The tea industry called for a focus on innovation

Ajoy Thipiah, UPASI President, addressed the valedictorians of the UPASI TRF Centenary Conference at Coonoor on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SATHYAMOORTHY M.

The future of India’s tea sector will not be defined by the volume of tea produced, but by how innovative the sector will be, Ajoy Thipaiah, Chairman of the United Planters Association of South India (UPASI) and Managing Trustee of the UPASI Tea Research Foundation (TRF), said on Tuesday.

On the valedictory of the UPASI centenary conference, TRF said the sessions held on Tuesday under the conference were on four main themes – science, technology, sustainability and cooperation. No single institution or stakeholder can address the challenges in the tea sector alone in the future. There should be stronger partnerships between industry, policy makers, researchers, growers and technology producers. The next 100 years of tea will depend on the commitment of all parties involved, he added.

Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Commerce released UPASI TRF Medicinal Compounds. Bengaluru University of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences and Technology and UPASI TRF identified eight medicinal herbs suitable for cultivation and blending in South Indian tea growing regions.

Nimal Udugampola, chairman of the Asia Tea Alliance, said the future of Asian tea should focus on regenerative agriculture, lower emissions, scientific collaboration and smallholder orientation. “We should be asking what is the real value we are creating with each kilogram of tea and how much is going to the grower,” he said.

According to Suneel S. Sikand, Chairman of the Indian Tea Association, the northern and southern tea sectors are not two different industries. Both share the same challenges, market, pests and crops. The regulatory framework should reflect the reality on the ground, he said.

Cherian M. George, Chairperson of the UPASI Tea Committee, summarized the day-long proceedings held over four technical sessions. “We will move forward, capture them, create a task force and how we can implement (the proposals),” he said.

Nishat S. Haque, Deputy Director General – Laboratories, Bureau of Indian Standards also spoke.

Published – 22 Sep 2026 20:25 IST