IISR inks MoU with Kannur farmer firm, launches AI apps for spices

The Indian Institute of Spices Research (ICAR-IISR) in Kozhikode has signed an MoU with Bio Mountain Farmers Producer Company Limited of Kannur to boost technology transfer for spice farming. Director R. Dinesh and Chairman Rev. Sibi Palakuzhy signed the pact during the institute's XI Research Advisory Committee meeting. The Hindu Business Line reports that the deal aims to improve productivity, sustainable spice production, and farmer livelihoods.

IISR also launched the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Toolkit, an AI-enabled web application developed by its Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics Facility. The R Shiny-based platform helps scientists without deep programming skills analyse high-throughput sequencing data. Additionally, the institute licensed a granular formulation of Lecanicillium psalliotae for cardamom to Botagnix Private Limited of Jalna, Maharashtra, and issued two new licenses for the IISR Chandra black pepper variety.