From field to formulation: Designing a conceptual AI-integrated digital passport framework for medicinal plant traceability and quality assurance in Ayush supply chains

Medicinal plant supply chains suffer from fragmented traceability, adulteration risks, and inadequate quality assurance mechanisms, undermining consumer confidence and export competitiveness. The Ayurveda sector in India, despite possessing robust digital infrastructure through the Ayush Grid, lacks end-to-end continuity from cultivation to pharmacovigilance. This study presents a conceptual framework for an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-integrated digital passport platform that establishes comprehensive traceability for medicinal plants across the entire Ayush supply chain, from farm-level cultivation to formulation, distribution, and postmarket surveillance. The proposed architecture integrates five interoperable data layers: cultivation passport (geospatial and agronomic metadata), processing passport (quality control analytics), formulation passport (compound ingredient linkage), distribution passport (blockchain-verified logistics), and pharmacovigilance feedback. AI modules enable automated species authentication through computer vision, predictive yield analytics, natural language processing for taxonomic harmonization, anomaly detection for quality control, and reinforcement learning for supply chain optimization. Blockchain technology ensures immutability and cryptographic verification of all transactions. The framework aligns with international standards, including World Health Organization–Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 Traditional Medicine Module codes (TM2), and Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable (FAIR) data principles, while maintaining interoperability with India's existing e-Charak, e-Aushadhi, and Ayush Suraksha portals through standard Application Programming Interfaces (API). Implementation through phased pilot programs, stakeholder partnerships, and ethical governance mechanisms can transform medicinal plant supply chains into transparent, data-driven ecosystems. The platform addresses critical gaps in authenticity verification, regulatory compliance, farmer recognition, and consumer trust when embedding safeguards for data sovereignty, algorithmic accountability, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic inclusion.