Lucknow: The 6th Uttar Pradesh Spices Conference & Expo 2026 was held at Udyan Bhawan, Lucknow, on October 3, bringing together senior government officials, policymakers, scientists, spice manufacturers, exporters, farmers, FPOs and industry experts to discuss the future of Uttar Pradesh’s spice economy. The conference was organised by the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), with 3EA Global as its Knowledge Partner.

The discussions took place against the backdrop of India’s strong presence in the global spice trade. According to the Spices Board, India exported 17.34 lakh tonnes of spices and spice products valued at ₹39,140.11 crore, or US$4.43 billion, during 2025–26. In the previous year, 2024–25, exports had reached an all-time high of 17.99 lakh tonnes valued at ₹39,994.48 crore. Chilli accounted for 27% of export earnings in 2025–26, while cumin and spice oils and oleoresins contributed 12% each.

The conference focused on how Uttar Pradesh could capture a larger share of this economic opportunity through modern cultivation practices, technology adoption, processing, quality assurance, market intelligence and value addition, rather than concentrating only on increasing production.

The inaugural session was attended by Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Horticulture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with senior government and industry representatives including Shri B.L. Meena, ACS, Department of Horticulture & Food Processing; Shri Raj Kamal Yadav, IAS, Special Secretary; Shri Bhanu Prakash Ram, Director of Horticulture; Shri Mukesh Bahadur Singh, IACC/ICFA; representatives of the Spices Board; scientists and industry leaders.

A key strategic perspective was presented by Dr. Vibhor Mishra , CEO of 3EA Global, who highlighted the need to evaluate the spice sector not merely by production volumes but by the economic value generated per kilogram, per hectare and across the entire value chain.

The data, he noted, showed why value addition had become increasingly important. During 2025–26, spice oils and oleoresins alone contributed 12% of India’s total spice export earnings, while curry powders and pastes accounted for another 6%. The Indian spice export basket covered 225 spices and spice products and reached more than 180 destinations globally, demonstrating the opportunity to move beyond raw commodities towards processed ingredients, blends, extracts and branded products.

Speakers also deliberated on the role of technology in improving crop planning, productivity, post-harvest management, quality compliance and market access. Technical sessions featured representatives from Adani Spices, Rakesh Masala, MDH, Goldiee Spices, CIMAP, BBAU, the Horticulture Department and the Food Processing Department, among other institutions.

The importance of quality and export readiness was another major theme. India’s spice sector has increasingly been required to respond to stringent international standards relating to residues, food safety, consistency and traceability. The discussions underlined that quality assurance needed to begin at the farm level and continue through processing, testing, packaging and logistics.

As Knowledge Partner, 3EA Global brought a strategy-led framework to the discussions, emphasising the integration of farmer knowledge, scientific research, data intelligence, processing capacity, standards, finance and markets. The underlying message was that these elements needed to work as one economic ecosystem rather than as isolated parts of the supply chain.

The conference included two technical sessions and a concluding session involving experts from CARD, the Spices Board, NBRI, CISH, RFRAC and the Department of Horticulture, followed by a cooking competition involving Lucknow chefs.

The conference concluded with a clear strategic direction for the sector: to move from volume to value, from raw commodities to value-added products, from fragmented information to data-driven decisions, and from production leadership towards stronger value-chain and market leadership.