BHARATI Startup Zone Showcases Role of Agri-Startups in Strengthening Export Value Chains

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, participated in IndusFood 2026, during which it organised the BHARATI Startup Challenge to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the agricultural and processed food export sector. The initiative aims to support export-ready startups by providing mentorship, market access and policy facilitation. Selected startups emerging from the challenge will be provided international exposure through participation in Gulfood in Dubai, and BIOFACH in Germany, enabling them to explore global market opportunities and strengthen India’s agri-export ecosystem.

Another key highlight of APEDA’s participation was the BHARATI Startup Zone with over 100 exhibitors, which showcased innovative agri-startups working across critical areas such as value addition, agri-technology, processing, packaging, logistics, traceability and sustainable solutions for exports. The Zone reflected APEDA’s focused approach towards nurturing innovation and enabling startups to become integral contributors to India’s agri-export growth story.

The BHARATI Startup Zone demonstrated how entrepreneurship and technology-led solutions are strengthening India’s agricultural value chains, supporting MSMEs, empowering farmers and enhancing India’s presence in global markets.

The APEDA Pavilion served as a vibrant platform highlighting export-ready agri and processed food products, quality assurance systems, traceability initiatives, GI-tagged products and sustainability-driven practices. The pavilion brought together exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), startups and global buyers, facilitating meaningful interactions and business opportunities across the agri-export value chain.

The event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, in the presence of senior government officials, industry leaders and stakeholders from across the agri-export ecosystem.

APEDA’s participation at IndusFood 2026 underscored the Government of India’s focus on ease of doing business, MSME empowerment, startup enablement and sustainable agricultural exports, while strengthening collaboration between policy, industry and innovation ecosystems and positioning India as a reliable and future-ready global supplier of agricultural and processed food products.

APEDA's BHARATI Startup Challenge supports export-ready agri startups with mentorship, market access and global exhibition opportunities. APEDA organised the BHARATI Startup Challenge at IndusFood 2026 to identify and support export-ready agri and processed food startups through mentorship, market access and policy facilitation, with selected startups to gain international exposure at Gulfood (Dubai) and BIOFACH (Germany). The BHARATI Startup Zone showcased over 100 exhibitors offering innovations in value addition, agri-technology, processing, packaging, logistics, traceability and sustainability, while the APEDA Pavilion connected exporters, Farmer Producer Organisations, startups and global buyers to promote quality assurance, GI-tagged products and MSME empowerment in support of India's agri-export objectives.