We strike a balance between humans and nature
The bioRe® Foundation’s objective is to provide support in organic cotton farming to farming families in Tanzania and India, enabling them to improve their livelihoods in a sustainable manner. The Foundation creates room for development, supports productivity and organic variety of agriculture, and takes care of the basic needs of farming families.
No to agrochemicals and genetic engineering in cotton farming
Genetic engineering conflicts with the approach of organic farming. 
Cotton fields are poisoned by huge amounts of harmful pesticides. 
Cotton is grown primarily in monoculture, which leads to loss of biodiversity and depleted soil. 
Pesticides are toxic substances used against pests. They kill off many beneficial animals, too.
Extensive use of genetically modified cotton creates new pest patterns that cause an additional increase in the amount of pesticides. This is harmful to the health of humans and animals. Nature suffers massively: the consequences are loss of biodiversity, depleted soil, contaminated water and high pest pressure.
Chemical use and production costs are increasing considerably. Farmers get into debt and are dependent on prices and developments of the agrochemical companies. A vicious circle that needs to be broken.
Our solution: organic cotton farming
We promote training for successful organic farming. Soil fertility is preserved and enhanced by means of ecological methods of cultivation and on-farm resources.
Non-GMO seed of high quality is essential for organic farming. bioRe® seed research in India is developing high-grade organic and non-GMO seeds.
Biopreparations designed to fight pests promote biodiversity. We provide advice to organic farmers on how to prepare organic pesticides.
Against exploitation, child labour and dependence of farming families
In conventional farming, the cost of seeds, chemical and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is very high while crop risks are borne by the farming families. Insurance on crop loss is not available. The reality is absurd: the revenue of farming families at the origin of production chains is totally out of proportion with the hefty profit made in the fashion industry.
For the poorer farming families, child labour often is indispensable. Children usually take the cattle to grazing or are required as helpers on the farms. The lack of infrastructure, such as schools and health facilities, diminishes the development potential of children and farming communities. Reliable and fair market access for bioRe® Sustainable Cotton is essential.
Sustainable solutions: investment in infrastructure
The bioRe® Foundation has been investing in sustainable improvements on the living conditions of farming families in India and Tanzania since 1997, e.g. by means of village schools, sanitary facilities, wells and agricultural infrastructure.
The fundamental human rights to health and elementary education are essential prerequisites for self-determination of farming families.
Animation schools are based on these three pillars: school education, vocational training and community-building. In India, we work in close co-operation with village communities, supporting them in building their own schools under the auspices of parents’ associations and the entire communities.
Water is a precious good. In rural Tanzania, women dig for water in dried-up riverbeds. Such water is not clean. Together with farming families, we build village wells to ensure supply of drinking-water throughout the year.
In villages in India, people often live in large families. Many places do not have access to clean and safe toilets. We promote the construction of toilets for farming families, the protection of women and improvements on family hygiene and health.
Focus on fair trading: human rights ensured by organic cotton
bioRe® farmer Bhuwaniram Patidar from the village of Kakadkhodri, India 
Bhuwaniram Patidar with his cattle 
Farmer Shantilal Jair took up organic farming with bioRe® in 2011 
Baya Saganda Hoyanga and his family from the village of Mwamishali, Tanzania 
Theresia Mpanda, bioRe® farmer since 2003, from the village of Ng’hoboko, Tanzania 
Nkinda Ng’abit, bioRe® farmer since 1999, from the village of Ng’hoboko, Tanzania 
Donald Jilyabilu, bioRe® farmers’ representative, Tanzania 
Madanlal Khandelwal, chairman of the bioRe® Association of farmers, India 
Rardtiya Nansingh from the village of Tangiyaplot, India, has been a bioRe® farmer since 2014
No anonymous cotton: our cotton bears the names and the faces of the bioRe® organic farmers.
Participation of organic farmers is the basis for the bioRe® Foundation’s project work. Organic farmers elect their representatives on the decision-making bodies of the bioRe® businesses. The bioRe® Sustainable Cotton Standard promotes reliable and fair market access.
Your donations for sustainable development
Each DONATION supports the activities of the bioRe® Foundation, such as school, water or other social projects, and secures the fundamental human right to a dignified life for the families.
As a MEMBER, CHAMPION OR SUPPORTER of the “Freunde der bioRe® Stiftung” association (Friends of the bioRe® Foundation), you will be part of the organic community.
EVENT donations or CORPORATE sponsorship: we will submit to you an offer perfectly suited to your environmentally and socially aware organisation.
Our impact in Tanzania
Learn more about our projects interactively. Click any of the pins to see what we have done specifically.
Our impact in India
Discover our projects interactively!
