SUTRA : The Sustainable Trade Summit

Invited Speakers and Panelists

"Agenda and speakers are subject to change and any change will be notified on this page closer to the event"

Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India

Joint Secretary (RFS/NRM), Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India

Chief Executive Officer & Chair of the Executive Board of IDH

Procurement Director, Nutrition & Ice Cream, South Asia, Hindustan Unilever Limited.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India

Director
South Asia Rainforest Alliance

Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation,
Fund and Co-Founder, ThinkAg

Investment Director
Caspian Impact Investment Adviser Ltd

Country Director
Syngenta Foundation India

Vice President & Head
Agri & Dairy Operations at ITC Agri Business

Senior Advisor, Private Sector
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Country Director
IDH India

Director, Agro, Pepsico
Pepsico India Holdings Pvt Ltd

Regional Director, Government & Industry Affairs (Asia Pacific), Corteva Agriscience & Chair ,FICCI Task Force on Sustainable Agriculture

Founder and Owner
HSN ECOTEX

Director
Mokalbari Kanoi Tea Estate Pvt Ltd

Country Director
OCA India

Director, DAY-NRLM, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India

General Manager/ Faculty Member, BIRD, Lucknow

Sourcing Director of Palm and Coffee
IDH

Head, Agri-Tech
IFFCO Kisan

Managing Director
AVT McCormick Ingredients P Ltd

Sushama Srikandath is the Managing Director of AVT McCormick Ingredients P Ltd., a Rs.650 Crore Joint Venture between McCormick & Company, Inc. USA & A.V. Thomas Group, India. An alumni of St. Teresa’s College & School, and a dual Masters Degree holder in International Affairs and Business Administration from Ohio University, USA, Sushama worked in Ohio for 6 years. On re-locating to Kochi from the US, she joined AVT Group Companies in 1994. Today as the MD of AVT McCormick, she provides strategic direction and operational guidance to the 395 strong team. The company is a key supplier of processed spices, seasonings, and blends to major brands across the globe.

Based on her passion and drive of improving the quality of life of farmer communities and promoting sustainable agriculture, Sushama envisioned for AVT McCormick, a simple, yet powerful value proposition: Helping Nature and Communities. Today, AVT McCormick has sustainable cultivation of ~20,000 MT of spices, directly sourced from a network of 3700 farmers across India.

Sushama presently serves as a member of Governing body of St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous) Ernakulam (2024-25 to 2029-30) to help foster holistic development of the Girl Students. In May 2024, she was one of a select group from Spice Industry invited to participate in the Chintan Shivir organized by Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce& Industry, GOI) to discuss Quality Improvements and Challenges in Supply Chain. She served as a Jury Member in FICCI National Agri Start Up Awards in Dec 2021. She was part of the CII Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture group, leading the subgroup Market Smart. She served as Board Member of American Spice Trade Association (2015-18). She served as Member, Spices Board, Gov. of India (2010-13) and Member, Food & Agriculture Department Bureau of Indian Standards - Spices (2014-2018). Under her stewardship as Chairperson, All India Spice Exporters Forum (2006-08), developed a strategic road map for the Indian spice industry. She has received prestigious awards including Excellence in Business: Hindu Economic Forum 2018, Woman Business Leader: Kerala State Women’s Development Council 2012, Woman Achiever: All India Women’s Conference 2011, Woman Achiever: Kerala Women’s Science Congress 2010, Manager of the Year 2003:KMA

A prolific presenter at spice, and food industry forums such as the World Spice Congress, European Spice Association, American Spice Trade Association, and International Pepper Community Conference, she is also a well known speaker on Leadership, Work Life balance, Women empowerment and Vocational Excellence. She draws her inspiration from her work alongside farmers in rural areas of India, helping them achieve self sufficiency in their lives. A life long learner, she now enjoys the opportunity to work with young entrepreneurs in introducing agri-tech in these remote farms that helps improve the health of the farming community. Her work is aimed at making agriculture a worthwhile pursuit for farmers.

She is a grandmother of 2 energetic boys, Raghav and Madhav and lives with her husband Sivaram Srikandath in Kochi.

CEO-Oil Palm Business
Godrej Agrovet Limited

Chairman and Managing Director
Sahyadri Farms

Senior Manager, Sustainable Development, Jayanti Herbs & Spice

Chairman
World Spice Organisation

National Coordinator
ILO

MD & Head Inclusive Financing Unit
HSBC

Material Program Lead
H&M Group

Senior Lead, Special Projects
Samunnati

Deputy Director
Market Transformation, RSPO.

Small Tea Grower (STG)
IDH Living Income Program

Head of Coffee
Louis Dreyfus Company Pvt. Ltd.

CVRP and Agricultural
Advocate

Josma Kanoje is a dedicated community leader and agricultural advocate residing in Jodai village, Block- Rajpur, District- Barwani, Madhya Pradesh. With a master's degree in sociology, she combines her academic knowledge with hands-on experience in her role as a member of self-help groups (SHGs), particularly with Jeevika and the Poshan Vatika project. Josma's commitment to promoting nutrition and balanced diets has significantly improved health awareness among families in her village.

Living with her husband, a farmer, and their children, Josma actively contributes to her family's agricultural endeavors on their three-acre farm, cultivating crops such as wheat, maize, soybean, and cotton. This agricultural livelihood is central to their family's income, and Josma is deeply invested in addressing the challenges her community faces.

Josma has played a pivotal role in the Aarambh project, which empowers farmers through education and support. She has successfully conducted 90 training sessions covering over 500 + Women farmers, focusing on sustainable agricultural practices, soil health, and market linkages. Additionally, she has performed over 100+ soil tests in the FPC catchment area, further enhancing farmers' understanding of soil health and its impact on crop yield. Her initiatives have also led to the procurement of over 50+ metric tons of maize for the Farmer Producer Company (FPC) and the addition of more than 100 new shareholders, strengthening the collective power of local farmers.

Through her efforts, Josma has helped bridge the knowledge gap in agriculture by facilitating exposure visits to Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). These initiatives have introduced farmers to modern agricultural techniques, leading to increased yields and improved economic prospects.

Beyond agriculture, Josma recognizes the importance of holistic well-being in her community. She has participated in psycho-social and stress management training, helping to foster a supportive environment for farmers. Additionally, she advocates for access to healthcare services, highlighting the significance of medical camps organized under the Aarambh project that provide essential health services to villagers.

Josma's unwavering dedication has brought about a transformative shift in the mindset of local farmers, instilling hope and optimism for a brighter agricultural future. Her vision of empowered, knowledgeable, and resilient farmers continues to inspire her community, making her a vital force for positive change in Jodai village.