AAHAR-2025: Focus on Food Safety and Innovation at AAHAR-2025, Indian Products to Gain Global Recognition

Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, inaugurated AAHAR-2025, emphasizing that at least one Indian food product should be present on every dining table worldwide. He also announced World Food India 2025, scheduled to take place from September 25 to 28, 2025.

Key Discussions on Food Safety and Innovation:

During AAHAR-2025, experts and industry leaders engaged in discussions on food processing, quality, and safety. Dr. Subrata Gupta, Secretary of MoFPI, advised farmers to minimize the excessive use of chemicals and prioritize food safety. He also stressed the adoption of rapid testing kits and digital traceability technologies, which will strengthen India's position in the global food industry.
Dr. Harinder Singh Oberoi, Director of NIFTEM-K, highlighted that emerging technologies such as Blockchain, IoT, and AI will play a crucial role in enhancing food safety and traceability.

Emphasis on Food Startups and Smart Technologies:

Dr. Jagdeep Marahar, Director of Nestlé R&D Center, spoke about the opportunities and challenges faced by food startups and innovations. Representatives from IIT-Guwahati, Tetra Pak, FSSAI, Coca-Cola India, and other leading organizations shared their insights on food processing, smart packaging, and automation technologies.

Key Takeaways:

1. Strengthening India's food safety regulations to align with global standards.
2. Raising awareness among farmers about sustainable farming and food safety.
3. Integrating Blockchain, AI, and IoT to ensure food quality and transparency.
4. Promoting indigenous rapid food testing kits to reduce dependency on imports.
5. Enhancing collaboration between industries and regulatory bodies to improve food safety benchmarks.

MoFPI and NIFTEM-K reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation, ensuring food authenticity, and positioning India as a global leader in safe and sustainable food systems.