The spice industry should definitely shift from bulk exports to high-value, branded and technological products, Amitabh Kant, former G20 sherpa and former director general of NITI Aayog, said here on Monday.
Inaugurating the four-day International Spice Conference (ISC 2026) organized by the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), Mr Kant said the sector is at a critical juncture as global value chains face disruption, regulations tighten and climate risks intensify.
He outlined five priorities for the industry: pursue aggressive value addition to compounding, nutraceuticals and branded products; deploy artificial intelligence and data across cultivation, processing and quality systems; build climate-resilient farming models; view sustainability and traceability as competitive advantages rather than compliance burdens; and place smallholder farmers, who are involved in the cultivation of more than 80% of spices, at the center of all policy and market interventions.
He said India remained the world’s largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices with exports exceeding 1.8 million tonnes worth over $4 billion last year.
“Our history is a reminder of our potential. The next chapter of the global spice story must again be written from India,” he said. More than 1,000 delegates from more than 30 countries are participating in the meeting.
Published – 23 Feb 2026 21:16 IST
