FFOODSSpectrum Jan 2023

PARTNER VOICE

www.biospectrumindia.com

Get a 360 degree exposure to the universe of Biotechnology
and Health Sciences industries.

PARTNER WITH BIOSPECTRUM INDIA TO TELL YOUR STORY

PARTNER VOICES ARE AN EXCELLENT WAY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR AUDIENCE AND
TELL YOUR STORY FROM A TRUSTED THIRD PARTY PERSPECTIVE.

Each Partner Voice is produced in cooperation between our clients
and our editorial team and includes several design elements to
support your messaging. The Partner Voices remain evergreen
on www.biospectrumindia.com for maximum ROI.

Deliverables

• Your story professionally edited by Biospectrum
editorial staff (1,000 - 1,500 words).*

• Up to two (2) relevant embedded links
• Up to two (2) relevant embedded images
• One (1) relevant embedded video
• Multiple “Road Block” Banners:
• A 728x90 or 970x60 banner ad.
• A 300x250 or 300x600 banner ad.
• A 88x31 or 120x60 logo.

Distribution

• Evergreen placement on www.biospectrumindia.com
• Up to three (3) placements in www.biospectrumindia.com

inBOX eNewsletter.
• Social channel distribution
• Additional market segment distribution is available through

our other brands.

* Biospectrum editorial staff is available to develop the content asset. The cost is

based on the individual requirements (single source, multi-source, word-count, etc.) and will
be priced accordingly.

To know more on Partner Voice please contact: [email protected] | [email protected]



Volume 10  |  Issue 5  |  January 2023 www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Publisher & Managing Editor Social Media Communications: Poonam Bhosale TOP STORIES
Ravindra Boratkar [email protected]
Scan the Australia
Editorial Production & Design QR Code explores
Chief Editor MEDIA VISION, Pune collection
Dr Milind Kokje of fungi to
[email protected] Cover Design address food
Dominix Strategic Design Pvt. Ltd. safety issues.
Advisor - Content
Vijay Thombre Business
Editor: Narayan Kulkarni CFO & Special Correspondent
[email protected] Manasee Kurlekar
Executive Editor: Dr Manbeena Chawla [email protected]
[email protected]
Dy. General Manager
Assistant Editor - Digital Intell & Growth
Nitesh Pillai, [email protected] Ankit Kankar
[email protected]
Assistant Editor ( Digital) -
Sanjiv Das, [email protected] Operations and HR
Asmita Thakar
Content Team [email protected]
Singapore: Hithaishi C. Bhaskar
[email protected] Circulation, Subscription and Media Enquiry:
Sudam Walekar
[email protected] Singapore to
emerge as
MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Scan the research and
QR Code innovation cluster
SOUTH REGION NEW DELHI International offices for sustainable
Apoorva Mahajan Dr Manbeena Chawla tropical
Key Account Executive Media Coordinator SINGAPORE aquaculture.
“NITON”, Block B, First Floor, 103-104, 1st Floor, Saradha Mani
11/3, Palace Road, Rohit House MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Japanese
Bangalore 560052 3 Tolstoy Marg, #08-08, High Street Centre, 1 North rice derived
Mobile: +91-7724025888 New Delhi - 110001 Bridge Road, Singapore - 179094 postbiotic
[email protected] Mobile: +91-8861043732 Tel : +65 6336 9142 enters new
[email protected] Mobile: +6590681202 markets.
[email protected] Scan the
QR Code
USA
MUMBAI PUNE BioSpectrum Bureau Scan the China discovers
Ankit Kankar Vipan Kumar MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications QR Code impact of fruit
Dy. General Manager Relationship Executive - Media Mobile: +91-9579069369 and vegetable
Digital Intell & Growth Ashirwad, 36/A/2, E-mail: [email protected] intake on
1st Floor, CIDCO Convention Center, S.No. 270, Pallod Farms, nutritional value
Sector 30A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Baner Road, Pune-411045 EUROPE of breast milk.
Maharashtra-400703. Mobile: +91-98347 45564 BioSpectrum Bureau
Mobile: +919579069369 [email protected] MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications
[email protected] Mobile: +91-9579069369
E-mail: [email protected]
NAGPUR
Manisha Boratkar
402, Govind Apartments, Shankar Nagar Square, Nagpur - 440 010
Tel. +91-712-2555 249

