AI Innovations Enhance Quality of India’s Medicinal Plants
Experts from the Ministry of Ayush and the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) have called for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies to monitor and ensure the quality of medicinal plants from the farm gate through the entire supply chain. This call to action emerged during a two-day National Seminar on “Design and Development of Tools for Quality Assessment of Medicinal Plants at Farm Gates,” held on January 8-9, 2026, at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The seminar emphasized the importance of quality assurance, traceability, and standardization of raw materials at their origin.
Strengthening India’s Medicinal Plant Ecosystem
The seminar brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers, scientists, technologists, industry leaders, and researchers, aiming to fortify farm-gate quality systems. Such systems are essential for ensuring the sustainable growth and international competitiveness of India’s Ayush and medicinal plant sectors.
Inaugural speeches were delivered by Prof. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Dadhich, CEO of NMPB, and Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, Director of the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA). Their insights framed the national policy and scientific imperatives for fostering quality-driven growth in the medicinal plant industry, advocating for the incorporation of innovation, regulation, and traditional knowledge to enhance global trust in Indian raw materials.
Technical Discussions on Quality and Technology
On the first day, discussions covered the entire medicinal plant value chain, exploring sustainable cultivation, regenerative agriculture, and AI-enabled quality assessments. Experts from various institutions, including ICAR–Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), IIT Delhi, the World Health Organization (WHO), and industry leaders shared valuable insights backed by evidence and field experience.
Consensus among experts highlighted India’s readiness to adopt AI diagnostics and digital phenotyping, thereby bolstering the credibility of its medicinal plant materials in both domestic and international markets.
Roadmap for Future Development
The second day focused on creating a roadmap through structured brainstorming sessions on the integration of AI in the Indian medicinal plant industry. Key discussions revolved around employing blockchain technology for enhanced supply-chain transparency and traceability.
Participants agreed that digital innovations, such as portable quality-testing devices, AI-powered decision-support systems, and blockchain traceability platforms, are essential to guarantee the authenticity and safety of herbal raw materials, ensuring that Indian products remain competitive globally.
Conclusion and Future Initiatives
The seminar concluded with actionable outcomes aligned with NMPB’s goals, promoting collaboration between policy institutions, scientific bodies, and industry stakeholders. Emphasis was placed on the necessity of building quality at the production level, directly supporting the NMPB’s mission to empower primary producers and collectors.
Discussions validated the deployment of AI and digital solutions as a means to decrease adulteration and variability in raw materials, while also highlighting the importance of blockchain in achieving end-to-end traceability for pharmacopoeial compliance and exports.
Moreover, the integration of traditional knowledge systems, such as Vriksha Ayurveda, with modern quality-control frameworks reveals how India’s heritage can be consolidated and scientifically validated to meet global standards. The seminar reaffirmed India’s commitment to developing a robust, AI-enabled, traceable, and standardized medicinal plant supply chain, directly contributing to national initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
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