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Prof. K.V. Peter , Ph.D, is Former VC of KAU in Trichur, India and Coordinator of the Department of Biotechnology (GOI) funded projects on plantation crops and spices. Prof. Peter is a horticulturist, a plant breeder and an acknowledged research manager. He is the former Director for the Indian Institute of Spices Research, Calicut (ICAR) and former Professor and Director of Research, KAU. Professor Peter is the editor of seven books and author or co-author of thirteen books/bulletins and 132 research papers. The ICAR conferred on Prof. Peter the Rafi Ahamed Kidwai Prize, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences awarded the Recognition Award 1999 for contributions to crop improvement, and the University of Agricultural Sciences conferred the M.H. Marygowda Award for being the Best Horticultural Scientist. Prof. Peter is the Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Alice Kurian is a senior faculty in the field of medicinal plants at Kerala Agricultural University. As an academician, she handles both the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in plantation crops, spices, medicinal and Aromatic Plants and imparts postgraduate guidance. An outstanding researcher, she has put in 28 years of experience in ex situ conservation of genetic diversity, crop improvement and cropping system research in spices and medicinal plants. She has acted in the capacity of Principal Investigator of externally aided projects funded by DBT and ICAR. She has to her credit five released varieties in spices and medicinal plants. She serves as an expert in technology transfer of medicinal plants at KAU and acts as resource person for the trainings and seminars on the subject. Dr. Kurian has participated and presented research papers in several national and international seminars including the one Managing Plant Genetic Diversity in the 21st century organized by IPGRI and held at Kuala-Lumpur. A CD on ‘Medicinal Plants for Home Remedies’ published by her is a pictorial guide for the identification of plants in folk uses. She is also a senior editor of a book on medicinal plants in Malayalam for farming community. She has also published 44 research papers and contributed chapters in four books.

Dr. M. Asha Sankar is a faculty of Kerala Agricultural University with 20 years of experience in teaching, research and extension in the field of medicinal plants. She is a profound teacher handling both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in plantation crops and medicinal and aromatic plants and has co-authored a chapter in a book on biotechnological interventions in medicinal plants. Her area of research activities is conservation and improvement of medicinal species through in vitro techniques with considerable expertise on in vitro synthesis of secondary plant products. She has 27 research publications to here credit on topics related to medicinal plant improvement and management. She is active as a resource person for technology transfer on cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants and has drought out a publication on medicinal plants for farming communities in Malayalam, as a co-editor.