Lucknow: The sixth Uttar Pradesh Spices Conference and Expo 2026 was held at Udyan Bhawan, Lucknow, bringing together government officials, policymakers, scientists, spice traders, exporters, farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and industry experts to explore opportunities for strengthening the state’s spice economy.
Organised by the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), with 3EA Global as the knowledge partner, the conference focused on value addition, technological innovation, quality standards and expanding global market access.
Addressing the inaugural session, Uttar Pradesh Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh said the state leads the country in horticultural production, with an annual output of 40 million tonnes. He emphasised the importance of spice cultivation in agricultural diversification, noting that it can generate higher returns from limited land.
The minister stressed the need to eliminate adulteration to strengthen the credibility of Uttar Pradesh’s products in international markets. He also highlighted government subsidies of 35 to 50 per cent for setting up food processing units, encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in value addition. He urged spice industry stakeholders to source raw materials directly from farmers to promote self-reliance.
Singh also announced that dedicated space would be allocated for organic products and spices at the newly developed Agri Mall in Lucknow, enabling consumers to access certified and quality products.
According to Spices Board data presented at the conference, India exported 1.734 million tonnes of spices worth ₹39,140.11 crore (US$4.43 billion) in 2025-26, underlining the sector’s significant global potential.
Dr Vibhore Mishra, CEO of 3EA Global, said the spice industry’s success should be measured not merely by production volumes but by the economic value generated per kilogram and per hectare. He emphasised shifting towards processed ingredients, spice oils, oleoresins and branded products to enhance profitability and competitiveness.
Technical sessions featured representatives from Adani Spices, Rakesh Masala, MDH, Goldiee Spices, CSIR-CIMAP and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU). Experts highlighted the importance of international quality standards, food safety and traceability throughout the supply chain, from cultivation and processing to packaging and logistics.
The conference concluded with a cooking competition featuring Lucknow-based chefs and a call for the state’s spice industry to prioritise value addition, data-driven decision-making and stronger market leadership to expand its domestic and international presence.
