Renowned experts from across the value chain of honey-making underscored the need to adopt a validated ‘fit for purpose’ and grass-root testing methodology to prevent instances of adulteration in honey in India. Specialists focused on the robustness of existing testing standards in India, ensuring that the consumers get the honey of the highest quality. Lalitha R Gowda, retired chief scientist, CFTRI, Mysuru, emphasized, “While NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) is a good biochemistry technique, however for honey, NMR method currently lacks that kind of database to give out the reliable and authentic result.”
The experts spoke at a panel discussion hosted by India Honey Alliance, an association of honey producers, beekeepers, and technology experts formed to create a unified platform to promote the Indian honey industry. The two-part webinar was organized to address the issues raised by the result of honey testing done by one of the research agencies in December 2020. Experts agreed that honey could not be tested for impurities in shops and homes. Hence, the value chain needs to be empowered with science and technology to become robust, transparent, and profitable from the beekeepers to the end consumer.
Reaffirming Gowda’s sentiment, Ajit Dua, chief executive officer, Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, asserted, “There is no single test that can detect all kinds of adulterants and contaminants in honey. One needs to consider a combination of tests to decide upon the quality of honey.”
The use of modern technology at the grassroots level ensures pure honey, according to experts. Based on the discussions which ensued, IHA and the experts collectively agreed to develop a whitepaper to determine the ‘fit for purpose’ and implementable scientific techniques and methodologies test honey at the grass root. Further, it was suggested that a lab with state-of-art, cutting-edge technologies be established exclusively for honey testing, which could also house a biobank for different types of authentic honey that are available across the country and world.
Journey of honey - Hive to home
Hosted by the newly formed Indian Honey Alliance, the first panel talked about the whole journey of honey and was moderated by Surendar Sharma, chief executive officer, Patanjali Ayurveda. Eminent panelists included Anu Appaiah, head, Food Protection (Retired) and Infestation Control, CFTRI, Mysuru; Arvind Chauhan, beekeeper; Naveen Garg, director, Kashmir Honey; and Vinit Singh, director, Brij Honey.
The second panel discussed the ‘fit for purpose’ technology and was moderated by Shahrukh Khan, ED-Operations, Dabur India, and included Ajit Dua, chief executive officer, Punjab Biotechnology Incubator, Mohali, the National Reference Laboratory for Sweets and Honey and director Punjab State Biotech Corporation; Lalitha R Gowda, retired chief scientist, CFTRI, Mysuru; Kaushik Banerjee, chairman, India Section of AOAC International and principal scientist, National Referral Laboratory, National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune and Rajesh Nair, director, Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF), National Dairy Development Board.
The third panel talked about the development of bee-keeping at the grass-root levels. The panel moderated by Deepak Jolly, secretary-general, India Honey Alliance, saw participation from stalwarts like K Laxmi Rao, Assistant director, CBRTI, KVIC; Arvind Chauhan (Apiarist, Entrepreneur); Bheem Singh (Lupin Foundation); and Ashok Kapoor (Consumer Rights Organization).
Bhushan Shrikhande, senior president Technical, Baidyanath, hosted Honey for the Indian Consumer with experts - Younis Munshi, scientist, Ministry of Ayush; Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist, author, and researcher; Suparna Trikha, expert natural beauty and wellness expert.
India Honey Alliance has been formed to create a unified platform for all stakeholders in the honey sector to identify issues and their probable long-term solutions, ranging from technology, training, and consumer awareness programs.