India’s First Plant-Based Foods Summit Held in New Delhi

To deliberate on the growth & opportunities in the Indian plant-based foods space, the Plant-Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) organised the 1st Plant-Based Foods Summit in Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, on 26th May 2022. The summit was supported by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India (APEDA). It was a one-of-a-kind summit in India, bringing together the whole ecosystem of the plant-based foods sector, including business leaders and government policy reformers, under one roof. In addition, the summit successfully represented a convention of plant-based food entrepreneurs and scientists, allowing for the exchange of ideas.

The Honourable Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, graced the 1st Plant-Based Foods Summit with his presence and meaningful remarks. He believes that the Indian plant-based food business will expand rapidly and that minimal compliance requirements, scientific measurements, and supply chain strengthening will be required.

As part of the Eat Right Movement, Ms. Inoshi Sharma, the Executive Director of FSSAI, emphasised the possibilities of plant-based foods in terms of long-term safe, healthy, and sustainable food items. She addressed the need for plant-based food firms to work and improve compliance by lowering the salt, sugar, and fat content in their products.

In the last 10-15 years, India has acquired a global presence that has influenced the domestic landscape. Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary APEDA, highlighted India’s plant-based food capabilities, including some indigenous crops in which India already ranks high in terms of output. By generating value-added items, India can easily conduct business and meet global demand. With the growing popularity of plant-based foods, India is well-positioned to provide all of the essential raw materials and skilled labour.

Furthermore, Dr. Sudhanshu unveiled the pivotal position paper by PBFIA titled “The Dawn of a Plant-Based Age: India to lead the way to world food security and nutrition .”The report presents an outline of the worldwide plant-based foods market as well as prospective chances for India to become a global leader in food security and nutrition. The goal of this PBFIA flagship publication is to increase awareness among Indian officials about the need to support India’s growing plant-based foods sector.

The summit also attracted over 40 plant-based food start-ups of India who showcased their products for the tasting, including several women entrepreneurs who are propelling the industry forward; 400 delegates attended from some of the important organisations, including APEDA, FSSAI, FICCI, CII, FICSI, NIFTEM, Kerry, Symrise, Symega, Viscofan, Buhler, ITC, GoodDot, Mother Dairy, Ahimsa VC, Urban Platter, Epigamia, Blue Tribe Foods, Wakao Foods, Roquette and many more.

Overall, the summit represented the emergence of a powerful voice in India in favour of plant-based foods. The growth in the plant-based industry is expanding rapidly, and India is quickly becoming “a burgeoning market. As a result, the scope for an industry based on three principles: humane, health, and the environment are enormous.

You can watch the complete summit recording.