The project has developed three practising certified myBMP auditors. There are currently no growers waiting for a certification audit. Seven farms have now reached “Certification Status”, five of which were achieved via this project. Another 15 farms have been audited and at 30th June, 2013 were implementing actions to obtain their “certification status”.

Training has been provided to 10 people who attended a two workshop on myBMP auditing.

This led to many improvements to the myBMP system and the technical capacity of the people responsible for its implementation.

On farm improvements and practice change can been attributed to the myBMP projects in general. However, on farm practice change can also be demonstrated and directly attributed to the auditing process. There is strong evidence that certification process results in on ground grower practice change.

In turn this provides stakeholders confidence that the cotton industry is applying its practices to high standards, to achieve economic, environmental and social outcomes.

The project also participated in all steering committee meetings of the Australian Cotton Industry: Third environmental assessment project. Specifically, this project drafted the cotton industry’s response (64 pages) to the 2nd environmental audit. In addition, the project also reviewed and provided a report on the alignment of the Better Cotton Initiative and my BMP.

The project contributes to industry and community by providing an essential service to the myBMP program. That is, the myBMP audit service and oversight.

For industry, it ensures there is a practical, cost effective team of people capable of undertaking myBMP audit certifications according to industry policy.

For the community: there is strong evidence that certification process results in practice change so that growers achieve best practice. The community has confidence that the cotton industry is applying its practices to high standards, to achieve economic, environmental and social outcomes.

Economic benefits that arise from the project are better farming practices and less risk exposure.

Environmental benefits that arise from the project are increased adoption by growers of farming practices that have positive natural resource management outcomes such as riparian zone management, soil conservation, better water quality etc.

Social benefits include increased knowledge, skills of the human capacity of the industry. A further social outcome is contributing to the social licence to operate.