US-based crop-evolution company Avalo has appointed textile innovation expert Tricia Carey as Chief Commercial Officer to lead the market introduction of its new low-input cotton. Known for advancing sustainable fibres like Tencel and promoting circularity at Renewcell, Carey brings over two decades of experience in scaling environmentally focused textile technologies.

Her appointment comes as Avalo accelerates its cotton programme in the Texas Panhandle. For the past two years, the company has collaborated with local cotton growers to develop a regionally adapted variety that requires no irrigation and uses up to 30 per cent less fertilizer. This variety not only lowers input costs but also reduces environmental impact, offering a sustainable solution for Texas’s water-stressed, high-cost agricultural sector.

Starting this harvest season, Carey will spearhead efforts to bring this “high-quality, low-carbon footprint” cotton to global markets. The initiative aims to help brands tackle rising input costs and scope 3 emissions by offering a more sustainable raw material. Avalo CEO Brendan Collins praised Carey’s industry-shaping work, calling her a strategic leader with deep supply chain expertise.

Beyond cotton, Avalo is expanding its machine-learning powered crop development platform into other essential commodities. The company has already partnered with CocaCola Europacific Partners for innovation in sugarcane and is making progress in rubber, rice, and other climate-vulnerable crops.

Commenting on her new role, Carey said she was excited to join a mission-driven team working at the intersection of agriculture, technology, and textiles. “Avalo’s platform enables faster and more sustainable product development while supporting farmers at the core of agriculture,” she noted. “It’s an incredible opportunity to help reshape the future of farming.”