Vijayawada, 15th July 2025 – The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) and the All India Cottonseed Crushers’ Association (AICOSCA) have announced that the 6th edition of the SEA–AICOSCA Cottonseed, Oil & Meal Conclave will be held on August 2–3, 2025, at Hotel Vivanta, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
This two-day national conclave will spotlight the potential of cottonseed oil and its by-products, aiming to promote its wider adoption and showcase its benefits in human health and livestock nutrition. The theme for this edition is “Revitalizing Cottonseed: Growth Pathways for Oil, Meal, and Beyond.”
Key Dignitaries & Participants
The event is expected to be inaugurated by Hon’ble Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Government of India. Other prominent guests expected include:
- Shri Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
- Shri Roop Rashi, CEO, Khadi and Village Industries Commission
- Shri O.P. Goenka, Director, 3F Limited
- Dr. R. Sarada Jayalakshmi Devi, Vice-Chancellor, ANGRAU, Guntur
Industry Focus
Cotton is known for providing three critical resources: fibre, food, and feed. While its fibre is widely used in textiles, the cottonseed offers immense potential as a cooking oil and as a high-quality meal for livestock. Despite being the third-largest edible oil produced in India after soybean and rapeseed, cottonseed oil’s domestic adoption remains limited, largely used by institutional buyers such as restaurants and food processors.
According to Mr. Sanjeev Asthana, President of SEA, “India produces about 12 lakh tonnes of cottonseed oil annually. Gujarat leads in its usage due to its superior frying quality, but its awareness in other states remains low. This conclave aims to change that.”
Mr. Sandeep Bajoria, Chairman of AICOSCA, emphasized the broader utility of cottonseed. “It’s a benchmark for flavour and odour in edible oils and is also an important ingredient in oriental cuisine. Its meal is an excellent livestock feed. The conclave will promote its applications across the value chain.”
Dr. B.V. Mehta, Executive Director of SEA, pointed out that current production could be boosted from 12 lakh tonnes to 18 lakh tonnes annually through scientific and modern processing methods. This increase could significantly support India’s edible oil needs and reduce import dependency.
Mr. P. Veera Narayan, Vice Chairman of AICOSCA and Director of Sri Dhanalakshmi Cotton & Rice Mills Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the relevance of Andhra Pradesh as the host state. “Being one of the largest cottonseed-producing states, it is only fitting that we host this event in Vijayawada. The conclave will bring together over 300 delegates, including scientists, traders, and industry experts for keynote speeches, panel discussions, and talks on innovation and value chain development.”
About SEA
Founded in 1963, the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India is a leading body in the vegetable oil industry, with over 700 members, including 300 working solvent extraction plants. The association is recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, and has an annual processing capacity of 30 million tonnes of oilseeds and related materials.
About AICOSCA
The All India Cottonseed Crushers’ Association (AICOSCA) represents stakeholders across the cottonseed value chain, including processors, machinery manufacturers, exporters, and importers. Celebrating over 50 years of service, AICOSCA continues to be the voice of India’s cottonseed processing industry, promoting growth, innovation, and collaboration.
