Cotton Quality and Cotton Testing - Actual Developments in Cotton Quality Evaluation -

1. Cotton Quality and Cotton Testing - Actual Developments in Cotton Quality Evaluation - Axel Drieling Faserinstitut Bremen e.V. (Bremen Fibre Institute), Germany - Laboratory of the Bremen Cotton Exchange - Africa – EU Cotton Partnership Seminar on Cotton in Africa: Trends, Incentives and Institutions Arusha, Tanzania, September 6 to 8

2. The Quality of Cotton It is important to obtain reliable information about the actual quality of cotton • Cotton growers need the information • to obtain an equitable price for the cotton • to enhance cotton quality (breeding/research) • Ginning needs the information • To optimise the ginning process • The trade needs the information • to fix the price of cotton • to satisfy the customers • Cotton spinners need the information • to assure a properly running process • to achieve the required quality of yarn • to minimize the raw material costs

3. Manual/Visual Classing • Manual Classing is a common method for estimating the quality of cotton • Manual Classing is the actual basis for trading cotton • But Manual Classing is commonly rated • not to be sufficiently objective • not to be sufficiently reliable / precise • Global cotton trading is more and more accepting and demanding instrument test results • Cotton spinning requires instrument test results, notManual Classing results

4. Instrument Testing • High Volume Testing • Limited number of parameters • High speed testing, capable for testing every single bale • High Volume Instruments (HVI) from various manufacturers • Low Volume Testing / Detailed Testing • Many different instruments and parameters for all kinds of properties • Detailed information for e.g. spinning purposes • High time effort and costs, not capable for testing every single bale

5. The worldwide accepted and demanded way for the evaluation of cotton quality is inevitably moving towards High Volume Instrument testing Classing of the cotton production is shifting from manual classing to instrument testing (globally 30% of all produced bales, increasing to more than 60% in the next 5 years [ICAC]) Spinning mills are using HVI results regularly Research is using HVI results regularly Trade is moving towards HVI results to fulfil customers demands Perspective

6. ICAC CSITC Task Force Under the auspices of ICAC, the Task Force for Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton – CSITC was formed to solve existing problems for the global commercial use of instrument cotton testing • Formed in December 2003 • 15 international members: • Cotton exporters • Importers • Testing • All segments of the world cotton industry • Research

7. ICAC CSITC Task Force: Objectives • To establish a worldwide acceptable, adoptable and reliable instrument based cotton quality assessment for commercial purposes • To ensure and improve the reliability of High Volume Testing for commercial purposes  Standardization  Harmonisation • To assist developing countries to meet the requirements of standardized and harmonized instrument testing, so that they are not at a disadvantage • To encourage the trading of cotton based on instrument data

8. CFC/EU – ICAC Project Based on the recommendations of the CSITC Task Force, and to facilitate the work that is necessary to fulfil the CSITC objectives, a project was created: Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton for the Cotton Producing Developing Countries in Africa • Project Executing Agency: Faserinstitut Bremen (Bremen Fibre Institute) • Project Partners: • CIRAD (France) • East Africa: TBS (Tanzania) and TCB (Tanzania) • West Africa: Cerfitex (Mali) and Sofitex (Burkina Faso) • Supervisory Body: International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) • Financing: Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) – 2.03 Mio USD • Co-Financing: European Commission (as part of its EC –ACP Agricultural Commodities Programme) – 3 Mio USD (2.4 Mio EUR) • External Contribution: e.g. USDA, Bremen Cotton Exchange, Uster, Premier • Project Duration: 4 years; start expected for October 2007

9. This project will provide the financial basis for the topics and activities that I will explain in this presentation Global objectives and activities for the commercial standardization of Instrument Testing (Standardization, Harmonization) Core of the project: Specific objectives and activities for Instrument Testing in Africa, for the benefit of the African cotton production CFC/EU ICAC Project

