The Tocklai Tea Research Institute, located in Assam, India, is the oldest and largest tea r&d center in the world. It’s also one of the most financially stretched, unable to meet salaries in early 2018. Government funding for research has been cut back and the Institute’s management parent Tea Research Association has made it clear that it is very much on its own and must commercialize its research outputs.
The University of California at Davis is well-financed. It is rated in surveys as one of the top five agricultural research universities in the world. It is reported to have spent $900 million on its cumulative work. In early 2017 it announced its Global Tea Initiative, a multidisciplinary research and education program addressing the many dimensions of tea cultures, agriculture, social issues, climate, and arts.
At the end of 2017, the two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding that established a commitment to form a collaborative relationship for joint research. While the Davis program is still being set up, there is every reason to welcome this as a combination of capabilities that can leverage so many aspects of the tea industry.
Despite its financial struggles, Tocklai continues its long record of innovation. In the past eighteen months, its scientists developed three unique tea wines: Orthodox, green, and CTC and announced the 26-year completion of the development of a new clonal “Gift to Darjeeling.” This is the TS560 seed, whose parents are the wonderful AV2 clonal and P312 Darjeeling clonals.
Tocklai has also been tasked by the government to focus on helping Assam’s small tea growers build knowledge and expertise. It carries out many field training programs and is focusing research on strengthening Assam’s specialty teas. It signed a one-year contract in mid-2018 with USDA to improve tea quality. One priority here is developing nano-genotyping methods of authenticating Assam teas and identifying superior germplasm to counter adulteration and improve yields in the face of increasing climate change.
USDA continues to mobilize, including working on the extension of its highly regarded wine management education programs to tea. Its planned targets of research, international collaboration, best practice education and consumer awareness building are ensuring sustainability, the ways of tea, and advanced well-being.
Tea is a vibrant and dynamic global trade market. The UCD and Tocklai alliance can be a powerful force in globalizing the science and education market.