The title of this discussion has a rather ominous ring to it as far as I am concerned. It suggests a need to make some sort of futuristic predictions about the directions the cotton industry will take over the next decade or two. Unfortunately, history is littered with the bones of predictions gone wrong. People make predictions about the dire consequences of increased population growth, energy shortages or greenhouse effects, and about which horse will win the last race at Doomben on Saturday. At least half of the predictions turn out to be wrong, but that doesn't seem to stop people sticking their necks out. It does suggest, however, that a bit of caution is needed.