Due to the economic pressure being placed on the cotton fibre by increased use of man-made fibres, the revolution in textile processing technology and the current world surplus, research on the quality and value of cotton has become even more important in recent times. Experts, including breeders and producers, spinners, merchants and manufacturers, who see the marketing challenge in every phase of cotton handling, are calling for changes in the system that evolved in an age before the advanced technology of today was realised.