APEDA Launches BHARATI Initiative to Boost Agri-Food Exports
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched its main project, BHARATI. This stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement, and Incubation for Export Enablement.
The announcement was made at the “Food & Beverages Sector Stakeholders Meeting.” The event was led by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal. – The UAE’s Minister of Foreign Trade is H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.
BHARATI is designed to empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups, fostering innovation and creating new export opportunities. It supports APEDA’s goal of reaching $50 billion in agri-food exports for Scheduled Products by 2030. This is a key step to boost India’s presence in the global agri-food market.
The pilot program is scheduled to begin in September 2025. It will help startups in agri-food production, tech services, and innovation. The initiative works in conjunction with current government and industry programs. It focuses on areas like GI-tagged products, organic foods, superfoods, processed Indian foods, livestock products, and AYUSH items.
BHARATI also focuses on startups that use advanced technologies. These include AI for quality control, blockchain for traceability, IoT for cold chains, and agri-fintech. It addresses key export challenges, including product development, value addition, quality assurance, perishability, wastage, and logistics.
BHARATI aims to create competitive agricultural products. This goal aligns with national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, Digital India, and Start-Up India. It also aims to encourage innovation based on demand.
A nationwide awareness campaign will invite applications via the APEDA website starting in September 2025. Selected startups will undergo a three-month acceleration programme focused on export readiness, regulatory compliance, market access, and collaborative problem-solving.
To strengthen the ecosystem, APEDA will collaborate with state agricultural boards, universities, IITs, NITs, industry bodies, and accelerators to attract and support startups.
The pilot will act as a guide for a yearly incubation model. This model will support ongoing innovation and long-term export growth. With BHARATI, APEDA shows its commitment to promoting India’s agricultural and processed food products around the world. It aims to use youth-driven entrepreneurship to improve India’s role in the global agri-food trade.
