Environmental and social sustainability of organic cotton farming in Southern Mali

Organic cotton farming is increasingly promoted as a pathway towards sustainable agriculture, yet its environmental and social sustainability remains insufficiently documented in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the environmental and social sustainability of organic cotton farming in Southern Mali using the FAO Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agricultural Systems (SAFA) framework. Data were collected from 190 organic cotton farmers using a structured questionnaire covering 29 indicators grouped into 12 sustainability subthemes related to environmental and social sustainability. Results show that 10 of the 12 subthemes received a high sustainability level, such as soil, biodiversity, and community engagement. Whereas water, materials and energy received the lowest rates. Therefore, strengthening farmers' technical capacities through promoting agroecological innovations, improving institutional support, ensuring fair payment mechanisms, and strengthening labour protections are essential to enhance the long-term environmental and social sustainability of organic cotton farming systems in West Africa.