As per the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the sector is projected to exceed a market size of $535 billion by 2025, with vast potential for job creation, foreign investment, and global market integration.
India’s food processing sector stands at the cusp of a transformative leap, driven by bold policy interventions, a vibrant startup ecosystem, and a forward-looking government that recognizes innovation as the backbone of national progress. In line with this vision, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), in collaboration with NIFTEM-Kundli, is set to host the second edition of SUFALAM (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) on April 25–26, 2025 at the NIFTEM-K campus. The event promises to be a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in the food processing space, contributing directly to the Viksit Bharat@2047 mission.
SUFALAM: Empowering India’s Food Startup Ecosystem
Launched with the vision of nurturing a vibrant and self-sustaining startup culture in the food processing sector, SUFALAM (Start-Up Forum for Aspiring Leaders and Mentors) has rapidly emerged as a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). With its second edition scheduled for April 25–26, 2025, at NIFTEM-Kundli, SUFALAM 2025 is not only a celebration of innovation but also a strategic intervention to harness India’s entrepreneurial potential in line with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission.
The food processing industry plays a vital role in linking agriculture with the modern economy, and startups are at the heart of driving efficiency, sustainability, and value addition in this space. SUFALAM 2025 is designed to address critical gaps in the sector by equipping young entrepreneurs with technical guidance, market access, policy clarity, and networking opportunities.
This year’s edition has attracted over 250 startups from 23 states, ranging from agrarian heartlands like Bihar and Madhya Pradesh to technologically forward regions such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The geographical diversity highlights the inclusive spirit of the initiative, bringing together innovators from both rural and urban India. The participation of northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur is particularly notable, reflecting the government’s commitment to integrating underrepresented regions into the mainstream innovation narrative.
SUFALAM 2025 acts as a dynamic convergence point where ideas, investors, and institutional mentors interact to foster a culture of collaboration. It is designed not only as a business platform but also as a learning ecosystem, where entrepreneurs can engage with successful founders, domain experts, and government officials on pressing issues such as food safety, branding, packaging innovation, sustainable supply chains, and digital marketing.
By promoting knowledge dissemination, capacity building, and startup-investor matchmaking, SUFALAM is helping unlock solutions to real-world challenges—like reducing post-harvest losses, ensuring nutritional quality, and enhancing rural employment. With sectors like plant-based foods, functional ingredients, climate-resilient models, and AI-driven food safety solutions gaining traction, SUFALAM provides a front-row view into the future of food innovation in India.
In addition, the event’s structured sessions, pitch competitions, and exhibition zones create a fertile ground for startups to showcase their breakthroughs to corporates like Nestlé and Bühler Group, and attract capital from venture networks such as the Indian Angel Network.
Ultimately, SUFALAM 2025 is not just a startup conclave—it is a strategic movement that aligns entrepreneurship with national priorities such as nutrition security, economic growth, rural development, and sustainability. By amplifying the voice and visibility of food entrepreneurs, it is laying the groundwork for a globally competitive and self-reliant India in the food sector.
Strategic Vision Under the Modi Government
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has laid a strong foundation for a self-reliant and innovation-driven economy. The food processing sector, which serves as a critical link between agriculture and industry, has received unprecedented policy attention in the last decade. SUFALAM 2025 stands as a shining example of how the government is actively translating its developmental vision into grassroots action.
One of the key pillars enabling this transformation is the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). Launched to create modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet, PMKSY has facilitated the establishment of mega food parks, agro-processing clusters, and cold chain systems. As of 2024, the scheme has generated over 5 lakh direct and indirect jobs, with significant rural impact.
Similarly, the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Food Processing has attracted investments of over ₹11,000 crore, promoting high-value products like ready-to-eat foods, health supplements, and plant-based alternatives. This initiative not only encourages domestic manufacturing but also enhances India’s export potential in global food markets.
The Start-up India and Digital India missions have provided an enabling environment for food startups to flourish. These programs have improved access to funding, reduced compliance burdens, and encouraged digital adoption across business functions. SUFALAM benefits directly from this ecosystem, serving as a convergence point for policy, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Moreover, the role of NIFTEM-Kundli as a national knowledge hub is instrumental. With its state-of-the-art labs, incubation centers, and industry-academia collaboration models, NIFTEM-K supports startups with technical know-how, product development, food safety compliance, and market readiness. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is leveraging institutions like NIFTEM-K to build a future-ready workforce and promote indigenous food technologies.