10. Standardization is necessary to have one common language that is understood by all CSITC Task Force agreed on the Standard Test Method and the Calibration Material Within the project, guidelines for HVI testing from different sides will be combined But there is no restriction to a single instrument manufacturer CSITC Task Force agreed to choose 6 parameters which are sufficiently reliable, and fixed the valid definition and calibration Micronaire (including fineness and maturity) Strength Length, Length Uniformity Colour: Reflectance Rd, Yellowness +b Other important properties/parameters which are less reliable at this stage, are not included, but improvements are requested CSITC Task Force developed recommendations for sampling a) Standardization of High Volume Testing

11. Standardization of High Volume Testing: Colour • Colour results • Reflectance – quantitative number, measured in Rd • Yellowness – quantitative number, measured in +b  For all cottons, the same colour is measured with the same results • Country/region specific Colour Grades, which respect origin specific information, can easily be calculated based on the standardized instrument results (Rd and +b) • Every country/region can use its own colour grade – if necessary

12. b) Harmonization of High Volume Testing Harmonization means to care for the same results in different laboratories on the same samples • For every laboratory it is important to check regularly, if there is a difference between its results and the results of other laboratories  This can be done with Round Trials (like Bremen or USDA) • For laboratories it is additionally useful to get more detailed information about possible reasons for any deviations  It is possible to check this in a specifically adapted Round Trial • For all users of instrument test results, it is essential to know about the accuracy and precision of the utilized instruments and methods  This can be achieved with Round Trials (partially with Bremen or USDA RTs) • For all users of instrument test results, it is helpful to know about the reliability of cotton testing laboratories and their test results  It is possible to check this in a specifically adapted Round Trial

13. Other round trials like the Bremen Cotton Round Trial or the USDA HVI Checktest are useful, but do not fulfil all requirements of CSITC A specific CSITC Round Trial was established to fulfil all necessities of harmonization for High Volume Testing Aims: Evaluation of the test method / test result variability Comparison of the results between laboratories New: Evaluation/rating of the participating laboratories New: Detailed analysis of laboratories to achieve more accurate results Harmonization: CSITC Round Trial

14. CSITC Round Trial – Configuration • For the purposes of CSITC Round Trial, very intense testing is necessary: • 4 Round Trials per year with each 5 different cotton samples, • 150 tests for each laboratory / 30 tests for each cotton • all single data is evaluated (900 results for each laboratory) Cotton 1 to cotton 4 are used to evaluate laboratories reliably Cotton 5 offers the chance to include cottons with different behaviour / from different origins

15. CSITC Round Trial – Variability Information • "For all users of instrument test results, it is essential to know about the accuracy and precision of the utilized instruments and methods" • Detailed information about inter-laboratory variation • Detailed information about in-laboratory variation (new)

16. CSITC Round Trial – Comparison of Results "For every laboratory it is important to check regularly, if there is a difference between its results and the results of other laboratories"

17. CSITC Round Trial – Evaluation/Rating of Labs "For all users of instrument test results, it is helpful to know about the reliability of cotton testing laboratories and their test results" Information for customers. This can e.g. be used for lab sales promotion.

18. CSITC Round Trial – Detailed Analysis • "For laboratories it is additionally useful to get more detailed information about possible reasons for any deviations" • Detailed analysis ofaccuracy problems • Analysis of precision/variability problems

19. The CSITC Round Trial is based on the recommendations and aim of the CSITC Task Force The Round Trial is the most important and powerful step towards harmonized and reliable test results It was developed in co-operation between the Bremen Fibre Institute and USDA-AMS, and is regularly conducted by these partners It is headed by the ICAC as an independent organization The regular Round Trial started in January 2007 Every laboratory is invited to participate to a subsidized fee of 75 USD per Round Trial / 300 USD per year For registration, please contact the ICAC or give me a notice www.icac.org csitcsecretariat@icac.org CSITC Round Trial – Conclusion

