Ashok Krishen, Chairman of International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC), at the ‘Kaju Centennial Summit 2025’ in Mangaluru on Friday. | Photo Credit: H S Manjunath
With nearly 400 million individuals in India’s Gen-Z population, Krishen highlighted that if even a portion consumed 30 grams of nuts daily for 250 days, it could account for half of the global production of tree nuts, which stands at 6 million tonnes.
Sustainability Certification
During his address, Krishen announced that the INC has introduced a sustainability certification for its members. This certification aims to enhance product liquidity, broaden market access, and offer pricing power to customers.
Krishen outlined the INC’s primary objectives, including driving nut and dried fruit consumption and advocating for unrestricted global market access amidst rising tariffs and trade restrictions among countries.
Health Claims
Stressing the nutritional benefits of tree nuts, Krishen noted the industry’s lack of formal health claims and dietary guidelines. He expressed the desire to secure health claims through randomized clinical trials, with India chosen as one of the countries for this research. Krishen anticipates that within five years, the industry will be able to label nut products with health claims.
Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour, Employment, and MSME, also spoke at the event. AK Rao, President of the Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers’ Association, welcomed attendees, while Prakash Kalbavi, Convenor of the Kaju Centennial Summit 2025, presented the theme of the summit, “Honouring the past, embracing the future.”
Additional participants in the inaugural event included Vasudeva Barkur, Executive Director of ETG Group, and supply chain expert Rene Goudriaan.
Published on November 14, 2025