'nuFFooDS Spectrum' monthly publication is owned by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Pvt. Ltd., Published and Printed
by Ravindra Boratkar, Printed at Spectrum Offset, D2/4, Satyam Industrial Estate, Behind CDSS, Erandawana, Pune - 411 038. and
Published at 'Ashirwad', 36/A/s, S. No. 270, Pallod Farms, Baner Road, Near Bank of Baroda, Pune - 411 045. Editor: Narayan Kulkarni
Reprinted for private circulation.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in 5

Ravindra Boratkar Letter from Publisher
Publisher &
Dear Readers,
Managing Editor, I wish A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to all our readers and advertisers.
MD, MM Activ Sci-Tech The new year also rings in the UN-declared InternationalYear of Millets, understandably
Communications Pvt. Ltd. crucial for the food sector. A lot is being done globally to increase awareness about millets
in enhancing food security and nutrition, to promote millets, and also to encourage
investments in its R&D.
It is a proud moment for India since it was our proposal to celebrate 2023 as the
International Year of Millets. India celebrated 2018 as the National Year of Millets. India’s
affinity with millets is quite natural, as the largest producer of millets, accounting for 20
per cent global and 80 per cent of Asia’s production. India has also drawn plans for the
millet celebration in various ways. You will be able to read about it in this New Year issue.
I am sure, while welcoming the new year, you might have savoured new and different
types of delectable foods. The Indian food industry, particularly the processed and ready-
to-eat sector, is growing fast. The growth is not limited to the volume of consumption or
financials of food producing companies. Foodies, especially, are in for a treat with the
range of various types and flavours of foods racking up in food stores.
For the food industry to keep growing, two ‘I’s are the most essential. They are
investments and innovations. To highlight their importance, we have focused on the two
‘I’s in this issue. One news report of 2021 said that the investments in agri food tech
startups had shot up 97 per cent to $21 billion in 2020-21. However, 67 per cent of that
reflects the restaurant marketplace alone.
While channels to connect with consumers, like restaurants, stores, e-stores and
delivery agencies are important in the food sector, food producing companies that roll out
novel foods on a regular basis are also equally important, if not more.
Hence, we’ve covered the status of investments in new-age food tech startups. As
mentioned above, investment needs to be accompanied by the introduction of new food
items, which requires innovation and R&D. Hence, part of the investment must be
diverted for R&D. Important question is ‘how much’? The price-to-research ratio (PRR)
is a measure of comparing companies’ R&D expenditures. The globally accepted norm is
the PRR ratio of 5x to 10x.
It is also important that the investment in R&D must effectively be translated into
new and viable products. Only then the investment will guarantee good returns. Food
companies need to ensure this, something we've covered in this edition as well.
I am confident that you will enjoy reading this and upcoming mags and crave for more
such content.
Bon appetit and Happy Reading,
Thanks & Regards,

Ravindra Boratkar

Publisher & Managing Editor

Wishes its readers, advertisers,
writers, subscribers and well-wishers a

Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year 2023

6 INSIDE NUNFUFFOFOODOSDSPSEPCETCRTURMUM | | JaMnuaracrhy 20203 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

20COVER STORY

Startups Bet Big
on Innovative

Wellness Offerings

Indian food startups are increasingly upgrading to keep up with the changing consumer behaviour
and market demand. The pandemic-induced market transformation which was mainly ruled by

innovative offerings in different industries, functional food innovations are progressively occupying
the shelves. Startups have realised the jump in demand for wellness related products and services,
with mental health, women’s health and preventive nutraceuticals leading in the consumers’ list

of priorities. The newfound demand is being increasingly tapped by startups and as a leading
positive, the government has been spearheading the ‘startup cause’ by the Startup India initiatives,

including incentives. With such a perfect recipe for success, let’s see what some of the innovative
startups are bringing to the shelves and what’s in store for 2023 and beyond.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INSIDE 7

R&D Dairy

27 39

Shouldn't the Food Industry Focus on R&D? How Dairy Industry Can
Opportunities Scale New Heights in 2023

30 Dr Ashish Agarwal,

2023 Looks Promising for Indian Millets Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer,
Speaking With Weather Risk Management Services (WRMS)

