In day-long brainstorming sessions at ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi, the major stakeholders and startup firms in the sector highlighted the vexed issues that challenge the growth of the industry and Brand India. 

The three sessions–Non-Alcoholic Beverage Sector Overview and Contribution to the National Economy, Evolving Regulatory and Fiscal Policy Framework, Innovation and Startups in the Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry, followed by a fire chat session on Global Best Practices and Indian Scenario helped the participants to discuss the ecosystem of Beverage sector in India. It also sets the tone for further action from all concerned to help Indian beverages stand out in the global market.

Attended by the senior government, regulatory officials and industry executives, the Conclave. Taxation and regulatory impediments inhibiting faster and more robust growth and innovations in the industry were put forward in the introductory address. Chief Guest, Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GOI/Government of India, Sh. Minhaj Alam (IAS), Additional Secretary & CVO, Ministry of Food Processing Industries; Sh. P C Kishan (IAS), Joint Secretary-Marketing, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Smt. Seema Arora (IRS), Principal Director General, Directorate General GST – Ministry of Finance. Industry stalwarts, namely Sh. Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd.; Sh. Saurabh Munjal, CEO & Co-Founder, Archian Foods Pvt. Ltd. (Lahori Zeera); Sh. Vishal Shah, Founder & MD, Storia Foods and Beverages.

During this pivotal industry gathering, IBA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and sustainability in the non-alcoholic beverage industry. Key discussions revolved around empowering startups and established companies, strengthening the “Made in India” brand for global markets, and addressing the evolving expectations of Gen Z consumers.

The event shed light on various government schemes benefiting the beverage industry, including infrastructural support for MSME and cooperation on research and development between private firms and the government.

During the event, industry leaders called for a rationalization of taxes, consistency in regulatory frameworks, and enhanced cooperation among stakeholders. An inter-ministerial approach involving FSSAI, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, and the Ministry of Finance was highlighted as essential for ensuring cohesive and progressive industry policies. 

Representatives from across the industry reacted positively to FSSAI’s proactive engagement and constructive feedback, particularly regarding a point made for data submission alongside industry proposals. The sessions also focused on creating the right perception among consumers by building trust through consistent quality, transparency, and innovative branding. This was identified as a key to sustaining the industry’s growth and appeal. 

Speaking at the Conclave, the Chief Guest, Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary Ministry of Food Processing Industries, said, “The global non-alcoholic beverages market generated $32 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $87 billion by 2027. Despite being a major beverage producer, India currently ranks 66th in beverage exports. While the government has been actively addressing the infrastructure needs of MSMEs, supporting the micro and informal sectors remains a challenge. This sector holds immense potential for research and development, and institutions like NIFTEM are ready to collaborate with beverage firms. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries is committed to working closely with industry players to propel the growth of India’s non-alcoholic beverage industry.”

Following this, Chairman IBA, Mr. S R Goenka, said, “India stands at a critical juncture with immense opportunities to establish itself as a global leader in the beverage processing industry. The rapidly expanding non-alcoholic beverage sector is a significant contributor to our economy and a driver of employment, grassroots development, and innovation. Together, we can build a future where India thrives as a global player, setting new standards in quality, technology, and environmental responsibility while aligning the industry with Vision 2047—focusing on economic growth, job creation, doubling farmers’ incomes, and developing an export-oriented supply chain.”

Mr. JP Meena, Secretary General, IBA, said, “IBA’s National Beverage Conclave 2.0 2024 has provided an exceptional platform for industry stakeholders to unite and shape the future of the beverage sector. We are excited by the strong engagement and commitment demonstrated by participants from diverse sectors. By leveraging the full potential of the non-alcoholic beverages industry, we can position India as a global leader in beverage processing, driving economic growth and creating new opportunities across the sector.

The event served as a platform for stakeholders to engage in thought-provoking discussions and share valuable insights on the innovations transforming the beverage industry. Conversations focused on economic growth, technological advancements, and strategies for enhancing India’s position as a global leader in beverage processing, inspiring participants to rethink beverage manufacturing, distribution, and consumption.

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Over 100 beekeepers and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) from Saharanpur and neighboring districts actively participated in the program. They gained valuable insights, technical knowledge, and the best practices required for the effective management of bee colonies.

Experts like Dr Komal Chauhan, Dean Research and Outreach, NIFTEM, Dr. Satish Kushwaha, Senior Analyst, CFRA–NIFTEM, Dr. I.K. Kushwaha, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Saharanpur and Dr Lakshmi Rao, National Rural Livelihoods Mission  (NRLM) and ex-Addl. Director, Central Bee Research and Training Institute (CBRTI), conducted sessions & imparted training. 

Dignitaries such as Minhaj Alam, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Dr. H.S. Oberoi, Director NIFTEM-K, Dr. R.S. Rajpoot, Deputy Director (PDF),  Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) also briefed the beekeeping community and joined the event virtually.

Namrata Khanna, Director, IHA, delivered the opening remarks for the event. Throughout the two-day program, various sessions were conducted covering key topics such as Beekeeping: How to keep bees and process, Regulatory requirements for setting up a honey business, Technical Beekeeping – Hygienic Extraction & Equipment Maintenance, and Maintaining Bee Colonies.  

Present virtually at the event, Minhaj Alam, Additional Secretary, MoFPI, said, “There are multiple schemes of MoFPI through which the beekeeping community can benefit. At MoFPI, we sponsor various promotional activities to support and educate the small-scale industries. The  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) schemes are specially intended for medium, small, and micro-scale industries. Further, to boost the income of farmers and provide them with a sustainable livelihood, the training program by NIFTEM & IHA is a great initiative and value addition that will address many ground-level issues faced by beekeepers. More such events will go a long way to educate beekeepers.”

Dr. H.S. Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM, said, “At NIFTEM, we want to build the capacity of beekeepers and provide them with the necessary skills and resources to upgrade them. Organizations like CBRTI, Pune, and NIFTEM are working in this direction. To tackle the issue of adulteration, we need pure samples of honey, from sources that have scientific beekeeping practices, so that FSSAI can revise the standards to be more realistic, based on scientific evidence, specific to Indian honey. I also request IHA and the beekeepers to make a geographical database for honey for traceability. This will benefit the honest honey players as well as the beekeepers.” 

Further, Namrata Khanna, Director, IHA, said “The top focus is to create consumer awareness, and thereby increase honey consumption. This will directly benefit the beekeepers if they follow scientific beekeeping methods, to extract honey & other hive products. The training program by IHA is a step forward in promoting beekeeping and creating opportunities for micro-enterprise development. We would like to work closely with the Government & other organizations to create a better ecosystem for honey.” 

Along with beekeepers, many FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) like Aryahi Fed Farmers Producer Company Ltd and Divine International Foundation that work for beekeepers including women also attended the training program and gained valuable insights.  

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