Adapting to Challenges of Change in the Global Spice Industry: Dialogue at the 4th International Spice Conference at Hyderabad

31 Jan, 2019

Private Business Action for Biodiversity (PBAB) project joined hands with All India Spices Export Forum as Biodiversity partner for the 4th International Spice Conference (ISC), held in Hyderabad from 27th to 31st January 2019.

The fourth edition of the conference was organised in Hyderabad; the capital of Telangana, India. The theme for the conference was ‘Challenges of Change, Redefining the Value Chain’. PBAB partnered with AISEF as the biodiversity partner and presented the planned actions to mainstream biodiversity and integrate the Biodiversity Action Plan in the spice supply chain.

There are significant challenges the spice industry foresees, from changing consumer needs, impact of digital advancements on transforming business, distribution, and most importantly, the way governments enforce all these changes. The intent of the conference was to look at these changes and challenges and see how the industry can adapt its value chain to not just survive, but also flourish.

ISC 2019 saw an overwhelming response, with nearly 900 delegates from across 40 nationalities, 45 speakers and more than 70 exhibitors. It started on 28th January, with an inaugural session by Dr. M K Shanmuga Sundaram, Secretary, Spices Board of India. He explained how the Indian spice sector is adapting to challenges of change. The sessions on the second day focused on unravelling the different facets of the theme of the conference— ‘Challenges of Change in Global Spice Industry’. The main topics of discussions were the challenges of sustainability, for balancing the planet, people and profits. The third day of the conference focused on ‘Redefining the Value Chain with a focus on impact of emerging digital technologies and farm technologies on spice value chain’. Audio visual presentations on ‘crops and market’ as well challenges of regulatory changes in the global spice sector were exhibited on the fourth day of the conference.