APEDA Launches BHARATI To Boost Agri-Food Exports

In 2025, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched BHARATI, a flagship initiative aimed at fostering innovation, supporting startups, and boosting India’s agri-food exports. The programme targets 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups, providing mentorship, technology support, and market access. BHARATI aligns with India’s goal of achieving $50 billion in agri-food exports by 2030.

Overview of BHARATI

• BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement. The initiative seeks to accelerate the growth of startups in the agriculture and food processing sectors, emphasizing innovation, export readiness, and international market access. It complements existing government and industry incubation programmes. The pilot phase began in September 2025, with 100 carefully selected startups participating.

Focus Areas and Technologies

• BHARATI focuses on high-value agri-food products, including:
• GI-tagged products
• Organic foods and superfoods
• AYUSH-based products
• Livestock products
• The initiative also promotes the use of advanced technologies such as:
• AI-driven quality control
• Blockchain for traceability
• IoT-enabled cold chain systems
• Agri-fintech solutions
• Additional emphasis is placed on innovative packaging, sustainability, and efficient sea transport protocols to minimize wastage and improve logistics efficiency.

Addressing Export Challenges

• The programme targets critical export challenges such as:
• Product development and quality assurance
• Perishability of agricultural products
• Logistical and regulatory hurdles
• BHARATI fosters collaboration between innovators, technology providers, and startups to comply with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) By providing scalable and cost-effective solutions, the initiative aims to enhance India’s competitiveness in global agri-food markets.

Alignment with National Policies

• BHARATI supports several government priorities, including:
• Atmanirbhar Bharat – promoting self-reliance in agriculture
• Vocal for Local – encouraging indigenous products
• Digital India – leveraging technology for efficiency
• Start-Up India – fostering entrepreneurship
• The programme aims to create globally competitive Indian agri-products and stimulate demand-driven backward integration in food innovation, thereby boosting the international demand for Indian food, beverages, and processed products.

Implementation and Collaboration

• The initiative is supported by a nationwide awareness campaign to attract promising startups. Applications were invited via the APEDA website in September 2025. Selected startups participate in a three-month acceleration programme, focusing on:
• Export readiness
• Regulatory compliance
• Market access
• APEDA collaborates with:
• State agricultural boards
• Universities, including IITs and NITs
• Industry bodies
• Accelerators and incubators
• This multi-stakeholder approach strengthens the agri-tech and export ecosystem in India.

Future Prospects

• The pilot cohort serves as a model for an annual scalable incubation programme, aiming to drive:
• Continuous innovation in agri-food
• Sustained export growth
• Enhanced youth entrepreneurship
• Through BHARATI, APEDA reinforces India’s commitment to promoting agricultural exports, creating globally competitive products, and enhancing the country’s position in international agri-food trade.