JAMMU: A four-day hands-on training programme on formulation and extraction of medicinal plants at a cGMP pilot plant began at CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM) Jammu under the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, bringing together young researchers, entrepreneurs and industry-linked participants from across India.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, who also holds additional charge as Director of CSIR–Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow.
The inauguration featured a ceremonial lamp lighting in the presence of scientists and participants.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ahmed highlighted the growing relevance of medicinal plant–based drug discovery and the need to convert India’s rich herbal biodiversity into viable pharmaceutical and wellness products.
He noted that while permanent career opportunities are limited, biodiversity-based sectors offer strong potential for startups and self-driven ventures.
He emphasized that the training would expose participants to the full value chain — from bioprospecting and extraction to isolation, identification of bioactive molecules and pilot-scale manufacturing under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
He encouraged participants to go beyond classroom learning and use the exposure to pilot plants, fermentation facilities, GLP-compliant animal houses and medicinal plant farms to build practical understanding.
According to him, even foundational exposure to cGMP environments can significantly enhance future employability and research capability.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, Dr. Anil Kumar Katare, Senior Principal Scientist and coordinator of the programme, said the training had drawn a diverse group from pharmaceutical sciences, chemical sciences, life sciences, Ayurveda and startups. He described the course as an intensive blend of lectures and practical sessions where trainees would learn raw-material handling, solvent extraction, formulation development, quality control and quality assurance in a regulated pilot-plant setting.
He also informed that participants would visit the institute’s Industrial Biotech Park and advanced QC/QA and tissue-culture facilities.
Dr. Rajkishor Rai, Senior Scientist and Head of the Quality Management & Instrumentation Division, said the programme was designed to bridge the gap between theory and real-world herbal processing.
He noted that the cGMP pilot plant at CSIR-IIIM is dedicated to extraction, formulation and packaging of high-quality herbal products, including extracts, tablets, capsules and liquid formulations. He urged trainees to actively engage and use the platform to strengthen their technical skills.
On the first day, participants underwent laboratory orientation and an overview of instrumentation and quality management systems at the Quality Management & Instrumentation Division to familiarize themselves with analytical tools and compliance frameworks.
A technical lecture on medicinal and aromatic plants and their industrial relevance was delivered by Dr. Suphla B. Gupta, Senior Principal Scientist from the Plant Sciences and Agrotechnology Division, who spoke on cultivation aspects and resource potential.
This was followed by a detailed session on GMP pilot plants for extraction, formulation and packaging of traditional ISM herbal medicines, focusing on regulatory standards and scale-up processes.
Trainees also observed a demonstration of loading an extraction batch in the cGMP facility and later visited the institute’s Chatha farm to understand captive cultivation practices and the importance of quality raw material for downstream processing.
The batch comprises 15 participants from different parts of the country, including PhD scholars, postgraduate students, research associates and small business owners working on herbal and skincare products.
Many said the training would support their ongoing research and startup ambitions by giving them pilot-scale exposure beyond laboratory work.
The vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Suphla B. Gupta, who assured participants that the programme would deliver practical value and encouraged them to also learn from field farms and fermentation labs in addition to extraction and formulation modules.
The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Nasir ul Rasheed, Principal Scientist. Organizers said the initiative aligns with CSIR’s push to build skilled manpower for India’s expanding phytopharmaceutical, nutraceutical and herbal industries.
