The World Spice Organisation will host the two-day conference in Jaipur this month, bringing together stakeholders to discuss food safety, sustainability, farmer incomes and market access
The World Spice Organisation (WSO), the not-for-profit technical partner of the All-India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF), will host the fifth edition of the National Spice Conference (NSC) on 19-20 September 2026 at the Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre, Rajasthan.
Held under the theme “Empowering Farmers, Protecting Consumers,” the two-day conference aims to bring together farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), processors, exporters, regulators, researchers and technology providers to address the evolving challenges facing India’s spice industry.
The conference will focus on improving farmer incomes, strengthening food safety standards, promoting sustainable and responsible sourcing, and expanding market access for farmers and FPOs.
Industry Leaders To Participate
The inaugural session will feature Ramkumar Menon, Chairman of WSO, Dr Ashok Dalwai, Chairman of the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission and former Chairman of the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income, MS Manivannan IAS, Secretary of the Spices Board, Manju Rajpal IAS, Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Horticulture Department, Government of Rajasthan, and Ganapathy K D, Business Committee Chairman, NSC 2026.
Abhishek Dev, IAS, Chairman of APEDA, will deliver the keynote address on the second day of the event.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Ramkumar Menon said the event would provide a platform for stakeholders across the spice value chain to address issues affecting both farmers and consumers.
He said the focus on farmer empowerment and consumer protection reflected the need to strengthen food safety, sustainability and market linkages while helping farmers adapt to changing market requirements.
Focus On Food Safety And Sustainability
The first day of the conference will include discussions on farmer empowerment, income growth, sustainability, responsible sourcing, food safety, innovation and crop outlook.
Sessions will examine topics such as pesticide residues, sustainable farming practices, farm-level innovation, processing technologies and challenges faced by farmers and FPOs.
The second day will focus on changing regulations in organic farming and certification, the role of FPOs in consumer protection and food safety, and buyer requirements. The event will conclude with a dedicated Buyer-Seller Meet aimed at creating new business opportunities and strengthening market linkages.
Technology And Traceability In Spotlight
The conference will also showcase innovations across the spice ecosystem, including digital traceability, post-harvest infrastructure, testing and processing solutions, farm technologies, warehousing and financing models.
India’s spice sector is facing increasing scrutiny over food safety standards, sustainability requirements and the demand for traceable, quality-assured products. Organisers said NSC 2026 would provide a collaborative platform to address these challenges and explore solutions for a safer and more market-ready spice industry.
Launched in 2022, the National Spice Conference has grown into a significant platform for the sector. The 2025 edition attracted 485 delegates, while more than half of participants in previous editions represented FPOs, underlining the conference’s focus on improving market access and growth opportunities for farmers.
