BHARATI Initiative to Empower 100 Agri‑Food Startups

In a significant move to revolutionize India’s agricultural export landscape, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched BHARATI—Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement. This initiative aims to support 100 agri-food and agritech startups and reach an ambitious target of $50 billion in exports by 2030. Unveiled in September 2025, BHARATI aligns with the national visions of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Startup India, and Digital India.

BHARATI’s Core Mission and Goals

BHARATI is structured to promote innovation, value addition, and export-readiness by,

• Identifying and nurturing 100 promising agri-food startups
• Accelerating startups through a three-month structured incubation program
• Enabling solutions that address challenges in product quality, perishability, traceability, and logistics

This initiative will provide startups with mentorship, product development support, and market access assistance to position India as a leading exporter of value-added agri-products.

Program Structure and Target Areas

The BHARATI program includes,

• Technical assistance on international quality standards
• Export compliance training and regulatory preparedness
• Branding, packaging, and access to global supply chains
• Support for funding access and export market linkage

Focus Sectors

BHARATI will particularly focus on,

• GI-tagged and organic products
• Superfoods and AYUSH-based health products
• Value-added livestock and processed food items
• Technological innovations such as AI in quality control, blockchain for traceability, and IoT-enabled cold chain systems will also be emphasized.

Key Takeaways for exam

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

• Established by: Government of India
• Established under: Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985
• Came into effect: December, 1985
• Replaced: Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC)
• Works under: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi