Source: News on Air
Context:
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched the BHARATI initiative to support 100 agri-food startups and enhance India’s agri-food export potential.
What is BHARATI?
- Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement.
- Type: A national startup-support and export-acceleration platform for India’s agri-food and agri-tech ecosystem.
- Launch Authority: APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
- Support: Backed by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, aligned with Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Objectives
- Support and empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups.
- Achieve $50 billion agri-food exports by 2030.
- Foster innovation in production, processing, packaging, and logistics.
Key Features
- Startup Cohort: Selection of 100 startups through APEDA’s website (applications open September 2025).
- Acceleration Programme: 3-month training on product development, export readiness, compliance, and global market access.
- Innovation Focus: High-value GI products, organic foods, superfoods, livestock products, AYUSH-linked foods.
- Technology Integration:
- AI-based quality checks.
- Blockchain-enabled traceability.
- IoT-driven cold chain solutions.
- Agri-fintech tools for export financing.
- Problem Solving: Tackles key export barriers—perishability, wastage, logistics, packaging, and quality assurance.
- Awareness Campaign: National-level outreach to engage startups, investors, and agri-export stakeholders.
