India is a major player in Spices commodities and within the ambit of the spice industry comes the segment of value-added spices including Spice extracts. The industry survived the downturn of 2008 and seems to be least affected by the same, endorses renowned food technologist Mathew Attokaran.
Mathew Attokaran (formerly A.G.Mathew) is the Technical Director of Plant Lipids which is a major producer of Essential Oils, Spice Oleoresins and Natural Food Colours.
He has an illustrious career behind him: A doctorate in Food & Flavour Chemistry, he has carried out research in food science and technology in CFTRI (Central Food Technology Research Institute) Mysore and RRL (Regional Research Laboratory), Thiruvananthapuram. He has juggled many a hat with the United Nations agencies like FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation), UNIDO (The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) and International Trade Centre of the UN and has also worked for WTO (World Trade Organisation).
Two books to his credit, his latest—Natural Food Flavors and Colorants—has been published by Wiley-Blackwell.
In a chat with Rakesh Neelakandan of Commodity Online, he asserted that India is a world superpower in oleoresins.
Excerpts from the interview:
Commodity Online: Global recession is known to have affected the food industry in the developed markets as the consumption patterns have changed there; including in the ready-to-eat segment. How this has affected markets for essential oils, spice oleoresins and natural food colours?
Mathew Attokaran: Food industry was least affected by the downturn; in fact there were reports that the industry managed to gain some growth during the phase. This has happened in earlier recessions too.
After all, people may trim some of their luxuries in the course of recession. They may postpone certain purchase decisions of consumer durables like television. But when it comes to food, people may not be that adamant. After all you should have some amount of luxury!
Secondly, flavours are added in small quantities in food items. So their contribution to food cost is not of a big degree.
That said, we experienced a slight setback initially. But, with overseas importers finding the initial crunch in demand waning, opted to airlift certain oleoresins, later into the months!
CO: How the boom in the BRICS nations has helped your business?
MA: Twenty years back, US was the main market for spice extracts, along with Western Europe—especially Germany, France and England—as well as Japan, South Korea and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand). But in the last 10 years, South America (Brazil), East Europe (Russia) and Asia (India, China) also has good market for extracts.
This is an encouraging trend, because we are also seeing demand from Argentina and certain other Latin American countries gaining momentum. The trend is also visible in Thailand, Indonesia etc.
CO: Artificial flavours, if used according to scientific guidance are harmless. Given they are relatively cheap, how does your industry work out the economics?
MA: ‘Natural’ has become very important. Supply shortages exist for natural extracts. But there is a craze for things that are natural. The market for artificial flavours may disappear as years pass by and can become feeble.
CO: Post FSSA how the Indian value-added spice industry perceived in foreign nations; especially US and Europe?
MA: With the FSSA (Food Safety and Standards Authority) coming into being, we expect to get better quality raw materials from growers. Regarding the perception, I think, yes, India would be seen in a better light.
CO: There are many players in the industry of value added spices in India. How innovative is this industry? Where does Plant Lipids stand in terms of innovation?
MA: I would say 90% of the global spice extract business is located in India. Our nation is a world superpower when it comes to oleoresins. China is giving us some competition and is a potential threat, but the climatic conditions favour us buy a huge degree.
This super power status has a backbone in advanced research carried out by CFTRI and RRL.
For instance, there are other countries like Indonesia and Vietnam where spices are grown. But why are those nations lagging in this arena? It is the absence of research that hampers them...
But in the arena of citrus flavours (added in cool drinks), the nation lags behind. It has to be noted that the entire citrus oil industry is bigger than spice extraction industry.
In case of other beverage flavours too, India has a long way to go.
CO: What are the major challenges that you have faced in research and industry?
MA: We find it challenging to deal with pesticide residues in extraction. Growers are now increasingly aware of the presence of pesticides in spices; thanks to the efforts of Spices Board. After all, challenges make your day...
As published in: http://www.commodityonline.com/news/India-is-a-superpower-in-oils--spices-oleoresins-Mathew-Attokaran-39982-3-1.html
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