Building on millennia of plant based food traditions, India’s potential to shape the global plant protein supply and increase trade opportunities is huge
India would be the leading source of ingredients for the world’s rapidly growing plant-based foods market under an ambitious proposal being discussed at a summit in New Delhi this week.
The “Plant Protein Cluster” envisages the construction of 12 centers – or “Common Services Centres” – across India to transform the country’s food processing and agriculture industries to supply the global plant-based food market, which is expected to be valued at $162 billion by 2030.
The plan will be discussed at the 2nd Plant Based Food Summit on Thursday, May 25, organized by the country’s Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA). The summit will feature keynote speakers, policymakers, the hospitality sector and academia providing insights into the latest trends and innovations. It will also allow brands to pitch to potential investors across the globe to secure funding.
“It is incredibly impressive to see how stakeholders within India are looking to seize the opportunity to transform their food production systems, stimulate economic growth and create jobs in order to supply the booming plant-based market,” Jasmijn de Boo, CEO of food awareness organization, ProVeg International, who will be addressing Thursday’s summit, said.
“We urgently need to shift societies to more plant-rich nutrition in order to bring down carbon emissions and curb the effects of climate change and the Plant Protein Cluster proposed for India will play a major role in achieving that,” de Boo said.
Plant-based foods emit half the amount of greenhouse gas emissions compared to animal-based foods and offer a healthy and tasty alternative to meat-based diets. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) has said that the transition to more plant-based diets is vital if the world is to meet internationally agreed temperature limits.
India’s advantage
India is already one of the world’s leading producers of protein-rich crops and represents a favorable destination for manufacturing as the sector has the backing of huge government support.
However, the PBFIA says that a strong plant-protein ecosystem is needed at all levels of the supply chain, with the assistance of food industry stakeholders, which the Plant Protein Cluster would provide.
Under the proposed initiative, raw materials will be fed into the Common Services Centers from around the country, such as rice, soybean, wheat, sorghum, guar, lentils and chickpeas.
More about the summit
As well as discussing the Plan Protein Cluster, this week’s summit will showcase an exhibition of plant-based foods from various companies and start-ups. It will feature a conference with immersive sessions with industry experts as keynote speakers, policymakers, the hospitality sector and academia, providing insights into the latest trends, innovations, and future of the plant-based foods industry.
The exhibition will feature the most innovative businesses, products, ingredients, and machinery from India and around the world, with a focus on promoting and celebrating the rapidly growing plant-based foods industry.
One of the highlights of the summit is the “Pitch Perfect” Investors Show, which will give companies the opportunity to pitch their brand to potential investors globally and secure funding. The show aims to target investors and strategic partners from the plant-based foods sector.
“The plant-based foods industry has reached a pivotal moment, standing at a crossroads of tremendous opportunity and responsibility,” Mr. Sanjay Sethi, PBFIA Executive Director, said.
“We must navigate this path with integrity, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to creating a better food system for both the planet and the people.’ Mr. Sethi said.
The summit is supported by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), ProVeg International, and US Soybean Export Council.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information and registration details, visit: https://pbfia.org/2nd-plant-based-foods-summit/
For media inquiries, email Peter Rixon at [email protected]
About ProVeg International
ProVeg is an international food awareness organization working to transform the global food system by replacing conventional animal-based products with plant-based and cultivated alternatives.
ProVeg works with international decision-making bodies, governments, food producers, investors, the media, and the general public to help the world transition to a society and economy that are less dependent on animal agriculture and more sustainable for humans, animals, and the planet.
ProVeg has permanent-observer status with the UNFCCC, is accredited for UNEA, and has received the United Nations’ Momentum for Change Award. ProVeg also has Observer Status at the IPCC.
Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA)
The Plant Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) is an ever-growing CEO-led body established by industry leaders to expedite the advancement of the plant-based sector in India to create a healthy and sustainable future for consumers, farmers, food industry personnel, investors and civil society.
PBFIA is a founding member of The International Plant Based Foods Working Group (IPBFWG). Currently, PBFIA has more than 120 plant-based food companies as its members, and they work on four workstreams: Policy and Advocacy, Innovation, Investment and Supply Chain.
