In a strategic move to boost India’s agri-food innovation and global trade, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched BHARATI — an initiative aimed at empowering 100 agri-food startups with incubation support, export readiness, and innovation acceleration.
BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement, and is designed to support high-potential startups working in food production, processing, sustainability, and smart agriculture.
The initiative is aligned with India’s vision to achieve $50 billion in agri-food exports by 2030.
What BHARATI aims to achieve
Launching its pilot cohort in September 2025, BHARATI will support startups in:
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GI-tagged, organic, and high-value agri-food categories
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Livestock, AYUSH, superfoods, and novel processed goods
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AI-enabled quality control and blockchain traceability
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IoT-based cold chains and agri-fintech solutions
The programme will offer three-month export enablement acceleration, covering product development, packaging innovation, regulatory compliance, and international market access.
It also aims to solve systemic export challenges like wastage, logistics, perishability, and global standards compliance.
Support ecosystem and selection process
The programme will operate in close coordination with:
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State agricultural boards and agri-universities
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Institutions like IITs, NITs, and leading accelerators
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Existing central and state-level food processing missions
Startups will be selected through an online application on the APEDA portal. The initiative will conduct a national awareness campaign to attract solution-driven innovators from across India.
The goal is to scale this pilot into an annual programme, fostering year-round startup acceleration in agri-food exports.
Impact on MSMEs and India’s global trade footprint
BHARATI will help bridge the gap between innovation, policy, and export markets for MSMEs and early-stage ventures in food and agri-tech. Benefits include:
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Faster access to global buyers and trade channels
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Tech-driven enhancements in food value chains
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Stronger SPS and TBT compliance for exporters
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Higher farmer income through value-added processing
By fuelling backward integration and demand-linked production, BHARATI is expected to strengthen India’s position as a global food innovation hub.