20. The aim is to assist developing countries to meet the requirements of standardized and harmonized instrument testing, so that they are not at a disadvantage This is the core of the project funded by the Common Fund for Commodities and the European Commission  It is not sufficient to check cotton testing laboratories in Africa, but to support them to be able to produce reliable test results.  Support will be given within the regions. The support will be done mainly by the establishment of Regional Technical Centres (RTCs) in the most important cotton producing regions. c) Africa-Specific Objective and Project Activities

21. High Volume Testing will enable cotton producing developing countries to sell their cotton based on reliable and comparable test results Avoid price discounts due to unknown properties Avoid claims Secure/improve their market share Use of the test results in the whole textile value added chain Monetary benefit regarding higher achievable prices:approx. 3 US-ct/kg Benefits for Cotton Producing Developing Countries

22. Regional Technical Centres will mainly cover the following activities: Reference activities Re-tests Regional round trials Provision of information Training Experience and expertise Technical information Regional cooperation Routine testing of the regional cotton production where it is demanded Additionally there will be direct monetary support to existing laboratories to enhance their testing environment Africa-Specific Activities

23. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure ICAC CSITC Task Force recommendations International project partners CFC international project partners Faserinstitut Bremen; CIRAD Africa West Africa East Africa (Other regions) Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional centres Individual Laboratories

24. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure a) Training, Support, Expertise for RTCs CSITC recommendations / knowledges / skills International project partners FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB Africa RTC-West RTC-East Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional Technical Centres (RTC) Other areas in the World

25. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure b) Regional Training and Regional Round Trials CSITC recommendations / knowledges / skills International project partners FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB Africa RTC-West RTC-East Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional Technical Centres (RTC) Individual Laboratories

26. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure c) International CSITC Round Trials CSITC round test samples and results International project partners FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB Africa RTC-West RTC-East Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional Technical Centres (RTC) Individual Laboratories

27. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure d) Re-Tests on tested samples CSITC recommendations International project partners FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB Africa RTC-West RTC-East Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional Technical Centres (RTC) Individual Laboratories

28. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure e) Audits and Expertise CSITC recommendations International project partners FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB Africa RTC-West RTC-East Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional Technical Centres (RTC) Individual Laboratories

29. Africa-Specific Activities: Support Structure f) Compatibility with ISO Accreditation National ISO Certification / Accreditation Bodies International project partners FIBRE, CIRAD, USDA, BBB Africa RTC-West RTC-East Cerfitex with Sofitex TBS with TCB Regional Technical Centres (RTC) Individual Laboratories

30. Africa-Specific Activities: Choice of Regions Cotton fibre production in tons in 2004-2005 (ICAC, September 2005), only countries with more than 10,000 tons of cotton production in season 2004/2005 are mentioned in this table

31. RTC West: West and Central Africa: CERFITEX with SOFITEX RTC East: East and Southern Africa: TBS with TCB Africa-Specific Activities: Choice of Regions and Partners Location of RTC Full support from RTC Other type of support from RTC The Regional Technical Centres are planned to be financial sustainable at the end of the project, so that their support to the laboratories will continue.

32. Up to now trading rules and contracts do mainly contain: Manual classing results Micronaire results Partially strength results: Pressley or HVI Customers are demanding instrument test results CSITC Task Force is encouraging trading of cotton based on instrument data by e.g. showing the reliability of the results CSITC Task Force is supporting the introduction of instrument test results in trading rules / arbitration rules d) Encourage Trading of Cotton Based on Instrument Data

33. In this presentation I tried to explain Manual classing in comparison to High Volume Instrument Testing, the advantages, and the perspective towards Instrument Testing The ICAC CSITC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) and its objectives The related project funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and the European Commission The necessity and steps of testing standardization The necessity and steps of testing harmonization The CSITC Round Trial as the major step for harmonization The Africa specific project activities including the Regional Technical Centres that will be established Trading based on instrument test results Summary Thank you very much for your attention!