33 Milk Processing

"Smart protein sector is 41
poised to create 4 lakh
jobs in India by 2030" Zeroing-in on Efficacious
Human Milk Processing Tech
Astha Gaur,
Sarah M Reyes,
Policy Specialist-Regulatory, GFI India
PhD, Scientific Liaison and Consultant,
36 Human Milk & Clinical Research,
Prolacta Bioscience
"With tech interventions
Indian growers are upgrading Packaging Inks
their produce to address
export-specific challenges" 43

Tarun Arora, Why FBOs Must
Comply With IS 15495
Director Single Family Office, IG International
Jatin Takkar,

Head, Product Safety and Regulatory,
Siegwerk India

REGULARS

Letter from Publisher 05

Video Snippets 08

Editorial 09

Regulatory News 10

Finance News 11

Start-Up News 13

Company News 15

World News 18

People News 45

Ingredients News 46

R&D 47

Supplier News 48

Let’s Talk Food 50

8 VIDEO SNIPPETS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Acknowledgements/ Feedback Thanks for your feedback. We have taken note of
Hard time for all businesses and most crucial for your suggestions and will surely try to incorporate
all startups be it any industry, so no different is "Alt the content accordingly in coming issues. Please
Protein or Smart Protein" Industry in India. I believe keep sending us your feedback and updating us
tough situation makes entrepreneurs tougher and on your views about the issue and keep giving
those who's missions are exactly like "the aim of your opinions on the content.
Warrior Arjuna, the concentration of whom are only
on the eye of the bird & nowhere else" - will pass the – Editor
litmus test no matter what may happen now or in
2023 or later. Thank you nuFFooDS Spectrum for the Please send your feedback to
interview feature on Alt protein startups with Rajesh [email protected]
Kumar Prasad, in the December edition.

- Amod A Salgaonkar, Mumbai

Thank you so much nuFFooDS Spectrum for the
wonderful article on the startup brand BUILD.

- Rohan Dayal, New Delhi

Thank you for the feature on intensifying research for
emerging concepts of probiotics.

- Dr Satyanarayana K, Hyderabad

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EDITORIAL 9

Neanderthal Foodies

Dr Milind Kokje What researchers found in the cave was seed
flatbread. They also found evidence of use of
Chief Editor mixtures of seeds in the food. But, while using seeds,
the cave cooks seem to not remove their outer
What did you eat yesterday, or a day before? cover, indicating that they wished to reduce but
A relatively easy question to answer if your not to totally eliminate the pulses’ natural flavours.
memory is good. What if this ‘yesterday’ They appeared to have some unique preferences
is stretched further back in time? Maybe now, it’s for specific plant flavours. Based on an analysis by
become a bit more difficult to answer, but may really archaeobotanist Ceren Kabukcu and others, the
not be impossible. What if you try to learn the types researchers have even put together a recipe, based
of foods that your parents or grandparents used to on their analysis and shared it with people.
eat back in the day, decades ago? How about a few
centuries ago, or even a thousand years ago, during Researchers have also analysed remains of the
the prehistoric age? What did the humans of that food 40,000 years old, from the same location in Iraq
time period eat? We can only speculate, right? But and also 12,000-year-old food leftover at another
not anymore. location called Franchthi cave in Greece. Interestingly,
despite the difference of 30,000 and 58,000 years
Now we know, not only what our forefathers and distances (Iraq to Greece) similar plants and
ate, but even their forefathers! Researchers have culinary practices were found at all these locations.
discovered what our closest ancient human relatives, Researchers look at it as a shared food culture.
the Neanderthals, ate. In a cave complex in northern
Iraq, researchers have unearthed charred remains Two TV anchors in the US, during their breakfast
of the world’s oldest cooked meal. From what the show, tried to consume some patties cooked
researchers have found, it appears that Neanderthals using the ingredients and cooking method of
were foodies. Neanderthals. However, one of them found it too
unpalatable to consume. Maybe it is an acquired
The food leftovers found in Shanidar cave site, a taste?
Neanderthal dwelling, appear to be 70,000 years old.
The excavation of the cave in the Zagros mountain, Meanwhile researchers are continuing on their
500 miles North of Baghdad in Iraq is coordinated quest to learn more about the ingredients used
by Charls Hunt, Professor of Cultural Paleoecology at and the Neanderthal cooking style. Learning in
Liverpool John Moores University. depth about our ancestors’ food habits, particularly
nutritious foods, may offer us some guidance with
One important point that emerges from this regard to our approach to food. Afterall, the search
discovery is that contrary to the common belief till of history is not only for the sake of knowing history,
now, our cave age forefathers were not consuming but it is for the sake of picking up the good and
raw meat, but they were consuming cooked meat. avoiding the bad.
Also, they were not just consuming protein from
animals. In addition to meat, Neanderthals also American author Richard Paul Evans wasn’t too
consumed plants and seeds. Wild nuts and grasses far off when he said, “The more I study history the
were combined with pulses, like lentils, and wild more I realise how little mankind has changed. There
mustards. Researchers feel that their findings are are no scripts, just different actors.”
the first indicators of a complex diet consisting of a
wide selection of plants which varied depending on
location. Cooking in a typical Neanderthal kitchen
was also complex as they used a range of tricks
to make their food more palatable. Overall, the
leftovers reveal that the cooking involved a variety of
ingredients, processes and deliberate decisions.

