U.S. agriculture is governed by a stringent regulatory system which ensures food and fiber safety. U.S. cotton is regulated as a food crop.
U.S. cotton has a track record of continuous improvement, with respect to water, pesticides, habitat, soil preservation, etc. The transparency of the U.S. system allows for continuous monitoring and improvement.
U.S. cotton yields (productivity) are increasing and are significantly higher than the average of other countries. Therefore less land is required to supply a growing world demand for fiber.
The U.S. is among the first adopters of the new technologies which are driving environmental improvement, such as biotech varieties, integrated pest management strategies, conservation tillage, water optimization strategies, etc. Ultimately, this is disseminated to the rest of the world.
The U.S. agriculture extension service provides continuous education and best management practices to U.S. producers.