The MoU aims to explore India’s indigenous citrus varieties and characterise their natural aromatic and flavour compounds for the development of high-value products.

In a significant step towards strengthening India’s citrus-based flavour and fragrance sector, the ICAR–Central Citrus Research Institute (CCRI), Nagpur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Givaudan (India) Private Limited, a global leader in flavours, fragrances, and active cosmetic ingredients. The MoU was signed by Dr Dilip Ghosh, Director, ICAR-CCRI, Nagpur, and Pradeep Khurana, Marketing Head – South Asia, Taste & Wellbeing, Givaudan India Pvt. Ltd at ICAR-CCRI.

Givaudan India, known for its proactive initiatives in developing citrus-derived flavours, fragrances, and active ingredients, has joined hands with ICAR-CCRI to receive scientific and field-based consultancy support under its flagship Citrus Trek® initiative. This programme is designed to explore India’s indigenous citrus varieties and characterise their natural aromatic and flavour compounds for the development of high-value products. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr Prasad Raote, Principal Flavourist, Givaudan, and Dr A K Das, Principal Scientist and In-charge, PME Cell, ICAR-CCRI.

Under the consultancy collaboration, ICAR-CCRI scientists and Givaudan experts will undertake joint field visits to major citrus-growing regions during key phenological stages such as the Ambia bahar fruit harvesting season of Nagpur mandarin, the harvesting period of Khasi mandarin of North-East India and the flowering phase of Ambia bahar in Nagpur mandarin. These visits aim to facilitate systematic evaluation of natural flavours, fragrances, and volatiles in selected indigenous citrus types.

Highlighting the importance of the collaboration, Dr Dilip Ghosh, Director, ICAR-CCRI, stated that “The initiative will enable the exploration of the delightful natural flavour and aroma profiles of Nagpur and Khasi mandarins, paving the way for their utilisation in producing premium essential oils, flavours, fragrances, and other value-added products.” Dr. Ghosh further emphasized that the partnership will strengthen India’s citrus-based processing sector and reduce dependency on imported flavour and fragrance ingredients. “This unique initiative has the potential to significantly enhance the commercial prospects of Indian citrus by positioning it in the global high-value aromatic ingredient market,”.

As the first step towards implementation, a dedicated team of ICAR-CCRI scientists – Dr S. S. Roy, A. Thirugnanavel and Dr D. M. Kadam – along with members of the Givaudan India scientific team, visited Nagpur mandarin orchards in the Katol and Mohpa regions of Nagpur district. During the visit, they collected fruit samples and captured the natural aroma directly from the orchards for advanced profiling.

This collaborative initiative between ICAR-CCRI and Givaudan India marks a major milestone in harnessing India’s rich citrus biodiversity for global flavour and fragrance innovation and is expected to open new opportunities for farmers, processors, and the citrus industry at large.