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AI to Boost India's Medicinal Plant Quality & Global Traceability from Farm Gate

Experts at a national seminar at IIT Delhi emphasized that artificial intelligence is crucial for monitoring and verifying the quality of medicinal plants right from the farm gate. The event focused on strengthening quality systems through AI-enabled diagnostics, digital phenotyping, and integrated traceability frameworks. It highlighted India's readiness to adopt these technologies to boost the global competitiveness of its Ayush and medicinal plant sector. The integration of traditional knowledge like Vriksha Ayurveda with modern scientific validation was also a key discussion point for enhancing global acceptance.

Key Points: AI, Tech to Boost India's Medicinal Plant Supply Chain Quality

  • AI for farm-gate quality assessment
  • Digital traceability in supply chain
  • Integrating traditional & modern knowledge
  • Building global market credibility
2 min read

AI-enabled farm-gate quality, traceability to boost India's medicinal plant supply chain

Experts from Ayush Ministry & NMPB highlight AI's role in farm-gate quality, traceability, and global acceptance of India's medicinal plants.

"integrate innovation, regulation, and traditional knowledge to build global confidence - Prof. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Dadhich & Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari"

New Delhi, Jan 12

Artificial intelligence and related technologies are crucial to monitor, verify, and document the quality and journey of medicinal plants right from the farm through the entire supply chain, said experts from the Ministry of Ayush.

The experts, including those from the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), were speaking at a two-day national seminar on "Design and Development of Tools for Quality Assessment of Medicinal Plants at Farm Gates" at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

The event brought national focus to India's medicinal plant sector, assured quality, traceability, and standardisation of raw materials at the point of origin.

Prof. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Dadhich, Chief Executive Officer, NMPB, and Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, Director, ITRA, emphasised the need to integrate innovation, regulation, and traditional knowledge to build global confidence in Indian medicinal plant raw materials.

The seminar convened policymakers, scientists, technologists, industry leaders, and researchers to deliberate on strengthening farm-gate quality systems as a foundation for the sustainable growth and global competitiveness of India's Ayush and medicinal plant ecosystem.

Technical sessions examined the entire medicinal plant value chain -- from sustainable cultivation and regenerative agriculture to AI-enabled quality assessment, digital traceability, and supply-chain integration.

Experts from ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), IIT Delhi, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Ayush, and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) shared evidence-based insights and field experiences.

The discussions highlighted that India is both technically and institutionally prepared to adopt AI-based diagnostics, digital phenotyping, and integrated quality frameworks, reinforcing the credibility of Indian medicinal plant raw materials in domestic as well as international markets.

The seminar also highlighted the integration of traditional knowledge systems such as Vriksha Ayurveda with modern quality-control frameworks. It demonstrated how India's heritage can be scientifically validated and digitised to strengthen global acceptance. Strong emphasis was placed on capacity building, with participants gaining exposure to advanced tools, standards, and evolving policy directions.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally! A much-needed step. The quality of raw herbs varies so much from seller to seller. If AI can standardize this at the source, it will help genuine farmers get better prices and ensure patients get effective medicine.
A
Arjun K
Great to see IIT Delhi and Ayush Ministry collaborating. The integration of Vriksha Ayurveda with modern tech is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Hope this gets implemented on the ground quickly and doesn't just remain a seminar topic.
S
Sarah B
As someone interested in sustainable agriculture, this is promising. Traceability from farm to consumer is crucial for ethical sourcing and regenerative practices. Hope this boosts exports and gives Indian medicinal plants a strong global brand.
V
Vikram M
A respectful criticism: While the plan sounds excellent, the key will be making this technology affordable and accessible for our small and marginal farmers. The seminar had experts, but were any actual farmers consulted? The solution must work for them.
K
Kavya N
This is the way forward! Digitizing traditional knowledge will preserve it for future generations and prove its efficacy to the world. Bharat's ancient wisdom combined with cutting-edge tech can make us a global leader in wellness. 🇮🇳

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