The India Honey Alliance (IHA), in partnership with NIFTEM-K, successfully organized the ‘Hive to Home: Vision 2030 – Building a Scientific & Sustainable Honey Industry’ seminar at the India International Centre. This event supports the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Honey Mission, aiming to strengthen India’s honey value chain through scientific innovation and sustainable practices. The seminar brought together policymakers, scientists, and industry leaders to discuss key issues related to quality assurance, sustainability, and enhancing India’s competitiveness in the global honey market.
The seminar was graced by prominent government officials, including Dr. Subrata Gupta (IAS), Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI); Dr. H.S. Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM-K; Dr. Satyen Panda, Advisor, QA, FSSAI; Dr. Kaushik Banerjee, Director, ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes; Dr. Rajesh R Nair, Deputy Managing Director, NDDB CALF; Dr. Komal Chauhan, Dean Research and Outreach, Head CFRA & CEFF; Sh. Balasubramanian K, Joint Director, Quality Assurance, FSSAI; and Dr. Ranjan Mitra, immediate past President of AOAC International-India Section.
Dr. Subrata Gupta (IAS), Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), described the seminar as “an extremely important event with far-reaching impact” and emphasized the necessity of protecting bees and scientifically training beekeepers to preserve honey authenticity. He highlighted the significance of establishing standards and urged FSSAI to collaborate with NIFTEM and other institutions to develop standards tailored to India’s needs. Dr. Gupta encouraged the India Honey Alliance (IHA) to expand its reach and work towards maintaining India’s position as a leading producer and exporter of honey. He emphasized the pivotal role of scientific advancements in testing methods to uphold global standards and enhance the industry’s credibility, along with the importance of regulatory frameworks in ensuring quality and consumer trust.
The opening session, moderated by Mr. Deepak Jolly, Secretary General of IHA, focused on preparing Indian honey for both global and domestic markets, addressing issues such as honey standards, safety, purity, and the overall state of the Indian honey industry. Esteemed speakers shared their perspectives on strengthening standards and the role of research institutions in building a solid honey ecosystem. Mr. Narayanan Renganathan, Chairperson of IHA, provided insights into industry challenges and collaborative solutions. Dr. Samuel Godefroy, Former Vice Chairperson of FAO/CODEX Alimentarius, joined virtually and stressed the importance of scientific evaluation in regulatory decision-making. He also discussed the ongoing issue of HMF in honey, referring to it as a quality parameter and mentioning the risk assessment study currently underway on HMF levels in honey.
The panel discussion centered on harmonizing standards and testing to ensure quality and safety, addressing critical challenges such as the absence of standardized testing protocols, the need for robust regulatory frameworks, and the necessity of using scientific validation to dispel myths about honey. Leading scientists and experts shared their insights on honey standardization, safety, and sustainability, while industry figures like Mansoor Ali, Vice Chairperson of IHA, and Amit Gupta offered perspectives on strengthening the honey supply chain and expanding market opportunities. Mr. Ed George, a Global Key Opinion Leader, joined virtually from the USA to present and elaborate on the latest advancements in honey testing technology to address emerging challenges.
The key recommendations from the seminar included conducting scientific studies on Indian honey to revise standards and thresholds for certain parameters to improve quality benchmarks and regulatory compliance. There was also a focus on enhancing consumer awareness, developing advanced training systems for beekeepers to boost productivity, sustainability, and innovation in beekeeping practices. Experts agreed that maintaining honey’s purity and authenticity requires a collaborative effort from policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders.
In concluding the discussion, Mr. Narayanan Renganathan, Chairperson of IHA, emphasized that ensuring trust in honey quality is a collective responsibility across the entire ecosystem. He reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration, research-driven policies, and consumer awareness in positioning India as a global leader in high-quality, sustainable honey production.