The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), operating under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has successfully completed the first cohort of its flagship initiative, BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Innovation). The programme is designed to strengthen India’s agri-food export ecosystem by supporting startups that develop innovative products, technologies and services aimed at boosting agricultural and processed food exports.
Launched as a strategic export acceleration initiative, BHARATI seeks to create a robust innovation-driven ecosystem that contributes to India’s ambitious target of achieving USD 50 billion in exports of APEDA-scheduled products by 2030. The programme focuses on promoting entrepreneurship, technology adoption, value addition and global market readiness among emerging businesses in the agri-food sector.
The inaugural cohort brought together 100 startups selected from more than 700 applications received nationwide. These startups represented 22 states and two Union Territories, highlighting the widespread interest in export-oriented agricultural innovation. The selected participants included 68 agri-food product startups, 26 technology and service providers supporting exports, and six innovators specializing in areas such as traceability, quality assurance, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and compliance solutions.
The programme also showcased the diversity of India’s entrepreneurial landscape, with founders ranging in age from 17 to 75 years. This broad participation reflects the growing enthusiasm for innovation-led solutions across the agricultural value chain.
Over the course of the programme, participating startups completed an intensive 120-hour export-focused acceleration curriculum. The training covered critical areas including export preparedness, international market access, regulatory compliance, branding, packaging, business scaling and investor readiness. In addition, startups received personalized mentorship, attended expert-led masterclasses and engaged with stakeholders from government agencies, financial institutions, industry associations, exporters and investors.
To provide international exposure, APEDA facilitated the participation of the top eight startups at Gulfood 2026 in Dubai, one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade exhibitions. The event enabled direct interactions with global buyers and international trade stakeholders. More than 100 business-to-business meetings were conducted, allowing startups to showcase their products and explore export opportunities across global markets.
APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev stated that BHARATI represents the organization’s commitment to building a future-ready export ecosystem driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness. He noted that the overwhelming response from startups demonstrates the growing strength of India’s agri-food innovation sector and its potential to contribute significantly to export growth.
The programme has already begun delivering tangible results. Within just three months of its launch, several participating startups achieved notable export milestones. Two agri-tech startups collaborated to export nearly 37 metric tonnes of GI-tagged Jardalu mangoes to Dubai. Another startup successfully completed the first sea shipment of nutraceutical-based and botanically infused ready-to-cook millet products to Auckland, New Zealand, using millet sourced from farmer producer organizations in Karnataka.
In another achievement, a Madhya Pradesh-based organic food startup signed an agreement with a leading UAE supermarket chain for export consignments. An agri-tech company specializing in fruit bagging and orchard management partnered with an APEDA-registered exporter to ship approximately five metric tonnes of mangoes to Singapore during the current season.
A Maharashtra-based Farmer Producer Company exported around 850 kilograms of GI-tagged fig juice and jamun-based beverages to markets in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company later secured repeat orders totaling approximately 1.25 metric tonnes. Meanwhile, a Karnataka startup working with over 1,600 farmers across 12 states exported 40 metric tonnes of organic products, including pulses, heritage grains and GI-tagged rice varieties, to markets in the UAE and the European Union.
Additional success stories have emerged from Kerala and other states, with startups receiving export orders for millet-based products and exploring opportunities for makhana, ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products in international markets such as Dubai, Japan and Cameroon.
The successful completion of BHARATI’s first cohort marks a significant milestone in APEDA’s efforts to integrate innovation and entrepreneurship into India’s export growth strategy. Encouraged by the achievements of participating startups, APEDA plans to launch the next edition of the programme soon, further expanding support for innovative enterprises and strengthening India’s position in the global agri-food export market.
Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
