World Cotton Research Conference — 4

Lubbock, Texas, USA (September 10-14, 2007)

The world’s most complete array of both commercial and research activities related to cotton are within a short drive of Lubbock. The research community is anchored by Texas Tech University, located in the heart of Lubbock, and by the Texas A&M University Research and Extension Center, north of the city. Other installations that conference attendees would be able to visit include:

• Texas Tech University’s International Textile Center: Devoted to research, education and technology transfer related to fiber properties and textile manufacturing, in order to increase the market value and use of cotton.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, which includes the Cotton Production and Processing Unit (Ginning Laboratory) and the Plant Stress and Water Conservation Laboratory. Conducts research aimed at improving a cotton plant’s resistance to adverse growing conditions and optimizing agronomic performance. In order to preserve the qualities inherent in cotton fiber, a focus is placed on improving harvesting and ginning technologies and practices.

• The Cotton Germplasm Evaluation Program: Located at the Texas A&M Center, this program boasts one of the world’s largest screening systems of cotton genetic materials from all over the world, with ongoing research to discover and exploit these in commercial varieties.

These and other research and commercial operations near Lubbock reinforce the notion that cotton is truly “Nature’s High-Tech Fiber.” From the genetic engineering of cotton plants to plasma-based enhancement of cotton fabrics, cotton’s future depends on the successful application of advanced technologies.

More: http://www.icac.org/meetings/wcrc/wcrc4/english.html