Sustainability, traceability and stricter food safety standards are becoming key factors in determining competitiveness in the global spice trade, experts said at a seminar on “Sustainable Spice Value Chains” held at Le Méridien Kochi.
The seminar was organised by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for South India in association with the World Spice Organisation and brought together exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), sustainability experts and government representatives.
Inaugurating the event, Ewout de Wit highlighted the need for stronger traceability, certification and quality assurance systems to meet evolving global standards. He also stressed the importance of fair wages, women’s participation and empowering small-holder farmers to ensure inclusive sustainability in the spice sector.
B. N. Jha said India exports more than 250 varieties of spices and value-added products to over 180 countries and continues to see strong growth potential in the European market. He noted that the Spices Board India has been promoting Good Agricultural Practices, scientific crop management and farmer-capacity building programmes to improve sustainability and food safety compliance.
A major focus of the seminar was the changing European regulatory environment and its impact on Indian spice exports. Warner Uiterwijk from the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) said European consumers are increasingly demanding sustainably sourced, traceable and high-quality products.
He added that Indian exporters investing early in compliance, transparency and sustainability would be better positioned to strengthen their presence in Europe.
Marion van Schaik said stronger collaboration between farmers, companies, universities and research institutions would be crucial for building resilient agricultural value chains. She also highlighted soil health and knowledge-sharing as key focus areas.
Ramkumar Menon said international buyers are increasingly looking beyond product quality and focusing on transparency, environmental impact and reliable traceability systems. He stressed the need for Indian exporters and farmer groups to improve institutional capacity and digital traceability.
Meanwhile, Muralidhara Menon presented the progress of the National Sustainable Spices Program (NSSP), launched in 2019. The initiative currently covers chilli, cumin, coriander, turmeric and pepper cultivation across multiple states with the participation of more than 35,000 farmers.
The seminar also featured technical presentations and a roundtable discussion on strengthening sustainability, resilience and market access across the spice value chain.
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