic export powerhouse. This insight comes from Juan Carlos Ramírez, president of the Board of the Inter-American Commission on Organic Agriculture (CIAO). At the commission’s recent eighth assembly in Argentina, […]

Voices of Lambayeque: Native Cotton and Artisan Heritage

Aerial view of two people working near the edge of a field with sparse vegetation and a dense organic pima cotton crop plantation.

San Martín de Porres University, October 26, 2016 I’d like to thank my colleague and the book’s author, Cristina Gutiérrez, for inviting me to speak before this distinguished audience and the authorities of San Martín de Porres University. It is an honor to share my experiences with Lambayeque’s native cotton and textile traditions. First and […]

Fair Trade Cloth Diapers from Peru Hit Finnish Market

Organic Cotton Jersey Stripes

Environmentally friendly cloth diapers are gaining traction in Finland. Now, a Fair Trade-certified version is available thanks to East 25 Oy, which has begun importing from Peru. The idea to produce and import washable diapers that meet Fair Trade standards originated at an informational event hosted by Finnpartnership and the Finnish Association for Fair Trade […]

EC Suspends Control Union Organic License in 5 Countries

Close-up of native white cotton bolls growing on the plant, surrounded by green leaves.

The European Commission has officially revoked the organic certification license of Control Union in five countries, citing concerns over inadequate oversight that may have enabled organic fraud. The suspension affects Control Union’s authority to certify organic products in Russia, Turkey, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Control Union is one of the largest […]

Pima Cotton (IPA 59) Trial: A Historic Organic Harvest

Aerial view of workers harvesting cotton in a densely grown cotton field

In a landmark event for sustainable cotton cultivation, Dr. Juan Lazo, director of the Instituto Peruano del Algodón (IPA), visited the first experimental organic cotton field of the Pima IPA 59 variety. This innovative trial took place on the Hilbck family’s farm in Alto Piura and marked the world’s first cultivation of this promising variety […]

Qoperfina®: Copper, Cotton and Alpaca Textiles with Antiviral Power

Close-up of naturally angelina copper fibers on top of organic pima jersey

A study published by The New England Journal of Medicine tested the viability of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces. It found that while the virus remained active for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, and for 24 hours on cardboard, it survived only four hours on copper—highlighting copper’s powerful antiviral properties. For over […]

Peru’s Potential as a Hub for Organic Apparel

Full view of marbled beige and white jacket with brown collar on light wall

The Peruvian Trade Office in Los Angeles has highlighted the country’s strong potential to emerge as a key center for organic garment production—a move that could significantly benefit exporters aiming to stand out with innovative, sustainable offerings. By developing collections made from certified organic cotton or blending it with premium Pima cotton, Peruvian producers could […]

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