10 REGCUOLMAPTAONRY NEWS NUFNFUOFOFDOSODSSPESCPTERCUTMRUM| |JanAuapryil 20213 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

ISB-led Odisha inks MoU with
consortium American India Foundation
to strengthen to alleviate undernutrition
agriculture-
nutrition Women & Child Development Department, Government of Odisha has
convergence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American India
Foundation (AIF) to implement an Integrated Programme for Children
Indian School of Business (ISB) to collaboratively alleviate undernutrition, promote early childhood
has announced its collaboration education (ECE), and improve the mental health of 10,000 children in the
with the Ministry of Agriculture preschool age group and 12,000 children in the 11-15 years age range in
and Farmers Welfare, Government the Thakurmunda and Gopabandhu Nagar Blocks of Mayurbhanj District.
of India to further strengthen As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5, one in three children
agriculture-nutrition convergence. under 5 years is stunted in India (indicates prolonged under-nutrition)
The collaboration will be led by while 19.3 per cent of children under 5 years are wasted in India
ISB, the University of Sheffield (indicates acute under-nutrition). Further exacerbating the problem,
(UoS) and the London School only 13.6 per cent of children aged 5 attended pre-primary school
of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine during 2019-20. To mitigate these enormous challenges, this Integrated
(LSHTM). This was formally Programme undertaken by AIF will strengthen the ongoing efforts of the
announced by Manoj Ahuja, Government of Odisha by providing nutritious meals to children in the
Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture age group of 6 months to 3 years at Anganwadi centres.
and Farmers Welfare, Government
of India. ISB will anchor this India pushes export of citrus
collaboration in the Ministry, varieties from North Eastern Region
which will further augment
the government’s efforts in As a part of its strategy to give a boost to the export of organic
improving nutrition outcomes and agricultural products of Mizoram and North Eastern Region (NER),
strengthening agriculture-nutrition
convergence while establishing an Centre through Agricultural and Processed
institutional mechanism to identify Food Export Development Authority (APEDA)
convergence opportunities at both recently organised Workshop-cum-Buyer
central and state levels. Over a Seller Meet (BSM) at Mizoram University
five-year period, UoS, LHSTM, & ISB, in Aizawl. After the BSM, a consignment of
along with ISB’s implementation Hatkora (local variety of citrus) sourced from
partners – Collectives for farmers of Mamit district of Mizoram was
Integrated Livelihood Initiatives exported to London and another consignment
(CInI)-TATA Trusts, MicroSave of Hatkora is being exported to Bangladesh.
Consulting (MSC) and Policy The BSM was organised to promote the
Development and Advisory Group exports of the potential agri-horti products from Mizoram and provide
(PDAG), will work towards the market linkage to farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmer
vision to increase the accessibility, Producer Companies (FPCs) from the north-eastern state.
availability, and affordability of
Nutrient-Dense Foods for low-
income population in underserved
areas through agriculture-nutrition
policy convergence, such that
improving nutrition outcomes
amongst the target audience
becomes a stable policy outcome
over an extended time horizon.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FINANCE NEWS 11

