World Spice Organisation: In News
The Chairman of the World Spice Organisation (WSO) recently stated that India holds a meager 0.7% share in the global seasoning market, valued at $14 billion in 2024, compared to China’s 12% and the U.S.A.’s 11%.
- It is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2011 in Kochi, Kerala, the spice capital of India.
- It is registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific, and Charitable Societies Act, 1956.
- Objective is to Facilitating the spice industry in dealing with issues of “Food Safety & Sustainability”.
- WSO seeks to achieve its objectives by involving all its stakeholders—the general public, the industry, academia, and the end-users.
- WSO undertakes social responsibility projects beneficial for the industry.
- WSO is involved in initiatives promoting sustainability and biodiversity in collaboration with prominent national and international organizations like Spices Board India, Indian Institute of Spice Research (IISR), Rainforest Alliance, GIZ (Germany), and IDH – The Sustainable Trade Initiative (Netherlands).
- WSO also interacts with global spice associations like the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA), European Spice Association (ESA), International Pepper Community (IPC), etc to resolve issues facing the spice industry.
- WSO takes part in the various national and international standard-setting processes pertaining to spices, such as FSSAI, BIS, ISO, and Codex, in order to ensure that the interests of the industry are considered while setting the standards.
- It is the technical partner of the All India Spices Exporters Forum (AISEF).
