Food processing industry

Developing spices value addition processes like oleoresin & essential oil distillation at spice growing countries offers several significant advantages.

Oleoresins and essential oils are basically the natural extracts that contain bio-active compounds. They have awaken interest due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant activity which they provide to the products. In simple words, oleoresins are concentrated extract of spices and herbs and are a great substitute over synthetic chemical additives. Due to the increasing size of manufacturing plants, the processing of oleoresin has increased. This blog is all about how developing oleoresin processing can provide significant advantages at spice growing countries and food processing industry.

Advantages of processing facilities in spice growing regions

  • Oleoresins have large domestic as well as export markets. Replacement of raw spices with oleoresins has found to be more efficient. The processing of oleoresins can add value to the raw spices by extracting and concentrating their essential oils and bioactive compounds. This value addition enhances the economic returns for local farmers, food and processing industry and stakeholders along the supply chain. There is also a vast potential in their use in new product development. Examples of some oleoresins which have been commonly manufactured are ginger oleoresin, chilli oleoresin, fennel seed oleoresin, cardamom oleoresin and clove bud oleoresin. These oleoresins can be used in baked goods, RTD, RTC, confectionary, snacks and beverages as a flavouring agent. Oleoresins not only add value within the food sector but also are widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and hygiene products like creams, medicines, toothpaste, mouthwashes etc.

  • Developing the processing of oleoresins in spice growing countries like India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Africa, Myanmar, etc. creates employment opportunities not only in urban areas but in rural areas as well where spices are cultivated. This contributes to poverty alleviation, income generation, and overall economic development by diversifying the local economy and reducing dependency on traditional agriculture. Establishment of oleoresin processing can even provide employment opportunities in areas like cultivation, harvesting and spices processing. Raw materials when converted into oleoresins benefit farmers with increased incomes. With increase in the value of product, farmers may receive better pay for their spice crops leading to better livelihoods.

Oleoresin extraction helps in the removable of water thereby increasing its shelf life. Concentrated spices are less susceptible to microbial spoilage as well. Processing of spices into oleoresins also helps reduce the bulk and weight which is beneficial during transportation and storage hence minimizing the physical damage and storage. It also reduces the cost of transportation and reduces carbon emission and fuel consumption.

  • Oleoresin processing at spice-growing countries encourages sustainable practices like organic cultivation, biodiversity conservation, and agroforestry thereby maintaining the ecosystem. Processing of oleoresins results in resource efficiency and reduced food waste. Using the right extraction methods, the energy efficiency can be effectively improved that results in reduction of energy consumption and carbon footprint. Spice oleoresin processing generates biodegradable by products that can be utilised in value added products resulting in reduced environmental impact of waste generation during processing.

  • Marketing of spices as oleoresins add significant value to the product due to its increased health benefits. There is an increased demand for organic spices like natural spice oils and spice oleoresins amongst consumers. Customers prefer items that are convenient, organic and natural. Producing oleoresins locally enables spice-growing countries mainly India, Europe and North America to compete more effectively in the global market by offering value-added, differentiated products with unique flavours, aromas, and functional properties. Food processors are replacing the traditional spices with oleoresins to provide growth in the global market. Its benefits are expected to propel the growth of the global market by 2025.

Conclusion

Spice oleoresin processing holds tremendous potential for spice growing countries. This approach will result in maximizing sustainable growth and economic prosperity. Spice oleoresin emerges as a transformative force for increased revenue not only for economic market but also for global market access, it results in improved livelihoods of farmers by providing them employment opportunities and also provides value addition to products. This approach focuses on sustainable practices, social responsibility, and market diversification resulting in greater economic stability and development.

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