7th-9th January 2025, Kozhikode
The National Symposium on Spices and Aromatic Crops (SYMSAC-XI)—Strategies for Smart Production, Product Diversification, and Utilization was organised at ICAR-Indian Institute of Spice Research, Kozhikode, from 7th to 9th January 2025. The event, organized by the Indian Society for Spices (ISS) in collaboration with ICAR, ICAR-IISR, Spices Board, DASD, and ICAR-NRCSS, brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the latest trends and technologies in spice and aromatic crop production.
The Chief Guest, Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Horticultural Science), ICAR, emphasized the need for the adoption of modern technologies in spice cultivation. He urged for the promotion of varieties and technologies developed by ICAR to be adopted by farmers on a large scale while also highlighting the importance of income sustainability and shifting towards carbon-positive practices.
The Guest of Honor, Dr Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General (Flowers, Vegetables, Spices, Medicinal Plants), ICAR, discussed the need to establish benchmarks for developing colorant and nutraceutical varieties from spices. He also emphasized the importance of using advanced tools such as genome editing and artificial intelligence for technological advancements in spice research.
During the inauguration, key publications, including ‘Three Decades of ISS,’ as well as souvenirs and abstracts of the symposium, were released.
The event featured six technical sessions, including a special session on the Western Ghats Kokkam Foundation Lecture. The event showcased 14 lead talks from renowned scientists, along with 31 selected oral presentations and 89 posters. Awards were given for the best oral and poster presentations, along with an overall best award.
A crucial session on ‘Farmers-Scientist-Industry-FPO’ was organized, emphasizing the collaboration between different stakeholders to address the challenges faced by the spice industry. The symposium also delved into cutting-edge technologies such as gene editing, climate-smart agriculture, and safe spice production. An exhibition displaying innovative technologies from various research organizations was also held.
The programme included the establishment of benchmarks for developing nutraceutical and colorant varieties, the use of advanced technologies like genome editing and AI, and a strong emphasis on producing sustainable, chemical-free spices. Other discussions focused on the impact of climate change on spice quality and productivity, the potential of nutraceutical breeding, and the need for comprehensive Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) programmes.
Additionally, the symposium highlighted promising technologies for commercialization, including a rapid detection method for Piper yellow mottle virus, micronutrient-based foliar formulations for small cardamom growth, and innovative approaches to managing diseases in cardamom and fennel.
Overall, the symposium provided a platform for sharing cutting-edge research and technologies that will shape the future of the spice industry while emphasizing the importance of sustainable and climate-smart practices.
Over 150 delegates participated in the symposium.
(Source: Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode)
