Vijayawada, August 4, 2025: The 6th Cottonseed, Oil & Meal Conclave 2025, jointly organised by The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) and the All-India Cottonseed Crushers’ Association (AICOSCA), concluded on a high impact note at Hotel Vivanta, Vijayawada. The two-day event brought together over 300 delegates, including policymakers, scientists, researchers, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across India’s cottonseed ecosystem.
Held under the theme ‘Revitalizing Cottonseed: Growth Pathways for Oil, Meal, and Beyond,’ the conclave explored the vast untapped potential of cottonseed and its derivatives to support India’s edible oil self-sufficiency, enhance livestock nutrition, drive rural incomes, and spur innovation. More than 60 expert speakers shared actionable insights spanning industry trends, market opportunities, research breakthroughs, and policy imperatives.
The deliberations highlighted the nutritional value of cottonseed meal in livestock feed, and the need for R&D. Industry sessions also highlighted Gujarat’s success in consumer adoption and called for greater investment in branding, digital outreach, and influencer marketing to build awareness in southern states. A coordinated industry strategy involving credible storytelling was strongly advocated to reshape public perception and unlock cottonseed oil’s full potential in India’s edible oil landscape
Concerns were raised about declining cotton acreage, prompting calls for industry-government collaboration to improve productivity and secure raw material availability. The event concluded with a unified call to action for revitalising the cottonseed ecosystem—from farm to food, feed, fuel, and beyond.
The conclave also honoured emerging talent and research excellence through the Shri Nilesh Patel Innovation Awards, recognising contributions in two categories. In the Student Category, the First Prize was awarded to Mr. Roushan Raj Sinha from CSIT–IICT, Hyderabad. The Second Prize was jointly awarded to Ms. Aaliya Salim Shaikh of the College of Home Science, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai, and Mr. Dhanunjay Kumar Singh from NIT Rourkela. In the Research Scholars Category, the First Prize went to Dr. Amit P. Parthap from ICT, Mumbai, while the Second Prize was jointly awarded to Dr. R. Pandiselvam of ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai, and Ms. Trupthi Gunwant Chidam from the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), Thanjavur. These awards highlighted innovative contributions in science, sustainability, and value addition to the cottonseed sector.
Mr. Angshu Mallick, Vice President, SEA, “We are thrilled to host the 6th Cottonseed, Oil & Meal Conclave in Vijayawada, a strategically important region for the agricultural sector. This year’s theme underscores our commitment to unlocking the full potential of cottonseed, not just as a source of healthy edible oil, but also as a vital component for the livestock industry and a driver of rural prosperity.” Adding further he shared that the conclave provides an unparalleled opportunity for stakeholders across the entire value chain to collaborate, share insights, and strategize on sustainable growth pathways.”
Adding to this, Mr. Sandeep Bajoria, Chairman, AICOSCA 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.”
Dr. B.V. Mehta, Executive Director, SEA, emphasized, “Cottonseed oil has the potential to become a cornerstone of India’s edible oil ecosystem. It offers a unique blend of health benefits, domestic availability, and rural value creation. What we need now is a unified push—through policy, innovation, and industry alignment—to elevate its position in the market and reduce our reliance on imports”
Mr. Atul Chaturvedi, Special Advisor to SEA, emphasized, “Cottonseed oil is a hidden gem and with smart marketing and the right storytelling, especially in untapped markets like South India, it can emerge as a preferred cooking medium across the country.”