The future of food will not belong to those who only grow food but will belong to those who create value from food. Indian food industry today is not just about producing food, but it is about technology, intelligence, sustainability, along with creating value for farmers, consumers and business together, said TG Bharath, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Food Processing, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, while addressing the 17th edition of ‘FICCI FOODWORLD INDIA 2026’.

Talking about the investment opportunities in the state, the Minister stated that Andhra Pradesh is not just an agricultural state but is becoming India’s food processing capital as well. The global food processing industry is at $8.1 trillion, and India’s share is around $543 billion, and Andhra Pradesh contributes around $49 billion. “If India wants to feed the world, Andhra Pradesh is ready to process it. Agriculture creates prosperity only when value additions happen close to the farmer,” he emphasised.

Highlighting investment potential in the state, the Minister stated that the state government’s focus is on ‘Speed of Doing Business’ and not just Ease of Doing Business. “We have ambitious food processing targets of attracting Rs 30,000 crore of investment and over 3 lakh jobs to be created by 2029. Today, we have 9 food parks with plug-and-play facilities. The future of food processing will not be driven by factories, but will be driven by AI, precision agriculture, predictive demands, smart logistics and digital supply chains,” he added.

Avinash Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Govt of India, said that food safety is of the utmost importance and we cannot compromise with safety regulations. At the same time, we must promote healthier choices and encourage more responsible processing practices. “This will help position the sector at the forefront of sustainable development going forward,” he added.

The Secretary also said that the government has started working to create a ‘Bharat’ brand which will promote processed foods. “This will give global recognition to Indian cuisines and Indian alco-beverages. Today, we are exporting a lot of ready-to-eat and processed food, which caters largely to the Indian diaspora. Once we start thinking of the global citizen, only then can we reach scalable transformation. Let us work to create the trust, brand, and infrastructure which can help us in creating the ‘Bharat Brand ’ across the globe,” he highlighted.

Joshi also urged the industry to help find solutions to move the Indian food processing sector from volume to value and from value to the concept of nutrition for all. Speaking on the achievements of the PLI scheme, the Secretary said that the PLI in the food processing sector has been very successful and it contributed to around 48 per cent in employment generation in the country. He also stated that the processing level in the sector has increased from 10 per cent in 2010-11 to 17 per cent in 2023. “We have set a target to increase the level to 25 per cent by 2031. If we increase the processing level, then it will create a lot of value addition along with an increase in exports,” he emphasised.

Dr Satyen Kumar Panda, Advisor (Quality Assurance), Additional Charge (Science & Standards & Regulations Division), FSSAI, said that there is a growing demand for safe, nutritious, affordable and sustainable food, and the global food landscape is also changing with new technologies, trade dynamics, and new standards for quality and transparency. “As India expands its presence in global food markets, adherence to robust food safety and quality standards will remain critical to enhancing export competitiveness and consumer confidence,” he added.

Hemant Malik, Chair, FICCI Food Processing Committee and ED, ITC Ltd & Div CEO, ITC Foods, said the industry must focus on building scale efficiently, driving profitable growth, strengthening resilience, and enhancing global competitiveness.