Leaders from U.S. and India convene ahead of pivotal report release and Summit detailing how India’s plant-based foods industry can lead the way to world food security and nutrition.
New Delhi, May 23, 2022 – Leaders from the U.S.-based Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) and India’s Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) are convening today to demonstrate the strength of international interest in plant-based foods and the potential for the sector to lead the way in securing a sustainable food future with economic, health, and environmental benefits across the globe.
PBFA’s CEO Rachel Dreskin joined PBFIA’s Executive Director Sanjay Sethi for a roundtable, ahead of the upcoming Plant-Based Food Summit taking place at Hotel Le Meridien in New Delhi on May 26, 2022, to discuss how collaboration between the U.S.- and India-based organizations can pave the way for a much-needed international transition to more efficient and sustainable food systems, centered around plant-based foods. Rachel was joined by PBFA’s Board President Nicole Sopko, Vice President of Upton’s Naturals, who will also attend the Plant-Based Foods Summit.
“We are facing the existential threat of climate change globally and finding solutions that will help us mitigate our collective impact on the planet while also meeting the challenge of feeding a world population of 9 billion by 2050, is essential,” said Rachel Dreskin, CEO of PBFA. “ The plant-based foods industry is uniquely positioned to help us reduce our impact on the planet while providing key nutrition to people. The success of plant-based foods in the U.S. is one part of a broader international trend and it is clear that we are stronger as a global collective. We are thrilled to support PBFIA in their mission to grow the plant-based foods industry here in India and to have the opportunity for rich international collaboration and dialogue.”
Dreskin and Sethi also met with members of the International Plant Based Foods Working Group from Plant-Based Foods Canada, European Alliance for Plant Based Foods, European Plant-based Foods Association, Plant-Based Food Alliance UK, and the China Plant Based Foods Association to align and coordinate on high-level strategy and initiatives, with the goal of advancing the plant-based foods sector around the world.
The forthcoming 1st Plant Based Foods Summit will culminate in the presentation of a pivotal position paper called The Dawn of a Plant-Based Age – India to lead the way to world food security and nutrition to Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the 1st Plant Based Foods Summit’s guest of honor. The report, sponsored and developed in partnership with PBFA, 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.
“The expansion of the plant-based foods business presents a significant potential for farmers to increase their income, and address food insecurity, climate change challenges, hunger, and public health hazards,” said Sanjay Sethi, executive director of PBFIA. “Furthermore, given India’s varied high-value crop output, innovative food industry, research institutes, considerable R&D successes, and increasing venture capital sector, we have a big chance to assist consumers all over the world consume sustainably.”
With international momentum for plant-based food growing, the collaboration and outcomes of the next week will lay a solid foundation for the expansion of growth of this burgeoning industry for the benefit of all.
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.
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 Food 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 Food 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.