PR No – 4
16th October, 2024
New Delhi
It is the responsibility of every stakeholder in the supply chain to ensure that citizens receive safe and nutritious food, says Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, APEDA at PHDCCI’s World Food Day Conclave
India is an agrarian economy, and we must celebrate this day by acknowledging the country’s vast agricultural resources and its significant position in the international market. India ranks 8th in global trade, and this achievement is due to the efforts of every stakeholder in the agricultural supply chain, said Dr. Sudhanshu, Secretary, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Promotion Authority (APEDA), speaking at PHDCCI’s World Food Day Conclave themed “Food for All: Achieving Sustainable Food Systems for the अमृत पीढ़ी,” organized today at PHD House, New Delhi, on the occasion of World Food Day.
He further highlighted India’s growth in food safety and traceability and discussed the example of grape exports to the European Union. He informed that at one point around 2,500 containers of Indian grapes were detained due to concerns of contamination but by leveraging India’s IT strength, we developed the first traceability system called GrapeNet, which addressed these concerns. We later replicated this system for peanuts with DotNut, making India the first country to implement such a system at the ground level, he added.
Another key success he mentioned was India’s global positioning of millet which was once known as coarse grain. With 2023 as the International Year of Millets, no one imagined millet pasta or noodles would become part of global cuisine, but Indian millet has reached international markets, showcasing the nation’s capabilities. Our varied climate zones allow us to grow a wide range of foods, and industries can capitalize on this to expand globally. He emphasized that every stakeholder in the supply chain must ensure that citizens receive safe and nutritious food by organizing production accordingly. As the government works towards doubling farmers’ incomes, India has the capacity to meet both international and domestic demand, Dr. Sudhanshu concluded.
Mr. Sumit Agarwal, Co-Chair, Food Processing Committee, PHDCCI emphasised that Sustainability and nutrition must be our pledge for the future. It is essential to consider sustainability at every stage of food production and recognize academia’s role in advancing research.
He added, A food secure and nutritious world for all requires massive investment, innovation, science, technology and wide collaboration between a range of actors including governments, the private sector, academic and research institutions and civil society. We won’t be able to fulfill other human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals until everyone has access to the human right to enough food.
Prof. Balaram Pani, Dean of Colleges, University of Delhi, discussed the importance of food in Indian culture and said it is a vital part of our tradition- no one should be left hungry. Nutritious and healthy food is essential to contribute to the nation’s overall health.
He added, research and development play a crucial role in finding solutions to agricultural challenges. The youth must be educated to contribute to eradicating hunger and malnutrition, and we must develop new mechanisms to increase nutritious food production. Sustainable agriculture requires a shift away from excessive pesticide use towards organic fertilizers.
Prof. Avneesh Mittal, Principal, IQAC-Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, spoke about the event’s theme and encouraged industry leaders to collaborate with academic institutions. He informed that there are many research papers and infrastructure available to address the challenges we’re discussing today, it’s time to come together and find sustainable solutions
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Warm Regards,
Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry