National Symposium on Spices and Aromatic Crops SYMSAC X-2021

The SYMSAC X was earlier scheduled during 6 to 9 May 2020 at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala, but was postponed due to Covid 19 pandemic. The symposium was held during 09-12 February 2021 on virtual mode. The latest developments in the field, either basic or applied, were presented and discussed at the symposium. Each technical session has lead papers (invited) and contributory papers (oral and poster).

Spices and aromatic herbs have been used since antiquity as preservatives, colorants, and flavor enhancers. Spices are key dietary ingredients used in cuisines across the world. They have long been the basis of traditional medicine in many countries, have also been the subject of study, particularly by the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries, because of their potential use for improving health and wellness.

Global spice trade has been continuously increasing in the previous three decades, both in terms of volume and value. Though the definition of spice trade offers scope diverse interpretations, the global spice trade is estimated to be more than 50 billion USD at present. This includes spices and the spice extracts like spice oils and oleoresins, which are finding ever increasing applications across pharmaceutical and wellness industry. The current global spice market is characterised by highly concentrated nature of supply and diversified demand.