ICSHA 2026 Brings Global Experts Together to Advance the Future of Spices, Herbs, and Aromatics
Revitalizing Indonesia’s Spice Heritage through Innovation, Sustainability, and International Collaboration
The Tropical Biopharmaca Research Center (TropBRC) LRI-PGKH IPB University, in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) IPB University, successfully organized the International Conference on Spices, Herbs, and Aromatics (ICSHA) 2026 on 23 June 2026 at the IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Bogor. Held in a hybrid format, the conference carried the theme “Revitalizing the Spices Heritage: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Collaboration in Spices, Herbs, and Aromatics Development,” bringing together researchers, academics, industry representatives, policymakers, and students from various countries to strengthen international collaboration in spice and herbal research.
Officially opened before more than 150 participants, ICSHA 2026 featured distinguished keynote and invited speakers from India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, alongside 61 oral presentations and 21 poster presentations showcasing recent advances in spices, herbs, aromatics, medicinal plants, and natural product research. In his welcome address, Organizing Committee Chair Dr. Rudi Heryanto emphasized that the conference serves as a platform for exchanging scientific knowledge, sharing experiences, and building strategic partnerships to support innovation and sustainable development in the sector.
During the conference, Prof. Erika B. Laconi, Head of the International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition, Health, and Halal (LRI-PGKH) IPB University, highlighted Indonesia’s strategic position as one of the world’s richest centers of tropical biodiversity. She stressed that spices and herbs represent not only valuable economic commodities but also cultural heritage, health resources, and drivers of sustainable development. Meanwhile, Dr. A.B. Rema Shree, Chairperson of ISO/TC 34 Spices and Culinary Herbs (India), explained that modern scientific approaches—including metabolomics, biotechnology, and natural product research—are transforming traditional spices into promising sources of functional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and health products.
As part of its commitment to strengthening research capacity, ICSHA 2026 also highlighted the successful Workshop on GC-MS Applications in Indonesian Medicinal Plant Metabolomics Research, conducted earlier in June. Together, these initiatives reflect TropBRC’s continuous efforts to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promote evidence-based research, and enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesia’s spices, herbs, and aromatic resources.
✍️ Author & Editor: Titis Arifiana
📸 Documentation: ICSHA 2026 Committee