The Hindu Business Line : Kochi to host global meet on essential oils

THE International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trade (IFEAT) is organising an international conference on `Naturals and Aroma Chemicals - Production and Markets' during October 16-20 in Kochi.

"Over 481 registered delegates, consisting of producers, importers, processors and end-use companies in the business of flavours and fragrance will be participating in the seminar. Since Kochi is fast emerging as the spice oil and oleoresin capital of the world, we chose the city to host the international seminar," said Mr A. Hitchen, Chairman of IFEAT's organising committee.

The London-based IFEAT is the apex organisation linking producers, processors and consuming industries in natural essential oils, aromatics and chemical extracts.

Of the 550 delegates and accompanying people expected so far, 425 will be from abroad, representing multinational companies such as Coca Cola and Pepsi.

The IFEAT President, Mr Richard C. Pisano, said India accounts for 70 to 80 per cent of the global spice oil and oleoresin production, followed by China, Indonesia, South Africa and Brazil. Citing the case of jasmine oil production, he said there had been a major international shift in the production base of essential oils and oleoresins.

Jasmine was first grown in Mediterranean countries, but its cultivation soon shifted to India, which today accounts for close to 50 per cent of the global production. It is not just in the production base that India is up ahead, but also in the technology and expertise in converting spices and aromatics into oils and oleoresins. India is now in a position to source spices from South-East Asian countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia and convert them into oils and oleoresins for the international market, said Mr A. G. Mathew, Technical Director of Plant Lipids Pvt Ltd.

International consumers mostly prefer natural spice oils and oleoresins. But whenever prices flare up in the international market due to natural calamities or disasters, there is a shift towards artificial flavours and fragrance. Given the high cost of natural products, the consumer also opts for artificial substitutes. It takes time for the consumer to come back to the natural oils and the producer is the ultimate loser, according to Mr Pisano.

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