He was chairman of the expert review team of the Southern India Mills Cotton Development and Research Association from November 2009 to March 2010.
During his tenure, he had established a solid foundation for cooperative research among all the cotton growing states of India.
In recognition of the work done by the cotton group headed by him, ICAR conferred the council's very first award for team research to them in 1975.
Dr. Santhanam served the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1975 to 1983 as longtime resident expert on Cotton and Project Team Leader in Myanmar.
Improved agronomic practices in Burma for increasing its cotton production under the auspices of projects funded under UNDP.Dr.Santhanam's work on Cotton in Myanmar was commended by the Director General of the FAO for his "direct contribution to the 50% increase in production between the years 1975 and 1982" and placed on record his appreciation for the same.