PBFIA To Organise Plant-Based Foods Summit

With an aim to offer strategic opportunities to the players in its category, the Plant-Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA) will organise 1^stPlant-Based Foods Summit in association with Good Food Institute India (GFI India) on May 26 in national capital.

The summit will witness the presence of Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries along with other dignitaries in the field of plant-based foods. It will facilitate a platform for networking that elicits conversations surrounding the market size, emerging technologies, existing concerns facing the industry, and contributions leaders in powerful positions can make.

Over hundred scientists and entrepreneurs are expected to attend the event for observing and participating in this unique summit to share their insights on the industry position.

Unique Event In Many Ways

1. Inviting food scientists to collaborate with young start-ups.
2. Cooperation with the Plant-Based Foods Association of the USA, with their CEO Rachel Dreskinand Chairperson of the Board Nicole Sopko also participating in the summit
3. Plant-based foods start-ups coming forward to communicate through their product tastings.

The summit is also likely to facilitate the tasting of plant-based foods products during the conference time as well as in the afternoon Business-to-Business Meetings.

On the other hand, the event is also expected to have a report launch on “The Dawn of a Plant-based Age: India to Lead the Way to World Food Security and Nutrition”, which will be unveiled by Prahlad Singh Patel.

Sanjay Sethi, Executive Director, PBFIA, said, “The Indian diet is carb-heavy, which means our protein intake is drastically low. However, our country has immense geographical and agricultural capacity to produce plant-based protein. The Plant-Based Foods Industry Association’s goal is to meet India’s protein requirements by creating a reliable system for plant-based foods businesses.”

He said that the association will help build and support such initiatives with expert support, infrastructure, and guidance from food scientists.

“PBFIA is an initiative that ushers the next era of health, sustainability and prosperity for farmers and plant-based food businesses.PBFIA is hosting the 1st Plant-Based Foods Summit. The summit is a unique platform that aims to bring together the entire plant-based foods industry and key stakeholders including government functionaries, scientific community, related food industry, institutes and NGOs,” Sethi added.

Discussion On Government Policies

During the summit, a separate round of discussion on the Policy Side of Government, Quality Policy of Products, and Supply Chain and Logistics are also scheduled to take place.

Some of the major points in focus are the inclusion of plant-based components in Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) programmes, support from ministries, re-classification of plant-based foods as perishable items, extending assistance with research and development, a collaboration between research institutions, prioritisation of infrastructure development, establishment of multiple “CentersOf Excellence”, and striking direct contact with distributors for setting up more plant-based foods businesses.

Plant-Based Foods Industry Association (PBFIA)

PBFIA is a CEO-led body formed to support and help develop India’s budding plant-based food ecosystem.

Headquartered in Gurugram(Haryana), PBFIA aims to create a network connecting organisations, food handlers, start-ups, investors, and consumers.

It help businesses in this sector to grow through networking, collaboration, and disseminating technical and market information and research.

It also aims at following things that may help in boosting the industry: 

1. Highlight and promote the benefits of the plant-based industry to improve health, food security, fair practices, and meet sustainable development goals.
2. Secure a plant-forward future for its members in times of conflict.
3. Partner with organisations and other industry bodies with a similar philosophy and vision on the principles of cooperation and collaboration.
4. Advocate policy changes to check trade barriers or unfair practices which act as roadblocks to the growth of the industry.