APEDA BHARATI Initiative: Empowering 100 Agri-Food Startups for USD 50B Exports by 2030.

Overview

In September 2025, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) rolled out the BHARATI Initiative—an ambitious scheme aimed at rebooting India’s agri-food export landscape by empowering innovation-driven startups. APEDA, a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, focuses on developing and promoting agricultural exports

BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement

Key Objectives

• Empower 100 startups in the agri-food and agri-tech domains, helping them develop export-ready solutions
• Support India’s target of achieving USD 50 billion in agri-food exports by 2030

Target Sectors & Technology Focus

High-Value Products:

The initiative focuses on categories like:

• GI-tagged agri-products
• Organic foods
• Superfoods
• Processed Indian agri-foods
• Livestock products
• AYUSH offerings
  

Emerging Technologies:

Startups leveraging:

• AI-based quality control
• Blockchain-enabled traceability
• IoT-enabled cold chains
• Agri-FinTech, and
• Innovations in packaging and sustainability
  will be encouraged to participate

Programme Structure & Launch Details

• Launch Event: BHARATI was launched during the Food & Beverages Sector Stakeholders Meeting in New Delhi, chaired by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, along with support from the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and India’s Food Processing Industries Minister, Chirag Paswan .
• Pilot Cohort: Starting September 2025, 100 selected startups will form the inaugural cohort. Eligible participants include high-value producers, technology-driven service providers, and agri-food innovators .
• Acceleration Programme: Selected startups will undergo a 3-month intensive acceleration, covering:
  • Product development
  • Export readiness
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Market access
  • Collaborative solutions to export-related challenges
    

Addressing Core Export Challenges

The BHARATI Initiative is tailored to tackle significant barriers in agri-food exporting, including:

• Perishability and post-harvest wastage
• Quality and packaging issues
• Logistics and sea transport limitations
• Value addition and certification compliance
  

By fostering collaboration among innovators, tech providers, and SPS/TBT startups, the initiative aims to deliver scalable, cost-effective export solutions

Collaborative Ecosystem & Strategic Alignment

• Partnerships: APEDA will collaborate with state agri boards, agricultural universities, premier institutes like IITs and NITs, industry bodies, and existing accelerators to reinforce the ecosystem
• Awareness Drive: A nationwide campaign will mobilize stakeholders and attract solution-focused startups from across India via the APEDA website .
• Pilot as Blueprint: This pilot phase is envisioned as a model for annual scaled incubations, aiming for sustained innovation and growth in agri-exports .

National Vision Alignment

BHARATI dovetails with flagship programmes such as:

• Atmanirbhar Bharat
• Vocal for Local
• Digital India
• Start-Up India

This synergy underscores the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and driving export-led economic growth

Why This Matters

1. Catalyst for Agri-Tech Innovation: Equips startups with export-ready capabilities through mentorship and resources.
2. Export Growth Driver: Adds momentum to India’s global footprint in agri-products.
3. Youth & Tech Empowerment: Bridges young entrepreneurs with cutting-edge technologies and global markets.
4. Model for Future: Establishes a replicable incubation framework for long-term growth.
5. Boosts India’s Global Brand: Elevates Indian high-value agri-products on the world stage.