The Tea Research Association, along with the Tea Board of India and the Govt. of Assam hosted the Bicentenary Assam Tea International Conference (BATIC 2024) at Hotel Radisson Blu, Guwahati, as part of the bicentennial celebrations of the Assam tea industry. Held over two days from January 29th to 30th, BATIC 2024 brought together industry leaders, scientists, researchers, and tea enthusiasts from around the globe to discuss the past, present, and future of Assam tea.
Inaugurated by the Minister for Industry & Commerce, Assam, Mr. Bimal Bora, the conference featured a series of panel discussions, presentations, and exhibitions focusing on sustainable practices, innovations in tea cultivation, global market trends affecting the tea industry, and much more. Over 400 delegates attended the event, including 48 international participants. Keynote speakers included renowned tea experts and representatives from leading tea companies, notably Nitin Saluja, founder of Chayos; James Grayland, Partner at Wan Ling Tea House; Ganesh Babu Krishnappa, Managing Director at Boomitra; Rajeev Baruah, an internationally renowned expert in regenerative agriculture; Harish Bijoor, Brand & Strategy Guru; Shabnam Weber from the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada; Sharyn Johnston, Chair of the Australian Tea Association; Troy Kim & Thomas Kim from Tridge, South Korea; Dr. Sanat Sarangi from the TCS Digital Food Initiatives; and Abhishek Keerthi Narayan, VP - Solutions & Platform, Cropin.
The event also highlighted the contributions of Assam tea to the state's economy and cultural heritage. Special sessions were held to honour the legacy of Assam's tea pioneers. New avenues were also discussed to enhance the growth and sustainability of the tea sector in the coming decades.
The conference concluded with a plenary session where several initiatives were agreed upon to boost the quality and global presence of Assam tea, ensuring its continuity and sustainability well into the next century.
