Support for India’s role leading the growth of the global plant-based foods industry grows after presentation of pivotal position paper at the Plant-Based Foods Summit
New Delhi, May 26, 2022 – Support for the plant-based foods industry in India was at the forefront of a momentous week leading up to the inaugural Plant-Based Foods Summit, organized by India’s Plant Based Foods Industry Association, which took place this afternoon at the Hotel Le Meridien in New Delhi. The Plant-Based Foods Summit culminated with Dr, Sudhanshu, Secretary at Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), releasing the pivotal position paper The Dawn of a Plant-Based Age – India to lead the way to world food security and nutrition. Showcasing the strength of plant-based companies, the Summit also featured product sampling from over 40 start-ups including Kerry, GoodDot, Blue Tribe Foods, Wakao Foods, and OneGood. The summit also saw participation from ITC India, Unilever, Symrise, Symega, Buhler India, Mother Dairy, Epigamia, Kerry, and Roquette.
This position paper was sponsored and developed in partnership with the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), a U.S.-based trade organization led by CEO Rachel Dreskin who also gave a presentation during the event. The paper provides insights and an overview of the global plant-based foods market and potential opportunities that will enable India to lead the way to global food security and nutrition. This PBFIA flagship publication aims to raise awareness among Indian policymakers about the need for supporting India’s young and expanding plant-based foods sector.
Honorable Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, inaugurated the summit by lighting the lamp and giving remarks on his strong support for the potential for India’s plant-based foods industry to expand. During his remarks to summit attendees, he stated: ”It is indeed momentous that MoFPI, APEDA and PBFIA have come together to organize India’s 1st Plant Based Foods Summit. I am delighted at the grand success of this event with participation from across stakeholders who are extremely beneficial to us; we are here to bring about a new revolution. Today, we are all gathered here to discuss world changing ideas. As promised, I will extend my full support to build a strong plant-based foods industry in India as it’s of personal interest to me, having distanced myself from any kind of food that includes any kind of cruelty for quite some time now. On the other hand, I also believe everyone is free to make their own choices when it comes to food. Therefore, the focus is not forcing people to give up their old food choices but providing them with better plant-based alternatives with no compromise on taste. We have the exact capacity to bring about such a radical shift in the world. By minimizing compliance, we can quickly develop this industry. I am urging the need to develop the scientific parameters and supply chains that will allow us to showcase the Indian cuisine culture that has represented us for centuries.”
With the support of Shri Prahlad Singh Patel and the international community, PBFIA hopes for the creation of a joint task force between the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, APEDA and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to achieve key goals that will ensure India can capitalize on the exponential potential of the plant-based foods sector.
PBFIA Executive Director Sanjay Sethi said, “It is fitting that this report is being launched at India’s very first plant-based foods summit where we have taken the first step in bringing this report to life by creating a network of organizations, food handlers, startups, scientists, and policymakers. Moving forward, we will campaign for policy reforms to eliminate trade restrictions and unfair practices that restrict the industry’s growth.”
Key measures from the task force will be to strengthen attention on local manufacturing and the export of value-added products; initiatives to support regenerative agriculture to promote a sustainable food system and ease production via low-cost, efficient farming techniques; assistance for Start-ups to help them make use of government support and facilitate connections with investors; establish attainable quality standards; ascertain efforts to establish cold chain facilities and processing units.
“Through the International Plant Based Foods Working Group, PBFA, PBFIA, and five other international trade organizations are coming together with the purpose of aligning on high-level strategy to address gaps and opportunities to advance the plant-based food sector globally,” said PBFA CEO Rachel Dreskin. “I am hopeful for what the collaboration between PBFA and PBFIA and our partners across the globe will yield and how that will bring us closer to the kind of food system and future that we all envision.”
As progress to expand the plant-based food sector in India grows, representatives from the PBFA and IPBFWG look forward to working alongside PBFIA and providing strategic support with the goal of bringing about a sustainable future where plant-based foods are accessible to all.
About PBFIA
The Plant Based Foods Industry Association is an ever-growing CEO-led body established by the food industry leaders to expedite the advancement of the plant-based sector in India to create a healthy and sustainable future for consumers, farmers, food industry personnel, investors and civil society.
About the Plant-Based Foods Summit
Presented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), and organized by the Plant Based Foods Industry Association, the Plant-Based Foods Summit 2022 is the first of its kind national and international networking event for the next generation of leaders that aims to contribute to the planning, execution, and acceleration of plant-based food projects and initiatives in India.
About PBFA
The Plant Based Foods Association is the only trade association in the U.S. representing over 350 of the nation’s leading plant-based food companies. PBFA’s mission is to champion, strengthen, and elevate our members and the plant-based food industry. PBFA empowers the industry by advocating for government policies that allow fair competition, while expanding market opportunities for retail, distribution, and foodservice to support the continued growth of the plant-based foods industry. The Plant Based Foods Institute, PBFA’s sister non-profit organization, is focused on driving a plant-based food system transition through policy and business strategies.