Lucknow: A high-level scientist–industry dialogue on Aroma 4.0 was held on Wednesday at the CSIR–Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP) under the CSIR Aroma Mission, aiming to strengthen coordination between science, industry, and policy for accelerated growth of India’s fragrance and essential oils sector.
The meeting brought together leading scientists, directors of participating CSIR laboratories, policy experts, and representatives of major fragrance and flavor companies. The key objectives were to fast-track technology deployment under Aroma 4.0, enhance science–industry collaboration, and deliberate on challenges arising from climate change and evolving global markets.
Focus on National Impact and Integrated Value Chains
The programme began with a ceremonial lamp lighting by Dr Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP; Dr Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Director, CSIR-IHBT; Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director, CSIR-NBRI; Dr S.P. Singh, Director, National Productivity Council; Dr Alok Kalra; Yogesh Dubey, Chairman, Fragrance and Flavour Association of India; Phool Prakash, Chairman, Mint Manufacturers Export Association; and senior representatives from fragrance, flavour, and allied industries.
In his inaugural address, Dr Prabodh Kumar Trivedi described Aroma 4.0 as a decisive shift from research outputs to national-level impact, integrating farmers, industry, and scientific institutions into a unified value chain. He emphasized increasing production volumes, ensuring quality consistency, traceability, and global market acceptance of essential oils, while assuring industry stakeholders of customized technologies, technical guidance, and scale-up support.
Climate-Resilient Crops and Biodiversity-Based Research
Dr Sudesh Kumar Yadav highlighted the importance of developing climate-resilient and sustainable aromatic crops, while Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany stressed the need to link plant science and biodiversity-driven research more closely with industry requirements. Dr V.M. Tiwari underlined the immense potential of aromatic crops in Northeast India.
Dr S.P. Singh, Director, National Productivity Council, emphasized connecting the fragrance sector with MSME development, productivity enhancement, and rural employment, calling for greater focus on standardization and process efficiency.
Dr R.K. Srivastava showcased CSIR-CIMAP’s aroma-based technologies, while Dr Sanjay Kumar presented an overview of the achievements and future priorities of the CSIR Aroma Mission.
Industry Calls for Long-Term Collaboration
During the interactive session, leading industry representatives including Yogesh Dubey (FAFAI), Phool Prakash (EOAI), Vaibhav Agrawal (Norex Flavours Pvt Ltd), Gaurav Mittal (Aromatic and Allied Chemicals Pvt Ltd), Amit Tripathi (GIZ), Akhilesh Gupta (Herbochem Pvt Ltd), Maninder Singh Yadav (Yathavat Aromatics), and Jatin Mehto from the synthetic fragrance sector shared their perspectives.
Industry participants stressed the need for long-term science–industry partnerships and recommended focused attention on globally demanded crops such as rosemary, patchouli, geranium, palmarosa, citronella, rose, chamomile, and davana. They also highlighted key challenges including climate change adaptation, demand-driven varietal development, balance between natural and synthetic aroma molecules, quality standardization, certification, traceability, and market alignment.
Industry leaders assured active collaboration with CSIR institutions to drive innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness in the sector.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Dr Alok Kalra, followed by a vote of thanks and the National Anthem. The Aroma 4.0 dialogue marked a significant step toward positioning India as a global leader in sustainable fragrance and essential oil production, reinforcing the role of science-led innovation in rural development and industrial growth.
