Dr. Arvind Saklani, Vice President, Agri Biotechnology, delivered a lecture at the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad, on “Supply chain and sustainable procurement of quality-assured raw material” in a National Seminar on "Drug Development in Traditional Medicine," held this month.

In his keynote speech, Dr. Saklani discussed ways the AYUSH and nutraceutical industries can guarantee a sustained supply of high-quality raw materials and critical volumes to the sector by establishing a robust supply chain. He emphasized that the sector should focus on reducing pressure on wild bioresources through cultivation, vertical integration of upstream and downstream stakeholders in the supply chain to ensure direct benefit to producers / collectors and the ways to deliver desired raw materials free from contaminants, pesticides, heavy metals, microbial loads, aflatoxins, etc. from the field to the factory gate. Furthermore, he highlighted the contribution of Sami-Sabinsa in pioneering contract farming and providing alternative medicinal crops for the livelihood of farmers.

Dr. Saklani underlined the regulatory requirements for sustainable supply chain management, as well as the regulatory concerns surrounding the Ashwagandha, Boswellia, and CITES species. Identification of the correct taxon, geography, populations with desired traits, genuine suppliers, etc. can ensure sustainable procurement of quality-assured raw material, he emphasized.

Lauding the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage for organizing the forum, Dr. Anju Majeed, Group Executive Chairperson, Sami-Sabinsa Group, said the conference underscores the need for research in herbal drug and nutraceutical development. Besides, it assists in addressing the challenges through strategic approaches across the entire value chain, leading to the development of the bioeconomy of the country at large.

The forum served as a platform to brainstorm innovative research methods, regulatory challenges, and solutions in drug development in the Traditional System of Medicine. Ayurvedic doctors, researchers, and distinguished scientists of eminence from other institutions under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences of the Ministry of Ayush attended the event.

Prof. (Vaidya) Rabinarayan Acharya, DG Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and Dr. Madhu Dikshit, FNA, JC Bose National Fellow and Distinguished Scientist Chair and former Director, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, and Dr. Srinivas Reddy, Director, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, who was invited as Chief Guest, inaugurated the seminar.