Without cotton, millions of people across the global value chain would lose jobs, income, and economic opportunity. Farmers, ginners, mill workers, textile employees, transport providers, traders, retailers, and countless others depend on cotton for their livelihoods. The impact would be especially severe in developing countries and rural communities where alternative sources of income may be limited. For smallholder farmers, cotton income often helps pay for food, education, health care, housing, and the next planting season. A world without cotton would not simply mean fewer textile jobs — it would remove an important economic foundation supporting families and communities around the world.
