The need to explore the untapped potential of cottonseed and its byproducts to strengthen the country’s edible oil security, livestock feed industry and rural economy was stressed at the sixth ‘Cottonseed, Oil and Meal Conclave-2025’ jointly organised by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) and the All-India Cottonseed Crushers’ Association (AICOSCA) in Vijayawada on Saturday.
The two-day conclave themed ‘Revitalising Cottonseed: Growth Pathways for Oil, Meal, and Beyond’ has a well-curated series of sessions and panel discussions, covering the entire cottonseed ecosystem, including cotton cultivation, post-harvest practices, innovations in oil extraction, livestock feed formulations, nutrition, smart packaging, branding, risk management, and market forecasting.
Besides, discussing themes such as ‘Cotton 360°,’ ‘Tech Frontiers in Processing,’ and ‘Cottonseed Oil’s role in Modern Nutrition’, the conclave also witnessed presentation of the Shri Nilesh Patel Innovation Awards, celebrating breakthrough innovations by researchers and students that enhance cottonseed utilisation, sustainability and nutritional value.
Ponnur MLA Dhulipalli Narendra, MLA inaugurated the event that attracted over 300 delegates, including leading scientists, industry experts, policymakers and traders, who deliberated on enhancing cottonseed usage, particularly in the edible oil and livestock feed sectors. The forum addressed the alarming decline in cotton acreage, down 9.8% in 2024–25 and underscored the urgent need to optimise the value derived from cottonseed.
