Amipa celebrates 26 years and projects a sustainable future for cotton

Twenty-six years ago, a group of cotton producers came together to transform the cotton industry in Minas Gerais. With the founding of the Minas Gerais Cotton Producers Association (AMIPA) in 26, cotton farming regained its footing in the state and today stands out for its fiber quality, productivity, and traceability, earning national and international recognition.

The entity was created to represent the interests of Minas Gerais cotton farmers, promote innovation, and articulate public policies that benefit the sector. One of the key milestones in this trajectory was the creation of the Minas Gerais Cotton Cultivation Incentive Program (Proalminas) in 2003, in partnership with the Minas Gerais State Government and the textile industry. The initiative guaranteed markets for producers and facilitated investments in research, training, pest control, family farming, and sustainability. From 2019 to 2024, approximately R$12,8 million was invested in the sector through Proalminas and the Algominas Fund.

Today, Minas Gerais is the third-largest cotton producer in the country, with an expected harvest of approximately 78 tons of cotton in the 2024/25 harvest, according to the Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa). This performance is partly due to the work of Amipa, which provides technical support, fosters partnerships, and invests in innovation.

Among the organization's highlights are the Biofábrica, which produced more than 1,1 billion beneficial insects in 2023, contributing to the reduction in agrochemical use; and the Minas Cotton Fiber Classification Center, a national benchmark in quality and certification. Furthermore, more than 60% of Minas Gerais' production is certified by the Responsible Brazilian Cotton (ABR) program, with practices that meet social, environmental, and legal criteria.

Amipa also stands out for its institutional activities and international cooperation. The organization is a member of Abrapa, participates in committees of the Brazilian Cotton Institute (IBA), maintains agreements with Embrapa, and develops training initiatives with Portuguese-speaking African countries through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC).

In the coming years, Amipa is committed to strengthening cotton farming with a focus on regenerative agriculture, automation, digital traceability, and sustainable markets. "We want to expand the use of low-carbon technologies, support producers with technical information, and promote sustainable growth in the production chain," says the organization's president, Daniel Bruxel (pictured, left).

Upon completing 26 years, Amipa celebrates the achievements built collectively and reaffirms its commitment to the future of cotton in Minas Gerais. "The unity of producers was what ensured the success of cotton farming in Minas Gerais. And it will continue to be the foundation of this history," summarizes the association's first president, Nelson Scheneider (pictured, right).