#BHARATI #APEDA #AgriFoodExports #PiyushGoyal #ChiragPaswan #AgriTech #FoodProcessing #StartupIndia #AtmanirbharBharat #VocalForLocal #AgriInnovation #GlobalTrade #IndianAgriculture
New Delhi: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched a landmark initiative titled BHARATI – Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement – aimed at transforming India’s agri-food export ecosystem.
The initiative was unveiled at the Food & Beverages Sector Stakeholders Meeting in New Delhi by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan, and UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
The move is seen as a bold step in advancing India’s agri-food sector, with the ambition of achieving $50 billion worth of agri-food exports by 2030.
Empowering 100 Agri-Food Startups
The BHARATI initiative will begin with its pilot cohort in September 2025, designed to empower 100 high-potential startups across the agri-food and agri-tech ecosystem. The startups will be selected through a nationwide application process hosted on the APEDA website, and will undergo a three-month structured acceleration programme.
The programme will focus on:
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Product development and innovation
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Export readiness and global market access
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Regulatory compliance and SPS-TBT standards
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Logistics, cold chain and supply chain efficiency
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Sustainability and innovative packaging
By nurturing startups in high-value segments such as GI-tagged products, organic and superfoods, novel processed items, livestock-based exports, AYUSH-linked agri-products, and technology-driven agri-fintech solutions, the initiative aims to create a pipeline of globally competitive Indian food and beverage products.
Leveraging Advanced Technologies for Global Competitiveness
BHARATI is uniquely designed to attract startups working on cutting-edge technologies to solve India’s longstanding agri-export challenges. Focus areas include:
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AI-based quality control for precision testing and grading.
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Blockchain-enabled traceability systems for greater transparency in supply chains.
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IoT-enabled cold chains to tackle perishability and wastage.
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Agri-fintech solutions for better farmer integration and export financing.
Such innovations are expected to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food safety compliance, improve packaging, and ensure cost efficiency, thereby strengthening India’s foothold in global agri-food trade.
Building a Collaborative Ecosystem
APEDA’s BHARATI initiative is structured to work in synergy with state governments, agricultural boards, universities, research institutions, and industry bodies. Collaborations will also extend to premier institutions such as IITs, NITs, and agricultural universities, ensuring that startups have access to the right mentorship, research backing, and technical expertise.
Furthermore, by complementing government-led and private incubation programmes, BHARATI seeks to build a robust ecosystem of agritech-driven exports, connecting innovators directly with global buyers.
A Push for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local
Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the government’s larger vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, Digital India, and Start-Up India. He emphasized that BHARATI will not only generate innovative export-ready products but also strengthen backward linkages with farmers, ensuring that the benefits of global trade reach the grassroots level.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan underlined the role of India’s food processing sector in creating value-added products that can compete globally, while UAE’s Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi reaffirmed international confidence in India’s agri-food sector, noting opportunities for bilateral and global partnerships.
Nationwide Awareness Campaign and Selection Process
As part of the rollout, APEDA will launch a nationwide awareness drive to engage stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the agri-food space. From September 2025, startups can apply through the APEDA portal, following which 100 startups will be shortlisted for the pilot programme.
The acceleration programme will involve mentorship, export enablement workshops, access to global buyer networks, and solutions to real-world export bottlenecks. The pilot cohort will serve as a model for future annual incubation cycles, ensuring long-term continuity and innovation-driven growth.
Driving Export Growth to $50 Billion by 2030
India’s agricultural and processed food exports have witnessed steady growth, supported by policies encouraging value addition, sustainability, and diversification of export markets. However, challenges such as perishability, compliance costs, fragmented supply chains, and limited product innovation have constrained growth in several categories.
With BHARATI, APEDA envisions not just incremental growth but transformational change, where India evolves from being a bulk supplier of commodities to a global hub for branded, innovative, and high-value agri-food products.
The initiative’s long-term vision is to make Indian agri-food exports synonymous with quality, innovation, and trust—positioning India as a leader in the global food economy by 2030.
Conclusion
The launch of BHARATI marks a turning point in India’s agri-export strategy. By nurturing 100 startups annually, harnessing advanced technologies, and building a collaborative ecosystem, APEDA aims to bridge the gap between Indian farmers, food innovators, and global markets.
As APEDA reiterated during the launch, the initiative is not just about exports—it is about creating a sustainable and resilient agri-food system, driven by youth, technology, and entrepreneurship, to deliver on India’s ambition of becoming a $50 billion agri-export powerhouse by 2030.
Hashtags
#BHARATI #APEDA #AgriFoodExports #PiyushGoyal #ChiragPaswan #AgriTech #FoodProcessing #StartupIndia #AtmanirbharBharat #VocalForLocal #AgriInnovation #GlobalTrade #IndianAgriculture
