THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, JANUARY 12, 2026
India’s
medicinal plant sector is poised for a technology-led transformation as experts
from leading Ministry of Ayush institutions called for the adoption of
artificial intelligence and digital traceability systems to strengthen quality
assurance right at the farm gate. The push came during a two-day National
Seminar on “Design and Development of Tools for Quality Assessment of Medicinal
Plants at Farm Gates,” held on January 8–9 at the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Delhi, which brought national attention to the urgent need for
standardisation, traceability and quality verification at the point of origin.
Organised with
a sharp focus on improving the reliability of raw materials entering the Ayush
value chain, the seminar convened policymakers, scientists, technologists,
industry leaders and researchers to chart a future-ready roadmap for India’s
medicinal plant supply ecosystem. Participants underlined that building quality
at the farm gate is fundamental to ensuring sustainability, farmer empowerment
and global competitiveness.
The seminar
was inaugurated with keynote addresses by Prof. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Dadhich, Chief
Executive Officer of the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB), and Prof. Dr.
Tanuja Nesari, Director of the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda
(ITRA). Their remarks framed the national policy and scientific imperative for
quality-driven growth, stressing the integration of innovation, regulation and
traditional knowledge to enhance global confidence in Indian medicinal plant
raw materials.
Technical
sessions on the first day examined the entire value chain, from sustainable
cultivation and regenerative agricultural practices to AI-enabled quality
assessment, digital phenotyping and end-to-end supply-chain integration.
Experts from ICAR–Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research
(DMAPR), IIT Delhi, the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Ayush, the
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, and industry players such
as Himalaya Wellness and Herbalscape Crops shared field-based evidence and
global perspectives.
Deliberations
highlighted that India is both technically and institutionally ready to deploy
AI-based diagnostics and integrated digital quality frameworks, a move seen as
critical to enhancing the credibility of Indian medicinal plant materials in
domestic and international markets. The second day focused on future planning
through structured brainstorming sessions on integrating artificial
intelligence in the medicinal plant industry and leveraging blockchain
technology for transparency and traceability across supply chains.
A strong
consensus emerged that digital tools at the farm gate — including portable
quality-testing devices, AI-driven decision-support systems and
blockchain-enabled traceability platforms — are no longer optional but
essential. Experts agreed these technologies are vital to ensuring
authenticity, safety and compliance with global pharmacopoeial and export
standards.
The seminar
delivered clear, actionable outcomes aligned with the objectives of NMPB and
the Ministry of Ayush, enabling rare convergence among policy institutions,
scientific bodies, industry stakeholders and global health organisations.
Participants unanimously stressed that quality must be embedded at the point of
origin, directly supporting NMPB’s mandate to empower primary producers and collectors
while reducing adulteration, variability and farmer losses.
Significant
emphasis was also placed on integrating traditional knowledge systems such as
Vriksha Ayurveda with modern quality-control frameworks, demonstrating how
India’s heritage can be scientifically validated and digitised to strengthen
global acceptance. Capacity building emerged as a key theme, with participants
gaining exposure to advanced tools, evolving standards and policy directions.
The
deliberations laid a robust foundation for developing a national framework for
AI-enabled, traceable and standardised medicinal plant supply chains. The
outcomes align closely with the national priorities of Atmanirbhar Bharat and
Make in India, reinforcing India’s leadership ambitions in the global Ayush and
herbal products market. Experts strongly underscored the need for sustained
support for pilot projects, technology deployment and farmer-level capacity
building under NMPB initiatives, positioning farm-gate quality as a cornerstone
of India’s medicinal plant economy.