Trelish raises Rs 3.5 Cr Bira 91
from Chennai Angels
raises $70M
Pune-based startup Trelish, a premium coffee brand specialising in instant
liquid coffee blends, has announced a fundraise of Rs 3.5 crore in a recent from Kirin
round led by The Chennai Angels. Trelish intends to utilise the funds for
geographic expansion, hiring top talent and to further strengthen the brand. Holdings
Trelish’s unique ready-to-use liquid coffee blends allow coffee drinkers to
Bira 91, a craft beer brand
experience the freshness of brewed coffee manufactured by New Delhi-
along with the convenience of instant coffee. based startup B9 Beverages,
Trelish’s products are present in over 5000 retail has raised $70 million in
touch points and on e-commerce platforms Series D funding, in a round
as well. Their wide range of preservative-free led by leading Japanese
products are manufactured in-house and company – Kirin Holdings.
developed by the Founders themselves. Trelish The funds will be deployed to
is occupying a niche gap in the ready-to-drink expand production capacity
large coffee market, by serving premium liquid by commissioning new
coffee. While instant coffee and brewed coffee breweries and expanding
address two ends of this market, Trelish series its existing facilities. The
of liquid coffee, in ready-to-use form with no capital will also be utilised
brewing required and long shelf-life, should enjoy a premium in the market, to increase the company’s
given the hurried pace of life of most people these days. distribution footprint
across the country and
SALIC picks 9.22% equity internationally, and further
stake in LT Foods with bolster Bira 91’s product
investment of Rs 455.5 Cr development and innovation
capabilities. Bira 91 recently
The Board of Directors of Gurugram-based LT Foods has approved the announced its goal to
preferential issuance of 27,408,164 equity shares, i.e. 7.89 per cent equity become the country’s first
stake in LT Foods, at Rs 142.23 per share to Saudi Agricultural and Livestock carbon-neutral beer company
Investment Company (SALIC), a Saudi Joint Stock Company that is owned and has formed the B9-
by the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, Kirin Center for Sustainable
SALIC will acquire a 1.33 per cent equity Growth based out of its
stake through a secondary share purchase New Delhi headquarters,
from the Promoters Group. Post completion where technical and strategy
of this transaction, SALIC will hold 9.22 experts from Kirin are
per cent equity stake in LT Foods. The helping the Indian company
Promoters of the Company will continue with its Net Zero goal. The
to hold the majority equity stake of 51 per company has forged a special
cent. In a related transaction, LT Foods will partnership with Kirin that
purchase 29.52 per cent equity stake in goes beyond capital and
its subsidiary, Daawat Foods, from SALIC is driven by its long-term
which was acquired in February 2020 purpose to drive the shift in
through its subsidiary ‘United Farmers beer towards more flavour,
Investment Company’. LT Foods will acquire this stake for Rs 175.8 crore and and to become global
post completion of the transaction it will hold 100 per cent equity stake in leaders in innovation and
Daawat Foods. Further, the company will also enter into a strategic supply & sustainability.
cooperation agreement with SALIC to further support SALIC in its food security
agenda along with giving LT Foods significant access to a large market.

