India’s APEDA has unveiled BHARATI, an initiative designed to elevate agri-food innovation and exports, aiming to channel $50 billion worth of scheduled products to global markets by 2030.

What Is BHARATI?

APEDA—short for the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority—has introduced BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement). This scheme is crafted to nurture 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups, accelerating their growth and bridging them with export opportunities. These enterprises include high-value food producers, technology-driven service providers, and innovators.

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Vision & Export Goals

The BHARATI initiative is a strategic leap toward hitting an ambitious target: achieving ₹4,40,150 crore (approximately US$ 50 billion) in agricultural exports of scheduled products by 2030. BHARATI zeroes in on premium categories like GI-tagged products, organic foods, superfoods, novel processed items, livestock products, and AYUSH offerings. Complementing these, it champions cutting-edge tech such as AI-driven quality checks, blockchain traceability, IoT-enhanced cold chains, and agri-fintech solutions. The initiative also targets packaging innovations, sustainability, and sea transport protocols to address perishability and logistical inefficiencies. 

Addressing Export Hurdles

The programme seeks to overcome longstanding export challenges around product development, value addition, quality control, wastage, logistics, and perishability. By forging a collaborative environment, BHARATI brings together innovators, tech providers, and startups well-versed in meeting sanitary and technical trade standards—resulting in scalable, cost-effective export solutions. 

Aligned with India’s National Missions

BHARATI complements flagship government campaigns like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, Digital India, and Start-Up India. The mission: to make Indian agri-food products globally competitive, encourage backward integration driven by demand, and enhance global consumption of Indian processed food and beverage offerings. 

Execution & Collaborative Framework

Launching officially in September 2025, BHARATI will begin with a pilot cohort of 100 startups, selected via an application process on the APEDA portal. These startups will undergo a three-month acceleration journey, covering product refinement, export readiness, regulatory alignment, and market entry strategies. To strengthen the support ecosystem, APEDA will collaborate with state-level agricultural bodies, universities (including IITs and NITs), industry associations, and accelerator platforms.

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Scaling for the Future

The initial cohort is structured to set the foundation for a repeatable annual incubation model, fostering sustained innovation and long-term export expansion—reinforcing India’s role in global agri-food commerce. BHARATI is not merely an incubation programme—it’s a forward-looking export engine combining technological innovation, strategic partnerships, and national vision. By empowering the next generation of agri-food startups, APEDA is positioning India to capture a significant share of the global market and transform the agricultural export landscape.