CSIR Aroma Mission

The CSIR Aroma Mission is envisaged to bring transformative change in the aroma sector through desired interventions in the areas of agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of the aroma industry and rural employment. The mission will promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry. It is expected to enable Indian farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint. This is expected to provide substantial benefits to the farmers in achieving higher profits, utilization of waste lands and protection of their crops from wild and grazing animals. The mission will put a mechanism in place for timely agro-advisory, ensuring optimal productivity and fair price of the produce to the farmers and reducing the import of essential oils and enabling India to become a leading exporter of at least some essential oils. Currently the third phase of this mission project is operative. CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow is one of the participating labs in this mission project.

CSIR-NBRI is working to increase the income of farmers through the cultivation of high-value and high-demand aromatic crops of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Nagarmotha (Cyperus scariosus). The envisaged activities in this project are –(i) To develop and deploy economically, environmentally and socially sustainable technologies with reduced waste,(ii) To produce sufficient quantities of planting material of high-yielding varieties involved in developing these sustainable models,(iii) Deployment of cost-effective, sustainable efficient and eco-safe agro-techniques and processing units,(iv) To develop value-added essential oils/aroma chemicals-based products focusing on human and veterinary use with safety and toxicity details, (v)To develop certified aroma reference materials and database and information dissemination to be done by trainings, skill development, pamphlets, videos and mobile app.