The global nutraceuticals market is currently about USD100 billion and India should aim to achieve a significant share in this segment. This is possible if there is more innovation in the industry, according to Dr V Prakash, director, CFTRI and Padma Shri awardee.

Nutraceuticals is a knowledge-based industry and thus claims made by manufacturers should be authentic and scientifically proven. The industry should move from claims based approach to validation based approach. Value addition can also improve the country's position in this segment. Intellectual Property (IP) protection is another area that needs attention, he added.

The Public Private Partnership model involving research institutions, industry and Government bodies is well emerging and can play a significant role in the coming years too. Research institutions can support the industry in working on niche areas. For instance, the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, is working on peptides in goat milk, which have the potential to be used as nutraceuticals.

Nutraceuticals technology has a blend of information technology, biotechnology and food technology. Nutraceuticals should be food-based and not drug based, Dr Prakash added. He was addressing at the curtain raiser of third Nutraceutical Summit, at Hyderabad on Saturday.

Ranga Rao, director, Andhra Pradesh Drugs Control Administration, said, clarity of regulations can strengthen the nutraceuticals sector in India. There has always been a thin line between nutraceuticals and drugs. In developed countries, there have been stringent regulations through which regulatory bodies have been empowered to take action on violators.

India too needs vigilant and stringent monitoring and regulatory agency for nutraceuticals. Such an agency is expected to effectively evaluate quality of nutraceutical products in addition to verifying manufacturers' claims, Rao added.

Safety, toxicity and efficacy data should be provided by manufacturers to get acceptance from global market. There are several incentives and schemes provided for research and innovation, both by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Entrepreneurs in the sector should utilise the capabilities of academic and research institutions, Dr P Reddanna, professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, said.