The 53^rd Institute Research Committee (IRC) meeting of ICAR-CPCRI was held at Kasaragod during 26-30 May 2025 chaired by Dr K.B. Hebbar, Director. A total of 71 ongoing research projects, including 40 institute projects, 41 externally funded competitive grant projects and 4 contract research projects under seven different programmes, were reviewed during the 5-day-long IRC meeting. Thorough discussions were held under each session for the formulation of meaningful research activities under these projects. A plenary session of the meeting was held on 30 May 2025. Sri Araga Jnanendra, MLA Thirthahalli and the President, Arecanut Marketing Cooperatives Mahamandala, was the chief guest and Dr. Homey Cheriyan, Director, Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development (DASD), Kozhikode, was the Guest of Honour for the plenary session. A brainstorming meeting on arecanut issues was held along with the plenary session, which was attended by the stakeholders, including farmers, medical doctors and co-operative marketing organisations as well as developmental agencies.

All the programme leaders presented the salient achievements of the mega projects along with future lines of work. Dr. M.R. Manikantan, Principal Scientist, AS&P Engg., presented a new research project on the determination of optimum moisture content for the storage of arecanut which was prepared with the request of CAMPCO. Dr. Prasanna Mitra presented the activities being conducted under the arecanut and health project and requested all the stakeholders present to help them find out the arecanut chewers at different places.

Participants from CAMPCO, Mangalore, TSS, Sirsi, MAMCOS, Shivamogga, Arecanut Marketing Cooperatives Mahamandala, Shivamogga, NABARD, Medical doctors from KMC, Mangalore and Nitte Medical Institute, Officers of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu Department of Horticulture/ Agriculture and farmer member of IMC, offered their comments and suggestions on the research activities of the Institute.

The brief outcome of the plenary session are hereunder:

1. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Karnataka State Arecanut Mahamandala will be signed at the earliest to determine moisture levels and associated microbial activity in stored arecanut samples.

2. FSSAI officials may be invited to visit key arecanut-growing regions to assess the on-ground realities of arecanut cultivation and processing.

3. Collaborative efforts from stakeholders is necessary to facilitate the widespread dissemination of agro-techniques and improved varieties of coconut, arecanut, and cocoa.

4. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for organic and natural farming practices in coconut cultivation may be prepared and made available to stakeholders.

5. Awareness programmes on carbon credit schemes relevant to plantation crops may be organized to educate farmers and enable them to benefit from such opportunities.

6. A scientific investigation may be undertaken to assess the potential effects of aluminium phosphide, a fumigant commonly used in arecanut storage.

7. A clear strategy should be formulated to regulate the expansion of arecanut cultivation in non-traditional areas.

The technical programme for 2025-26 shall be refined and reformulated based on the project-wise recommendations and the observations made by the dignitaries.