Minister Shri Chirag Paswan’s leadership at MoFPI has injected fresh momentum into these initiatives. His focus on reducing bureaucratic barriers, enhancing ease of doing business, and strengthening rural linkages reflects a deep commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth.
By nurturing innovation in food processing, the Modi government is not just addressing post-harvest losses or improving food quality—it is redefining India’s agri-value chain and creating a resilient model for Viksit Bharat by 2047. The vision is clear: a globally competitive, technology-driven food economy that uplifts farmers, empowers youth, and safeguards nutrition for all.
Why Food Processing Matters for a Viksit Bharat
The food processing sector is a critical pillar of India’s agricultural and industrial landscape. As per the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the sector is projected to exceed a market size of $535 billion by 2025, with vast potential for job creation, foreign investment, and global market integration. However, despite being one of the world’s largest producers of food, less than 10% of India’s agricultural output is currently processed, which results in significant post-harvest losses—estimated at ₹92,000 crore annually.
This gap represents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity. The lack of processing infrastructure and value addition is one of the major reasons for fluctuating farmer incomes and inefficiencies in the supply chain. Addressing this not only enhances food security but also aligns with India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat@2047—an India that is prosperous, sustainable, and globally competitive.
Role of Startups in Transforming the Sector
India’s dynamic startup ecosystem is uniquely positioned to catalyze change in the food processing space. With innovations spanning smart packaging, AI-enabled quality testing, climate-resilient agriculture, blockchain traceability, and plant-based nutrition, these startups are solving complex problems that traditional models have struggled to address.
Through SUFALAM 2025, these enterprises are being provided the tools, exposure, mentorship, and policy support to scale their impact. Startups play a key role in:
Value Addition: Converting raw produce into packaged, branded, and higher-margin products such as ready-to-eat meals, superfoods, and beverages.
Food Safety & Quality Assurance: Introducing rapid detection kits, natural preservatives, and IoT-driven monitoring systems to ensure compliance and consumer trust.
Cold Chain Infrastructure: Developing decentralized, tech-enabled cold storage solutions to reduce spoilage and connect remote farmers to urban markets.
Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods: Responding to rising consumer demand for health-conscious options, while also addressing malnutrition and lifestyle diseases.
Inclusive Growth and Rural Empowerment
Food processing offers immense potential to bridge the rural-urban divide. By bringing processing units closer to the farm gates and involving women and youth in rural entrepreneurship, the sector becomes a powerful vehicle for inclusive development. It also reduces distress migration by creating local employment and improving the profitability of agricultural operations.
The Modi Government’s initiatives such as PMKSY, One District One Product (ODOP), and PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme further accelerate this transformation. When aligned with platforms like SUFALAM, these policies offer a synergistic environment for growth, innovation, and resilience.
A Strategic Driver for Viksit Bharat
In the broader context of national development, food processing is not just about economic output—it directly impacts nutrition, health, rural livelihoods, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and export competitiveness. It supports the five key enablers of Viksit Bharat: inclusive development, innovation, infrastructure, digital empowerment, and global leadership.
By nurturing food processing startups through events like SUFALAM 2025, the government is laying the foundation for a new era of smart agriculture and food systems—ones that are sustainable, scalable, and sensitive to the needs of future generations.
Building Human Capital and Infrastructure
NIFTEM-K’s role as a knowledge partner is crucial. Through incubation, R&D support, and infrastructure access, the institute is helping bridge the gap between academia and enterprise. By enabling skill development and technical training, it is preparing a generation of food-tech entrepreneurs who will drive India’s global competitiveness in the sector.
SUFALAM 2025 is more than a startup conclave—it is a strategic intervention in India’s journey toward becoming a global food innovation powerhouse. As part of the broader Viksit Bharat vision, the event reflects the Modi Government’s clarity of purpose: to unlock India’s potential through grassroots entrepreneurship, smart policy, and collaborative governance.
By empowering startups with tools, mentorship, and markets, SUFALAM is not just feeding India’s growth—it is processing the future.
