The Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Calicut a constituent body of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is a major Institute devoted to research on spices. In 1976, it started as a Regional Station of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod engaged in research on spices. A National Research Centre for Spices was established in 1986 with its headquarters at Calicut, Kerala by merging the erstwhile Regional Station of CPCRI at Calicut and Cardamom Research Centre at Appangala, Karnataka. Realising the importance of spices research in India this Research Centre was upgraded to Indian Institute of Spices Research on 1st July 1995. The laboratories and administrative offices of the institute are located at Chelavoor (50m above MSL), 11 km from Calicut, Calicut District, Kerala on the Calicut-Wyanad road (NH 212) in an area of 14.3 ha. The mandate of the Institute are: To extend services and technologies to conserve genetic resources of spices as well as soil, water and air of spices agro ecosystems. To develop high yielding and high quality spice varieties and sustainable production and protection systems using traditional and non-traditional techniques and novel biotechnological approaches. To develop post harvest technologies of spices with emphasis on product development and product diversification for domestic and export purposes. To act as a centre for training in research methodology and technology upgradation of spices and to coordinate national research projects. To monitor the adoption of new and existing technologies to make sure that research is targeted to the needs of the farming community. The mandate crops are black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton), ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), allspice (Pimenta dioica), garcinia (Garcinia gummi-gutta and Garcinia indica), vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) and paprika (Capsicum annuum).