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About CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

CSIRO's core areas of impact
Contact Enquiries: Phone - 1300 363 400 | Email - Enquiries@csiro.au | Contact Us

Overview

 
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Cotton in field

Cotton overview

CSIRO researchers are working with Australia's cotton industry to build a sustainable industry for the future.

Cotton production has grown into one of Australia's biggest agricultural industries, valued at A$1.7 billion a year with A$1.5 billion of that from exports.

CSIRO researchers are working with Australia's $1.7 billion cotton industry to build a sustainable industry for the future.

The primary use of cotton is fibre, used in clothing and fabrics. It is also used for cooking as cottonseed oil and animal feed as cottonseed meal.

CSIRO makes major contributions to the cotton industry in a range of areas, particularly:

  • breeding plants for improved yields
  • improving fibre quality
  • improving pest and disease resistance
  • managing cotton crops
  • developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly approaches to insect and weed control.

Learn about the work CSIRO does in Cotton.

 

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Fast facts

  • Cotton is one of Australia’s biggest agricultural industries
  • CSIRO-bred cotton varieties make up over 80 per cent of cotton grown in Australia
  • CSIRO’s Bollgard II cotton has helped reduce pesticide use by up to 75 per cent

Contact Information

Primary Contact

CSIRO Enquiries
Phone: 1300 363 400*
Alt Phone: 61 3 9545 2176 
Fax: 61 3 9545 2175 
*local call within Australia