France, Nov. 13 -- Farmers in Kashmir are experimenting with new techniques for growing saffron as global warming stuntstraditional production of the world's most expensive spice in the Himalayan foothills.

Research isin full swing in Indian-administered Kashmir for controlled cultivation of saffron, which costs up to €4,000 a kilogram and is nicknamed "red gold" because of its vivid colour.

Agriculture scientist Nazir Ahmad Ganai said the "corn" of the saffron plant can be planted indoors but is then transferred outside into the ground, while the challenge now was to complete the entire process indoors.

"If we could cultivate in a controlled environment without taking the corn back to the field [...]then we can grow saffron anyw...