Food Tech Summit 2021 organized by the Mofpi on ‘World Food Day’

To commemorate World Food Day, the ministry of Food Processing Industries, under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, organized the Food Tech Summit on 16th October 2021. The Food Tech Summit 2021 aimed to set the stage for all food-tech stakeholders to impart, discuss, and acquaint micro-enterprises with the new emerging trends in food processing and technological innovation.

Minhaj Alam, joint secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, addressed the Food Tech Summit and highlighted the importance of the micro food processing sector as the growth driver of the Indian economy. Through the PMFME Scheme, the government’s efforts to encourage food processing in India.

The summit witnessed eminent industry speakers sharing insightful pieces for micro-enterprises and paving away in the food processing sector at the domestic and global levels.

Among the distinguished speakers were Dr. Prasun Kumar Das, secretary-general, Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), who spoke about the “Role of small food enterprises in achieving food security – India vs. Global Perspective”.

Dr Prabodh Halde, head- Regulatory and Government Affairs Marico India, conducted a session on “Indigenous Food - Scale, Market and its Processing in Micro Industries”.

The session on “New Generation Food and Technology / Recent Trends (RTE/Convenient Foods)” was taken by Anand Chordia, Director – Technology & Innovation from Pravin Masale (ONESuhana). Bidyut Baruah, assistant general manager, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), took a session on Export Potential Food Products and its Scope in Micro Food Industries”.

The session on “Infrastructure and logistic Interventions for Micro Food Processing Industries” was taken by Vivek Jha, associate director - Government and Public Services, KPMG Advisory Service. Akhilesh Gupta, assistant director - Regulatory Compliance Division, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), took the “Regulatory Compliances, Challenges & Solutions for Micro Industries” session.

Tonisha Dixit, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Thanjavur (NIFTEM) took the session on “Introduction on PMFME Scheme and Process for Applying (Online Form for Interested Enterprises/Groups)”.

The Food Tech Summit is a one-of-a-kind initiative by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and the support of distinguished industry experts to educate and guide the stakeholders to make informed decisions to scale up their food business in the present scenario.

In addition to the participation of the various eminent guest speakers, the summit saw the participation of government officials from across the states and the food processing micro-enterprises. It was hosted live successfully and witnessed the vast involvement of all stakeholders.