Former G20 Sherpa and former CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant inaugurating the 4-day International Spices Conference (ISC 2026) in Kochi.
Former G20 Sherpa and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has called for the spice industry to decisively shift from bulk exports to high value, branded and technology-driven products.
Inaugurating the 4-day International Spices Conference (ISC 2026) here on Monday, he said the sector stands at a critical juncture as global value chains face disruption, regulations become stricter and climate risks increase.
Recalling Kerala’s two-millennium-old spice trade, from Roman ships sailing to Muziris for “black gold” to today’s blockchain-enabled traceability, Kant said India remains the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices, with exports crossing 1.8 million tonnes last year, valued at over $4 billion. “Our history is a reminder of our potential. The next chapter of the global spice story must again be written from India,” he said.
next development phase
He outlined five priorities for the sector: promoting aggressive value addition in formulations, nutraceuticals and branded products; deploying artificial intelligence and data in farming, processing and quality systems; Create climate-resilient agricultural models; Treat sustainability and traceability as a competitive advantage rather than a compliance burden; And put small farmers, who contribute more than 80 percent of spice cultivation, at the center of all policy and market interventions.
Martin Sonntag, CEO of Oterra, spoke on the topic “Shaping the next decade of food and nutrition: collaboration, trust and responsibility”.
The next phase of growth in food and nutrition will be driven by stronger collaboration across the value chain, trust-based compliance ecosystem and responsible practices that deepen consumer trust. As the bar rises globally on safety, sustainability and ethical sourcing, only transparent systems and continuous improvement will maintain trust,” he said.
Emmanuel Nambuasseril, president of All India Spices Exporters Forum, said “preparing for the future” is no longer optional as climate risks are rising, consumer expectations are evolving and regulatory frameworks are increasingly science-driven.
This conference has become one of the world’s most respected platforms for structured, solution-oriented dialogue across the spice value chain. He said the participation this year includes regulatory authorities, exporters, producers, farmers organisations, testing laboratories, certification agencies and allied industries, enabling practical and ground reality based discussions.
Published on February 23, 2026