12 FINANCE NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

HUL makes Ghodawat Consumer acquires
strategic beverages startup Coolberg
investments
in OZiva and Ghodawat Consumer Limited (GCL), the FMCG arm of Sanjay Ghodawat
Wellbeing Group (SGG), has acquired Mumbai-based startup Coolberg, which offers
Nutrition malt-based flavoured non-alcoholic beverages. Founded by Pankaj Aswani
and Yashika Keswani in 2016, Coolberg has been the pioneer of the malt-
In line with the strategic priority based beverage category in India and has scaled its distribution in more
of entering fast-growing demand than 200 cities and across 10 countries. GCL has recently achieved a
spaces, Hindustan Unilever momentous milestone of Rs 1400 crore revenue in FY22 and is on track to
Limited (HUL) has announced achieve Rs 2000 crore by FY23. Coolberg will become part of the Impulse
its foray into the ‘Health & division of GCL and the aim is to become the biggest brand in its category
Wellbeing’ category through across the globe. The entire Coolberg team will join GCL and will continue
strategic investments in two on the mission to develop a portfolio of new-age premium beverage
Mumbai-based startups- Zywie brands. Coolberg drinks currently come in 6 unique malt-based flavours.
Ventures Private Limited (OZiva) The brand operates omni channel and sells across online marketplaces and
and Nutritionalab Private Limited quick commerce as well as supermarkets, restaurants, colleges, airports,
(Wellbeing Nutrition). Health etc. The brand claims its reach in more than 50,000 outlets today and aims
& Wellbeing is a fast-evolving to grow the same over 1,00,000 outlets in the next couple of years.
category in India with a total
potential market size of Rs 30,000 Beanly Coffee closes seed
crore. Launched in 2016, OZiva investment to strengthen presence
is a leading plant-based, and
clean-label consumer wellness Beanly, an early-stage consumer brand in the coffee space and an early
brand focused on the need stage D2C startup known for innovations in the coffee category, recently
spaces such as lifestyle protein,
hair & beauty supplements closed its seed investment from a clutch of
and women’s health. HUL will angel investors who are marquee names in their
acquire 51 per cent equity fields namely Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman at BW
stake through a combination of Businessworld and exchange4Media Group, Deep
primary infusion and secondary Bajaj & Mohit Bajaj, Founders at Sirona Hygiene,
buyouts. The balance 49 per Insurance Veteran and Startup Investor Rohit Jain,
cent will be acquired at the end Vikash Chowdhury, and Abhishek Ravi. Beanly as a
of 36 months based on pre- brand is known for its manufacturing prowess and
agreed valuation criteria. The is the first startup in the coffee space to introduce
current OZiva team led by Aarti nitrogen-infused coffee to keep it fresh and also
Gill and Mihir Gadani, who will pour over coffee etc. Made with the finest arabica
continue to operate all functions beans sustainably grown in Karnataka, Beanly
of the business. Founded in offers a range of category-first products backed
2019, Wellbeing Nutrition has by science and is freshly roasted in New Delhi. The
pioneered disruptive formats in products are available on the brand’s website and
science-backed, benefit-led clean in numerous other online marketplaces. The company plans to use the
products in Health & Wellbeing. funds to grow its presence across online and offline channels.
Its product range includes Melts
(Oral Thin Strips), Slow (Slow-
Release capsules) and Marine
Collagen powder focused on need
spaces such as beauty, everyday
health, gut health and sleep.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in STARTUPS NEWS 13

Food-tech startup Diabexy launches
Sugar Control Atta for
Pluckk announces diabetes patients

expansion plans Gurugram-based startup Diabexy that manufactures
low glycemic load food products for diabetic people, has
across India launched Diabexy Sugar Control Atta to help them fight
diabetes and also manage their blood sugar levels. Many
Pluckk, a fresh produce food-tech venture people are developing diabetes
owned by Fruveggie Tech, has clocked a record due to changing lifestyles and
revenue of $5 million in a short span of time eating habits. Diabexy is on a
since its launch in January 2022, making it one mission to eradicate diabetes from
of the fastest growing D2C brands in the Fruits & India like polio. After several years
Vegetables (F&V) category. The revenue growth of research and trial, Diabexy has
was driven by the launch of the PLUCKK app developed an atta made with nuts
in April which contributed to its stellar growth and seeds, without grain for the
with 100k downloads in just three months. The management and prevention of
startup has also announced its expansion in diabetes. This atta will successfully
Delhi NCR, where the pilot has already started in meet their nutrient needs, along
Gurugram and future plans include expansion in with sugar management for
Pune and Hyderabad by end of FY 23-24. Tie-ups all age groups. Diabexy sugar
with major ecommerce platforms like Amazon, control atta contains abundant
Dunzo and Swiggy, Zepto and Reliance signature amounts of protein, dietary fibre,
stores have been a major driving factor to the and energy value. It may be the
growth of this young company. With current greatest solution for those with
operations in Bengaluru and Mumbai, Pluckk has conditions including insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity,
currently crossed over 100K customers, works high blood pressure, arthritis, heart disease, intestinal
with a network of 1000+ farmers & offers a range disorders, cancer, obesity, skin issues, sexual weakness, and
of 250+ products of essentials, exotics and pan general weakness.
ready meal kits. The company has plans to raise
funding in the next 12 to 18 months and enter
into newer geographies.

