This research has shown that community beliefs about the future role of cotton in traditional 'cotton communities varies considerably. This will certainly have implications for the cotton industry in realising its vision for the next 20 years, particularly in the contexts of remaining resilient to future challenges, and as a respected part of the communities where the industry operates. Undoubtedly, cotton will remain part of the economic future of these communities, but the drivers and associated consequences identified here will influence the relative contribution cotton makes to the lives and lifestyles of the members of these 'cotton communities'.Perhaps the most telling finding of this research has been the recognition that regional economic diversification can help regional 'cotton communities' to become more resilient - that is, to better weather the environmental, demographic and economic variability and uncertainty that is a constant companion of the Australian farmer. Importantly, farming and non-farming members of cotton communities may have different perceptions of the need for economic diversification (though the distinction is a complex one that can only be partially understood with the minimal data obtained in this research). Cotton farmers have historically adapted to environmental variability and water uncertainty by adopting a flexible farming approach - growing crops as a response to water availability and market price. Members of cotton communities (who aren't directly involved with the cotton industry) have traditionally relied on the economic success of the farmers in their communities as the primary source of local economic contribution, but suffer in poor times. The physical detachment of the non-farming cotton community from the land (the opposite of which often encourages the cotton grower to continue in difficult times) means they are more open to new opportunities that economic diversification prospects like mining and tourism might offer.Importantly, the consequences of environmental, demographic and economic drivers on the cotton community are all closely connected, with the reliance on local agriculture playing a key role in the 'life' and functioning of those cotton communities included in this research project. For example, agricultural efficiency in cotton mechanisation (and also falling water allocations and drought), have reduced the labour intensity of cotton growing in Australia. This in turn reduces the population base of cotton communities, and subsequently the quality of central services (like health and education) that are provided in these places. These changes further reduce the attractiveness of regional areas, and the likelihood that people choose to settle in these locations.Even so, community members who took part in this research generally had strongly positive attitudes to the future of their communities, and felt that cotton would play a central role in the future. This highlights the fact that most rural and regional areas in Australia continue to be dependent on agriculture, which contributes to the social and economic vitality of these communities. As such, visions of the future of the community, particularly of those communities where cotton, and agriculture in general, predominate will closely revolve around the contributions of agriculture and farming people to those communities into the future.