15 March 2023, New Delhi: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) & India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) presented the “Dawn of a Plant-Based Age” Conference, organized by the Plant-Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) and PHD Chamber, supported by Franchise India, powered by US-SOY, Ernst & Young (EY) as Knowledge Partner, Brenntag as the Principal Sponsor, and endorsed by the Government of Canada.
The conference was graced and inaugurated by Hon’ble Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare as the Chief Guest.
While addressing the gathering, Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar emphasized the importance of plant-based food and assured that the Ministry of Agriculture will consider this aspect in its upcoming plans. He congratulated PBFIA and Mr. Sanjay Sethi along with the other partners for organising the great conference. He also requested Dr. Sudhanshu to check where the plant-based milk related regulations are stuck. He also talked about regenerative agriculture, inter cropping, soybean and millets.
Plant-based foods are those that replace animal-based foods/ingredients such as plant-based meat, plant-based dairy, plant-based eggs and plant-based seafood. The conference took place in Hall no. 8, in Pragati Maidan on 14th March, on the 1st day of AAHAR, and was attended by the top minds of the industry.
Sanjay Sethi, Executive Director, PBFIA said, “India has the potential to become a major supplier of plant-based proteins globally, and the ‘Dawn of a Plant-Based Age’ conference is an important step towards realising that potential by initiating dialogue on implementing the Bhiwadi Plant Protein Cluster, sourcing human-grade soybean (the most important ingredient of the industry), achieving the right flavours of plant-based meat, and attracting investors. The plant-based dairy industry needs support on the nomenclature front to expand the market and enhance consumer awareness. We are very grateful to Honorable Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar for showing his immense support for the plant-based movement and PBFIA. It was incredible to see so many experts and stakeholders in the first ever culmination of the present and future food industry to move towards a sustainable future for all.”
The event witnessed a PBFIA and Ernst & Young (EY) report launch, by Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA, session with Members of Parliament, around 11 sessions on various plant-based food topics, the launch of an India Accelerator Program by PBFIA and Brinc India, by Mr. Sanjay Sethi and Mr. Karan Keswani, tastings by 25+ plant-based foods brand and launch of the PBFIA Plant Based Pavilion.
As the world faces the challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and ethical concerns related to animal agriculture, it is crucial for India to fully embrace and invest in this growing industry.
Plant Based Foods are those that replace animal-based foods/ingredients such as plant-based meat, plant-based dairy, plant-based eggs and plant-based seafood. The “Dawn of a Plant-Based Age” suggests that this is a relatively new phenomenon that is just beginning to gain momentum. However, it also suggests that this shift is likely to continue and become more prominently widespread as more people embrace plant-based foods and the benefits they offer.
To cater to the plant-based foods market and offer the exact meaty taste at an affordable price we must now start the work on the supply chain side. Utilizing superior-grade raw materials like US Soybean and enhancing plant-based foods processing can make India penetrate the export market. The first step is procuring raw materials such as human-grade soybeans which inherently possess higher protein content, lower oligosaccharides and have no beany off-taste. Certain approaches, which include the cluster strategy, can aid in the development of efficient and cost-effective sources of supply, positioning the country as a major supplier of plant-based proteins globally, such as the announcement of one such plant protein cluster in Bhiwadi by PBFIA.
The conference was sponsored by Right to Protein, AAK, Ahimsa VC, Brinc, Continental Greenbird, So Good, Unibourne, Nourish You, Greenest, Symrise, Vezlay Foods, Wakao Foods, Le Meridien (New Delhi), Krystal Ventures, Innovation Asia, Veganta, Indian Culinary Forum, International Institute of Hotel Management – Delhi (IIHM), AgPulse Analytica, Sanitech Engineers, Vegan First, Roquette, Rishiraj Nutra Foods, Fair Exports (India), JBT and Innova Market Insights.
Organisations displaying their plant-based products and solutions include Vezlay Foods, Alt Foods, Blue Tribe Foods, Continental Greenbird, Shaka Harry, Wakao Foods, UniBourne Food Ingredients, Nourish You, Alimento Agro Foods, Azista Industries, Grabenord, Marine Hydrocolloids, Nutricircle, So Good, Vista Foods, Seaspire, Hello Tempayy, Innobliss Solution, The Cone Company, OMG Labs, UEngage, Urja Protein India, Taj Group of Companies, Multivac Laron India, Born Reborn, Dancing Cow, Mangat Ram Dal Mill, Bajo Foods, QOOT Food, Tora Creations, Thee Packaging Company, Welkin Foods, Mother’s Kitchen, Loving Hut Vegan Paradise, Zoipreet Enterprise, WhiteCub, PFC Foods, Plant Power, Jinie.
Overall, the “Dawn of a Plant-Based Age” conference provided a platform for stakeholders from different sectors to come together, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities to promote the plant-based food industry in India. The endorsement of the conference by the Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, highlights the government’s recognition of the potential of the plant-based food industry to contribute to the country’s growth and sustainability goals.
We must cultivate, develop, and mainstream the plant-based foods industry to assist India attain the Net Zero Carbon Emissions objective by 2070, move closer to the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensure food and nutritional security.
The upcoming 2nd Plant Based Foods Summit on 25th May 2023 in Le Meridian, New Delhi is another great opportunity coming your way. So, join us in this conversation towards a more sustainable future. Register here for the summit: https://tinyurl.com/SecondPBFS