Nutrizoe develops innovative dissolvable
oral strips for women’s wellness

Introducing a paradigm shift three different sets of oral strips. minerals like Folic Acid and
in drug delivery worldwide, Nail the Nausea addresses the issue Vitamins. It has 4th generation
dissolvable oral thin films (OTTFs) of morning sickness and nausea Folate called Quatrefolic which is
are a fast-emerging clinically backed finished folate for
dosage alternative during pregnancy. higher absorption and effectiveness
set to revolutionise The strips and Vitamins B6, B12, and D3 and
the over-the-counter have essential are prescribed to be consumed
industry. Bringing anti emetics, for fertility during pre-conception
the efficacy of these Gingerols, and and pregnancy. Calm The Chums
quick and effective multivitamins- has VAC (Vitex Agnus Castus) or
solutions to the C, E, and B commonly called as Chasteberry, a
domain of women’s Complex, zinc, clinically proven ingredient along
wellness in India, and lemon. Prep with the combination of iron from
Mumbai-based The Pregnancy is AB-Fortis and Vitamin B6 for period
startup Nutrizoe a novel patented pains, cramps, mood irritability, and
has launched combination PMS relief.
of essential

14 STARTUPS NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

WayCool LifeSpice launches India’s
expands first science-backed spice mixes
Freshey’s
portfolio Chennai-based startup LifeSpice India has announced the pan India launch of
with new ‘LifeSpice’– India’s first science-backed spice mixes in the presence of Ganeshan
bread range Varadarajan (Lead Promoter & Director, LifeSpice India) and Ramasamy
Venkatachalam (Co-Promoter & Advisor, LifeSpice India). The startup has
WayCool Foods, a food conducted pre-clinical level in vivo tests on Zebra Fish to establish that spices
and agri-tech startup, has have phytochemicals like Oleanole, Anethole, Cineole, Piperine, Capsaicin,
announced the expansion Curcumin, Cuminaldehyde, Cuminum, to name a few, that when consumed
of its Ready-To-Cook (RTC) in optimal combinations can upregulate human genes and help fight heart
portfolio with the launch ailments, cancer, diabetes and cholesterol related management and asthma.
of Freshey’s Breads range. The company has received one patent and three more are in the pipeline. Now
Strengthening its market launching simultaneously in Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana,
share further, the brand has Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
launched bread in addition Nadu, the products will be available shortly in Goa, Kerala, and Rajasthan too.
to its RTC batter range to
make breakfast even more JustMyRoots and CFTRI to
convenient for consumers. revolutionise food delivery
Straight from the oven, the space with new technology
newly launched breads
are available in three key Gurugram-based startup JustMyRoots, along with CSIR-Central Food
variants – Milk, Sandwich and Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, has developed
Brown Bread. Consumption biodegradable thermo-stable containers for cold and hot supply chains
of bread is increasing in for food products. The containers developed for hot food chain supply are
India, especially as a go-to capable of keeping perishable food hot
meal for breakfast. While the between 42 and 65 degrees celsius for up
product has been launched to 10 hours. This technology will reform
in the Chennai market, the food delivery for restaurants located
startup plans to introduce 10+ kms away or even in another city.
this to other key cities in The technology used for cold supply
Tamil Nadu in the coming chain containers is capable of keeping
months. WayCool intends to perishable food fresh for up to 72 hours by
continue strengthening its maintaining its temperature between 2 and
presence in the convenience 8 degrees celsius. The new technology will
foods portfolio category with help JustMyRoots to expand its services
more launches in the next few both domestically and internationally. They already use a state-of-the-art
quarters. packaging system which keeps the flavours intact, and a cooling system
that stores the food at 2-8 degrees celsius, keeping the food fresh without
preservatives for up to 24 hours.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COMPANY NEWS 15

