All India cottonseed, oil & meal conclave discusses entire gamut of ecosystem

Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) and the All-India Cottonseed Crushers’ Association (AICOSCA)'s two day sixth Cottonseed, Oil & Meal Conclave 2025 concluded here on Sunday by lining up a well-curated series of sessions and panel discussions covering the entire cottonseed ecosystem.

The event deliberated on issues pertaining to cotton cultivation, post-harvest practices, innovations in oil extraction, livestock feed formulations, nutrition, smart packaging, branding, risk management, and market forecasting. Besides, discussing key themes such as ‘Cotton 360°,’ ‘Tech Frontiers in Processing,’ and ‘Cottonseed Oil’s role in Modern Nutrition’, the conclave also witnessed the Nilesh Patel Innovation Awards celebrating breakthrough innovations by researchers and students that enhance cottonseed utilization, sustainability, and nutritional value.

The theme of the conference was ‘Revitalising Cottonseed: Growth Pathways for Oil, Meal and Beyond' , primarily aimed at exploring the untapped potential of cottonseed and its by-products in strengthening India’s edible oil security, livestock feed industry, and rural economy. The event was inaugurated by Ponnur MLA Dhulipalli Nrendra.

Among others, Roop Rashi, CEO, Khadi & Village Industries Commission, O.P. Goenka, Director, 3F Limited, Tadepalligudem and Potluri Bhaskar Rao, President, Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke. Other dignitaries presented were Angshu Mallick, Vice President, SEA, Sandeep Bajoria, Chairman, AICOSCA and P. Veera Narayana, Vice-Chairman, AICOSCA.

In his address, Bajoria said “cottonseed oil is one of the most popular cooking oils in kitchens. It is used as a yardstick for measuring the flavour as well as odour qualities in other edible oils. It is also one of the main ingredients in most oriental dishes. Cottonseed meal is an excellent feed meal ingredient. The conclave is focusing on propagating the use and value of cottonseed oil, advancing processing technologies, and promoting cottonseed-based products.”

SEA Executive Director Dr. BV Mehtra stated that the current production of cottonseed oil is about 11.5 to 12.0 lakh tonnes per annum even as the potential is about 18 lakh tonnes. Meeting the potential will also help to meet the growing requirement of edible oil and reduce the dependence on import of edible oils, he felt.