Zizira’s explorers are on a pursuit to discover and create a profitable market for the farmers of Northeast India. It’s fascinating to see the multitude of discoveries on our way as we venture to discover and unleash the potential of Northeast India.
In late February 2016, the Zizira team reached Ahmedabad for the 13th World Spice Congress (WSC) themed 'Target 2020: Clean, Safe and Sustainable Supply Chain”.
World Spice Congress to Pave the Way for High Quality Spices
India, known as the land of spices, welcomed delegates from around the world to brainstorm a sustainable as well as realistic roadmap to address the challenges of spice production across the globe. The Congress covered three key factors:
- Reliability and Integrity: The session commenced with talks on the risk analysis of a supply chain to assure a chain of custody meeting the global standard and demand for quality spices. It aimed at emphasizing the life cycle of spices from the time they are planted and harvested all the way through to retail. The importance and value of a quality brand was reinstated, and using recent case studies, discussions were held around securing quality spices and ensuring zero adulteration, among others.
- Grow with India: Entrepreneurs and spice experts around the world shared their thoughts on the global challenge of growing, procuring and tagging clean and unadulterated spices. As of now, India produces 70% of spices in the world. India is already a dominant player in the world’s oleoresins and essential oil market. To further improve the quality of essential oil extracts, process engineering is adapted to improve the sensory properties of oleoresins and essential oils.
- Crop Analysis: On the third day of the congress, experts provided insights and short reports on black pepper, onion, garlic, seed spices, chillies, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric and other spices.
Download the benefits and uses of the 54 medicinal plants of Meghalaya.
A Joint Venture to Promote Spices
The Spices Board jointly organised the World Spice Congress (WSC) along with the Cochin Hill Produce Merchants’ Association and India Pepper and Spice Trade Association. This congress is held every two years to offer a global platform for discussion and collaboration between importers, exporters and regulators of the spice industry.
India accounts for half of the spices traded globally. From the total spices production in India, 15% is exported, which translates to 48% of spices traded in the world. The current trend of spice and food intake focuses on food safety measures around the world and there has been a growing awareness as well as demand around this. The World Spice Congress showcased multiple events which displayed the wide varieties of spices and spice products.
Speaking on the event, Howard Sklamberg, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said "India is the seventh largest exporter of food to the United States. Spices, rice, and shrimp from India are on the shelves and dining tables in homes throughout America.", "India is a key export partner of the United States with a diverse population and a highly skilled work force. Hence, Indian regulators and manufacturers have become key, strategic partners for FDA", he added.
Team Zizira returned well informed and now we wish to implement our key learnings to open markets for the farmers of Northeast India. We discovered the market availability and the demand for essential oils in the global market.
The need for a pure and chemical free food source with high quality of course! As pointed out by Dr. Jayathilak, Chairman, Spices Board India, "The entire spice industry must be determined to act together to realize the objective of quality spice production".
Zizira will look at the possibility of essential oil extracts from spices and plants grown in Northeast India. We can open a new venture of quality deliverables from the already chemical free produce of the region. Have any question? Add them as comments and we will follow up!