Cotton: part of the social fabric?

Abstract

Imagine a future where cotton farms are run by sophisticated machines. Computerised systems monitor crop conditions; aerial drones collect real time information about your crop; pickers, gins and classers are operated by only a few people, in a 24 hour cycle dedicated to economic efficiency. Sounds like a productivity paradise! There's only one thing missing... viable and thriving cotton communities in rural and regional Australia. The Australian cotton industry has faced concern about environmental impacts by embracing regulation, best practice and innovation. The industry has shown it can increase profitability and productivity while capturing a social license to operate. Future trends suggest a more competitive global marketplace ahead, as man-made fibres combine with nano-technology to challenge Australia's "pure fibre" focus. If the industry continues to focus on economic gain, rural communities and economies will start to suffer. This research asks how can we maintain the social fabric of cotton communities?