Artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies play a vital role in monitoring, verifying, and documenting the quality and journey of medicinal plants from the farm to the entire supply chain, according to experts from the Ministry of Ayush. The experts, including representatives from the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), highlighted this at a national seminar held at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The event aimed to focus on India’s medicinal plant sector, ensuring quality, traceability, and standardization of raw materials at the farm gate.
Prof. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Dadhich, CEO of NMPB, and Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, Director of ITRA, stressed the importance of integrating innovation, regulation, and traditional knowledge to enhance global confidence in Indian medicinal plant raw materials. The seminar gathered policymakers, scientists, technologists, industry leaders, and researchers to discuss strengthening farm-gate quality systems as a basis for the sustainable growth and global competitiveness of India’s Ayush and medicinal plant ecosystem. Technical sessions explored the entire medicinal plant value chain, covering sustainable cultivation, regenerative agriculture, AI-enabled quality assessment, digital traceability, and supply-chain integration.
Experts from various organizations such as 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 underscored India’s readiness to adopt AI-based diagnostics, digital phenotyping, and integrated quality frameworks, enhancing the credibility of Indian medicinal plant raw materials in both domestic and international markets. The seminar also highlighted the fusion of traditional knowledge systems like Vriksha Ayurveda with modern quality-control frameworks, showcasing how India’s heritage can be scientifically validated and digitized to bolster global acceptance. Capacity building was a key focus, with participants exposed to advanced tools, standards, and evolving policy directions.
