The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), organized a hybrid brainstorming workshop in New Delhi, to explore the nutraceutical and therapeutic potential of camel milk. The workshop was participated by senior government officials, scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss its health benefits, conservation challenges, and the need to strengthen the camel milk value chain in India.

During the workshop, technical experts from Indian Council of Medical Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AMUL, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited, and private sectors shared perspectives on research, policy support, and market development in the camel milk value chain in India. The scientific sessions featured experts presenting research on camel milk’s nutritional and therapeutic properties.

Speaking at the workshop,  Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, DAHD, called for immediate action to conserve camels, emphasizing the need for sustainable grazing lands and support systems under the National Livestock Mission. She also urged for strengthening the camel milk value chain through better production, marketing, and consumer awareness.

Dr Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, DAHD, highlighted the declining camel population and the importance of viewing camel milk as a nutraceutical. He stressed the role of breeding farms and breeders’ societies in conservation and called for FSSAI regulations to standardize camel milk for mainstream markets. He suggested a large-scale study involving camel herders, nutritionists, medical professionals, and DAHD to explore camel milk’s health benefits.

Mr Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India, emphasized the importance of a strong non-bovine milk value chain and FAO’s commitment to dairy diversification in India. He highlighted camel milk as a functional food that supports farmers' livelihoods and food security, stressing the need to create demand through value addition and marketing.

Dr Raghvendra Singh, ICAR-IVRI, highlighted bioactive compounds of camel milk supporting immunity and gut health. Dr Shailaja Mane, Dr DY Patil Medical College, discussed its role in managing insulin-dependent diabetes in children, while Dr Sunita Meena, ICAR-NDRI, emphasized its potential in inflammatory conditions. Discussions also covered regional factors influencing camel milk properties, with experts advocating for region-specific studies. Dr Shailaja Mane, Dr RP Agrawal, and other researchers contributed insights on scientific studies, commercial potential, and regulatory frameworks. Dr R Ananthan, Scientist-E, ICMR-NIN, Hyderabad called for research proposals focusing on clinical trials, nutritional profiling, and nutraceutical aspects of camel milk. Ms. Deepika Bansal, Technical Officer, FSSAI underscored the need for comprehensive studies to support any health-related claims regarding camel milk to support regulatory approvals, aligning with the ‘One Nation, One Food’ policy.

The workshop called for increased scientific research, urging the scientific community to undertake large-scale studies that provide more evidence of camel milk’s benefits, which could positively impact camel-rearing communities. The sessions also explored the importance of developing a research consortium, where institutions could share expertise and resources and promote further research, especially on bioactive molecules, free radicals, and camel milk’s potential to mitigate certain diseases like diabetes, autism, tuberculosis, etc.

The discussions underscored a multi-sectoral approach for camel conservation and dairy diversification, ensuring economic sustainability for herders and promoting camel milk as a functional food. FAO and DAHD remain committed to further research, innovation, and policy measures to integrate camel milk into mainstream health and nutrition programs in India.