HADSA Annual Conference 2025 discusses pioneering the future of nutraceuticals through innovation and regulation

The Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA) hosted its highly anticipated Annual Conference 2025, themed ‘Nutraceuticals Unleashed: Innovating Holistic Health through Science and Market Insights’. The event, held in Mumbai on March 21, brought together industry leaders, regulatory experts, and stakeholders to discuss the evolving nutraceutical landscape, strategies for its growth, emerging trends, scientific advancements, and market opportunities.
 
The event commenced with a welcome address by Kaushik Desai, secretary general of HADSA, setting the stage for a day filled with insightful deliberations. The opening session featured Nikhil Kelkar, managing director of Hexagon Nutrition and honorary treasurer of HADSA, who provided an overview of the latest industry trends and market potential in both domestic and international sectors.
 
Viraj Patel, director of business development at K Patel Phyto Extractions, led a session on the evolving landscape of herbal supplements, exploring trends, challenges, and opportunities. Following this, Kushal Kamath, assistant general manager at Fermenta Biotech, delved into the science behind vitamin D choices and formulations.
 
Dr. Pirthi Pal Singh, senior vice president & head of R&D at Tirupati Group, shared critical insights into formulation and manufacturing protocols necessary for global market expansion. Saurov Kakoti, chief product officer at Plix Life, provided a startup’s perspective on scaling in the nutraceutical space.
 
The conference also highlighted innovations in herbal actives, with a session led by experts on quality, safety, and efficacy in nutraceuticals.
 
Prominent dignitaries, including Pritee Chaudhary, regional director (West) at the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Dr. Subrata Gupta, secretary at the Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MOFPI), addressed the gathering. Their speeches underscored the role of policy and regulation in shaping the future of nutraceuticals in India.
 
An engaging CEO panel discussion themed ‘Shaping the Nutraceutical Landscape: Strategies for Growth’, moderated by Ajit Singh, chairman/president of ACG/HADSA, focused on strategies for growth in the nutraceutical sector. The panel included esteemed industry professionals such as Pradeep Gadre, managing director of Scitech Specialities, Dr. Yashwant Kumar, Founder & CEO of Benefic Nutrition and Prashant Nagre, managing director of Fermenta Biotech.
 
Ajit Singh emphasized the importance of growth, scalability, and affordability in the nutraceutical industry. Panelists further acknowledged that health supplements and nutraceuticals are often costly due to extensive research and development investments, much like the pharmaceutical industry. However, he noted that with the industry’s shift from branded ingredients and products to generic formulations, affordability and accessibility have significantly improved.
 
A crucial topic of discussion was the role of food testing and analytical laboratories, which are essential in ensuring quality standards, safety, and compliance with regulatory frameworks. The panelists explored the challenges and opportunities in the sector, stressing the need for good manufacturing practices (GMP) to enhance product credibility and consumer trust.
 
Dr U V Babu, director of research & development at Himalaya Wellness company gave insights on the design and development of Herbal Actives for Nutraceuticals: Quality, Safety and Efficacy.
 
Afternoon sessions deliberated on artificial intelligence (AI), Gut Health, and Social Media in Nutraceuticals.
 
The post-lunch session explored the impact of AI on business growth, presented by industry experts. Amit Srivastava, Founder of Nutrify Today, discussed the significance of gut health and the expanding opportunities in this domain.
 
Other key presentations included insights into Ocitum for stress and sleep support, the role of supercritical fluid extraction technology in nutraceuticals, and clinically responsible product development. Industry leaders such as Aditi Pawar from K Patel Phyto Extractions, Girish Soman from Nisarga Biotech and Dr. Manjari Chandra from Manjari Wellness provided valuable expertise on these topics respectively.
 
The final sessions delved into global trends in food fortification, holistic healthcare approaches, and innovations in delivery systems for nutraceuticals. Experts such as Dr. Hardik Soni from Vasu Healthcare, Dr. Vivek Srivastav from Zeon Lifesciences and Dr. Bhavesh Patel from Kerry Ingredients shed light on the evolving landscape of nutrition and wellness. Aleem Merchant, founder of Synapse, concluded the event with a session on leveraging social media marketing for brand growth in the industry.
 
A regulatory panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Vaibav Kulkarni, founder director and Hon. secretary of Zantus Life Sciences/HADSA, featured regulatory experts including Nirupama Sharma, Lead Regulatory Policy Advocacy at Amway India, Vaidehi Kalzunkar, deputy director (Tech) at FSSAI, Yogish BT, senior manager of Regulatory Affairs at Herbalife, and Ashwin Bhadri, CEO of Equinoxlabs.
 
The discussion highlighted the importance of industry collaboration and trust-building in the specialized nutraceuticals sector.
 
Vaidehi Kalzunkar emphasized the need for a deep understanding of the target population and physiological benefits of nutraceuticals. She stressed that before introducing a product to the market, companies must clearly define its functions, the scientific basis of its ingredients, and the claims made.
 
Yogish BT underscored the principle that all evidence supporting nutraceuticals should be scientifically backed and thoroughly documented, ensuring transparency and consumer confidence.
 
Vision for the future of nutraceuticals
 
Ajit Singh, president of HADSA and chairman of ACG, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to promoting health foods and dietary supplements that comply with global quality norms. He noted that nutraceuticals play a crucial role in preventive health and wellness, distinguishing them from pharmaceuticals that primarily focus on curing diseases.
 
He predicted that India’s nutraceutical industry, currently in its early stages, will follow the trajectory of the country’s pharmaceutical sector, which has achieved global leadership. Singh highlighted that nutraceuticals, unlike pharmaceuticals, are available over-the-counter, eliminating the need for a doctor’s prescription and making them more accessible to the public.
 
India’s nutraceutical industry is on an accelerated growth path, with projections indicating a CAGR of 13.6% from 2024 to 2030, significantly outpacing the pharmaceutical sector’s estimated CAGR of less than 6%. As of 2024, India’s pharmaceutical market registered USD 50 billion in sales, while the nutraceutical sector was valued at USD 6 billion, comprising 12% of the drug market. Globally, nutraceutical sales are expected to reach 25-30% of total pharmaceutical sales in the coming years.
 
With approximately 30,000 supplement products available in India and over 400 dedicated nutraceutical food business operators (FBOs), the industry is poised for remarkable expansion. The Ayush sector alone contributes USD 18 billion annually, with nutraceuticals projected to be valued at Rs. one lakh crore by 2030. The herbal segment accounts for 30% of the Indian nutraceutical market, further emphasizing the demand for natural health solutions.
 
The conference underscored the vital role of FSSAI regulations in ensuring consumer safety and maintaining industry credibility. Singh urged stakeholders to continue fostering an environment of innovation, collaboration, and regulatory compliance, ensuring the sector’s long-term success.
 
With shifting consumer mindsets, increasing disposable incomes, and robust regulatory frameworks, India’s nutraceutical market is poised to become a global powerhouse in preventive healthcare and wellness.
 
The HADSA Annual Conference 2025 successfully highlighted the transformative potential of nutraceuticals, positioning them as essential contributors to public health and wellness. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration among industry leaders, regulatory bodies, and research institutions will be crucial in shaping its future trajectory.