The World Spice Organisation (WSO), the not-for-profit technical partner of All India Spices Exporters Forum committed to advancing food safety and sustainability within the spice industry, has successfully concluded the third edition of the National Spice Conference (NSC) 2024. Held in Ahmedabad, the event drew many delegates, showcasing robust participation from diverse stakeholders across the spice sector.
This year’s conference, themed “Sustainable Spices Supply Chain – Way Forward,” focused on enhancing the resilience of the supply chain through sustainable practices, with an emphasis on quality assurance, new technologies, and opportunities for farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) to access new markets. The conference was attended by FSSAI, Spice Board, Central Insecticide Board – Registration Committee (Ministry of Agriculture), National Research Organizations such as IISR, and senior executives from leading spice-related firms.
Highlighting the spice industry’s growth and future during the conference, P Hemalatha IAS, secretary of the Spices Board, said, “Indian spice industry is equipped to meet the global demands and contributes to 25% of the international spice trade. However, with the increasing awareness of food safety and quality in the global markets, one of the major challenges the Indian spice sector will face is maintaining the exportable surplus of the major spices that conform to the stringent regulations.”
Commenting on the conference’s vision, Ramkumar Menon, chairman of the World Spice Organisation, said, “The World Spice Organisation remains steadfast in its commitment to building a sustainable future for the spice industry. The National Spice Conference provides a platform to unite the industry’s many players to foster innovation, sustainability, and food safety. We envision a future where sustainable practices ensure high-quality spices, benefiting farmers and meeting global standards.”
Archana Sinha, secretary of the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee said, “It is crucial to develop policies that benefit the farmers, industry, and consumers alike. CIB-RC has taken steps to help register more pesticides and establish more Maximum Residue Limits for pesticides through crop-grouping, rationalization of registration guidelines, and ease of registration of new and safer pesticide molecules.”
The first day of the conference witnessed a series of sessions focused on building a food-safe and sustainable supply chain, covering topics such as quality assurance, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable agricultural practices. Industry experts discussed strategies to enhance spice yield, maintain quality, and incorporate technology, all aimed at securing a resilient supply chain. Notably, the sessions provided insights from farmer groups and FPOs, enabling a valuable exchange of practical experiences and innovations for the benefit of small-scale farmers.
On the second day, sessions highlighted the latest industry trends, an update from the spice crop farmers on their crops, and offered an exclusive marketing forum connecting producers and processors through a structured farmer-buyer interface.
In a session on integrating technology into agricultural practices, Amandeep Panwar, CEO of Bharat Rohan Airborne Innovations shared insights on how advanced technologies are being adapted to local farming conditions to increase productivity while minimizing environmental impact. These discussions provided a comprehensive perspective on the advancements reshaping the spice sector.
The conference was attended by various farmer producer organizations (FPOs) and NGOs, representing over 35,000 farmers linked to the National Sustainable Spice Programme (NSSP), a flagship initiative by WSO that promotes food-safe and sustainable spice cultivation practices and provides market access support for farmer groups.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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