Abstract
A production system based on cotton and cereals has been developed in Mali within a frame of an integrated supply chain securing the socio-economic environment. For three decades, the deep transformation of the rural structures in the Malian cotton belt has been considered as a success in terms of development. But, looked under the light of sustainable development, this model showed economic, social and ecological flaws which increased and became obvious in the recent years when the price of cotton went down on the world markets. Nevertheless, the current supply chain reforms are far from being flawless, and do not seem to provide alternatives in terms of sustainability.