Dr. Chauhan is heading Centre for Aromatic Plants (CAP), Selaqui, Dehradun as a director since April 2017 earlier he was scientist-in-Charge in the same institution. He had worked as Assistant Director in Flavour and Fragrance Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj (UP) from 1999 to 2002, Agriculture Research Officer in Pharmaceutical & Herbs Development Institute, Ranikhet from 1995 to 1999 and did research work in Central Institute for Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Lucknow from 1989 to 1995. A total number of 10 projects funded by different funding agencies have been successfully executed under his guidance. Besides that, he is an author of 65 research papers, all of them published in international reputed journals, Technical Bulletins on aromatic crops. He is also an author of a book titled “Essential Oils, Extracts & Absolutes”. He has been honored as “Scientist of the Year” award by Essential Oil Association of India for the year 2010, for his outstanding contribution in development and propagation of aromatic Sector in Uttarakhand. Besides the above, he has published 43 research papers in reputed journals.

Dr. Ajit Arun Waman holds B.Sc. (Hort.) from Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli and completed his M.Sc. (Hort.- Plantation, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and Spice Crops) and Ph.D. (Hort.) from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. He joined as an ARS Scientist at ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Sri Vijaya Puram in 2014 and since then he has been involved in the research and development activities in perennial horticultural species, mainly spices. 

He has identified superior germplasm of cinnamon, including those with low content of coumarin, superior yield, better quality characters and ease of peeling. He reported Piper pendulispicum as a new species for India, and registered an accession with ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi. He developed country’s first improved variety of Tejpat and co-developed two varieties of Malabar Tamarind. He has worked extensively on Piper, Cinnamomum and Myristica and identified Woody Pepper as a novel crop. He has developed plantation crops based models cropping system apart from developing agro-ecotourism models for the humid tropics. He has been granted three Industrial Designs and a Copyright, while two of his technologies have been commercialized including Dweep CinnRub- the cinnamon bark rubbing tool. He served as member of several national teams constituted on aspects related to horticulture. He is providing technical guidance as a member of the Technical Support Group for state-wide SPICE PRAVAH initiative of Andaman and Nicobar Administration. 

For his contributions in the sector, he has received several accolades including Fellowship of the Andaman Science Association- 2025 (ASA, Sri Vijaya Puram); Associate Fellowship of the Society for Promotion of Horticulture-2025 (SPH, Bengaluru), Invited Panelist in the Indian Horticulture Congress-2025 (UAS, Bengaluru), Invited Panelist in the Workshop on Cinnamon organized by DASD, Kozhikode, Kerala, Young Scientist Award 2021 (GKV Society, Uttar Pradesh), Invited Speaker in International Conference organized by American Chemical Society and Texas A&M University, USA (2021), Society for Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology-Springer Young Investigator Award-2020 (SPBB, New Delhi), etc. He has published more than 85 peer reviewed articles, five books, 16 short videos and serving as editor of four prestigious journals.

Cultivator of Cinnamon & Expertise in Marketing of Cinnamon in Kerala Market, MBA Postgraduate with more than 5 years of Corporate Experience in Marketing, Training & Sales .

Nithin is an emerging Cinnamon cultivator and entrepreneur dedicated to reviving the cultivation and marketing of True Cinnamon. After completing his MBA and gaining corporate professional experience in the Marketing & Sales field, he has focused his attention to agriculture, choosing to work with Cinnamon despite the crop being considered economically risky. Motivated by growing concerns about the health risks associated with Cassia (deemed as carcinogenic and hepatotoxic) the commonly sold substitute, Nithin committed himself to promoting true Cinnamon known for its gentle aroma, brittle bark, sweetness, and various health benefits.

To ensure quality and credibility, samples from his plantation were tested at the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram, which confirmed that his produce was free from harmful content, like coumarin and rich in medicinal properties. This validation encouraged him to take true Cinnamon directly to home kitchens and conscious consumers.

From grandfather to father, Kunhiraman, and now to Nithin—the art of cinnamon cultivation stays in the family. On his eight-acre plantation, Nithin cultivates nearly 5,000 cinnamon trees, combining both mature and newly planted varieties. He follows careful harvesting methods, peeling the bark from four-to-five-year-old stalks and shade-drying it to preserve its natural aroma. The farm also harvests cinnamon buds, which are sought after by food processing industries. Through patient cultivation, sustainable practices,consumer education, & new generation marketing techniques, Nithin is contributing to the renewed demand for authentic cinnamon in Kerala and beyond.

Mr. Chinthaka Widanapathirana represents the National Cinnamon Research and Training Centre of the Department of Cinnamon Development, Sri Lanka. He obtained his Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Agricultural Technology and Management, with specialization in Economic and Applied Entomology, from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2010.
He then served as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Biology at the same university and subsequently completed the Master of Science degree in Plant Protection Technology, with special reference to Entomology, in 2013 at the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture (PGIA), University of Peradeniya.
He has gained international professional experience by working as a researcher and consultant in pest management in the Republic of Seychelles and the Maldives, while engaging with private and semi-government institutions in Sri Lanka.
In 2014, he was appointed as the Assistant Director in the Entomology Research Division of the Central Research Station of the Department of Export Agriculture, Sri Lanka. In this role, he contributed to research programmes covering sixteen spice crops cultivated in Sri Lanka.
In 2019, he commenced his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Entomology at the University of the Philippines under a Sri Lankan Government scholarship programme.
In 2021, he was transferred to the National Cinnamon Research and Training Centre under the same department, where he served as the Deputy Director in Plant Protection Research. Up to 2025, he has held several positions within the Centre, including Head of the Training Division and Deputy Director-in-Charge.
Since 2024, he is attached to the Department of Cinnamon Development and currently serves as the Deputy Director (Research), overseeing Plant Protection and Training divisions.
Mr. Widanapathirana has authored more than 30 national and international publications. His primary area of expertise is insect taxonomy, and he has published internationally recognized research on the identification of thrips species associated with cinnamon and pepper.
In addition to his specialization in entomology, he possesses extensive practical knowledge and experience in the true cinnamon industry in Sri Lanka.