We are pleased to share that Shivani Singh participated as a panellist in the AgroSpectrum India webinar, “Export Bans to Brand Power: Building Policy Stability in Basmati Trade”, held on 17 February 2026.
The session brought together leading experts, including Dr Dev Garg (Vice President, IREF), Dr Ranvir Singh Gill (Principal Rice Breeder, PAU, Ludhiana), and Prof. R. K. Salgotra (Director I/c, Basmati Rice Improvement Program, SKUAST-Jammu). The discussion was moderated by Suchetana Choudhury Goswami, Deputy Executive Editor, Agrospectrum India & Asia.
The panel explored how policy stability, stronger branding, and international cooperation can strengthen Basmati’s position as both a cultural heritage product and a premium global export. During the discussion, Shivani emphasised that Basmati’s value is inseparable from its geography and ecology and that Geographical Indication (GI) must function as strategic infrastructure rather than merely a legal label. She underscored the need to align GI protection with seed regulation and agricultural governance, introduce a mandatory and standardised GI logo supported by digital traceability, address global consumer misperception of Basmati as a generic category, and strengthen trade diplomacy through scientific verification and treaty-backed protection.
The conversation underscored that securing Basmati’s future is not only about trade but also about livelihoods, heritage, and India’s agricultural brand strength.