Probiotic brand Yakult Danone Dabur enters
focuses on sustainability in India premium
black tea
Yakult Danone India, a 50:50 Joint a portfolio of over 400 MW of solar market
Venture between Groupe Danone power projects, deployed, contracted,
of France and Yakult Honsha, Japan, and under-development, across Dabur India has
has announced the successful 24 states in India and Southeast announced its entry in the
commissioning of Yakult Group’s Asia. SunSource is a subsidiary premium black tea market
first ever global solar plant with the launch of Dabur
installed at their state-of- of SHV Energy, a 125-year- Vedic Tea. Packed with
the-art manufacturing old Dutch multinational. This the goodness of over 30+
facility in Haryana. The project incorporated innovative ayurvedic herbs, Dabur
solar project is developed Vedic Tea provides various
by SunSource Energy, engineering to maximise health benefits and helps
a leading provider of the on-site solar capacity. It boost immunity. Unlike
solar-based energy regular tea, it is a special
and storage solutions to is a unique combination blend of premium tea
commercial and industrial of rooftop, ground leaves from Assam, Nilgiri
(C&I) customers. Setting up mounted, and carport and Darjeeling. It contains
of this solar plant is in line solar solutions and will cater ayurvedic herbs like
with Yakult’s global Environmental to up to 25 per cent of the Tulsi, Ginger, Cardamom
Vision 2050. Headquartered in plant’s energy requirement. The etc. These real herbs are
Delhi NCR, SunSource Energy has project is expected to generate distinctly visible with the
approximately 8.8 lakh kWh of clean tea leaves and it does
energy annually and will offset 810 not contain any flavours.
tonnes of CO2 emission every year. The product, which is
being launched on India’s
Chai Point introduces new homegrown e-commerce
food offerings across 9 cities marketplace Flipkart, will
be available in three SKUs:
Chai Point, the world’s largest Chai-led beverage platform, has introduced 10 100 gm for Rs 60, 250 gm
new food items to its existing menu of over 50 items, thus making it the most for Rs 150 & 500 gm for
robust menu ever for an elevated Chai-led experience. The new menu features Rs 295.
delectables like the best Buddy to your Chai – Mini Samosa Binge Pack, childhood
school favourite – the Bread Pakoda Binge Pack, Delhi’s most loved Aloo Tikki
and Samosa Chaats and the evergreen Peppy Rolls in Paneer Tikka and Chicken
Tikka. The menu
additions also feature
all day bakes like
Cheese Croissant,
Egg & Cheese Multi-
seed Croissant, Pesto
Paneer Croissant, and
Gluten Free Brownie
with Amaranth. The
new food items are
available in Delhi
NCR and selectively
available in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru and coming to Goa, Pune and
Amritsar soon. By mid-December, customers in all these cities will be able to
enjoy all the new launches. Chai Point is backed by marquee investors like Eight
Roads Ventures (part of Fidelity Investments Inc.), Saama Capital, DSG & Paragon
Partners. The company has raised over $50 million in funds till date.

16 COMPANY NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Kerala Britannia enters into JV
Ayurveda with French cheese maker Bel
receives
US patent Britannia Industries and Bel, the renowned French cheese maker, have
for herbal entered into a joint venture (JV) to offer Indian consumers a world-class
formulation range of nutritious, delicious and accessible cheese products. Bel shall
acquire 49 per cent stake in Britannia’s wholly owned subsidiary BDPL
Kerala Ayurveda Limited (KAL)
has received its first patent from (Britannia Dairy Private Limited). The
The United States Patent and entity thereafter shall be renamed as
Trademark Office (USPTO) for a ‘Britannia Bel Foods Private Limited’.
proprietary herbal formulation The cheese products will be produced
that is uniquely processed and in the JV’s new, state-of-the-art-
inspired by ancient ayurvedic facility at Ranjangaon, Maharashtra.
wisdom. A statistical framework The facility is backward-integrated
was conducted on the to collect milk from local farmers
formulation using the rigours in the region. The products will be
of modern scientific validation, co-branded using the trademarks
including Phytochemical & ‘Britannia’ and ‘The Laughing Cow’
Marker Analysis, extensive and will be introduced in innovative
pre-clinical testing at Renovel formats, to ride on the fast-growing
Discoveries Inc. in the United cheese category in the country.
States, and a pharma rigour Abhishek Sinha, Chief Business Officer, Dairy business, Britannia is
double-blind placebo-controlled named the CEO of the Joint Venture. This JV will help the milk farmers of
clinical study at Banaras Hindu Maharashtra gain consistent and greater market access through Britannia’s
University (BHU). The patent also yield-optimised milk collection initiative that has grown significantly
covers the efficacy of the herbal over the last 3 years. Cheese is an under-penetrated category and this
composition in the management partnership will help expand the nascent but fast growing cheese category
of metabolic syndrome disorders by delivering innovative products.
such as type 2 diabetes mellitus,
obesity, and lipid profile Kings Infra steps into retail
management, as well as its consumer market for seafood
use in the preparation of food
supplements, pharmaceuticals, Ernakulam-based Kings Infra Ventures, with over four decades of leading
and nutraceuticals in appropriate presence in seafood processing, exports, and aquaculture, has made a
dosage forms such as beverages/ foray into the retail consumer market with the ‘King Fresh’ range of exotic
liquids, capsules, tablets, granules, seafood products. The King Fresh seafood is the first step towards Kings
jellies, to mention a few. Group’s holistic vision of becoming a ‘farm-to-fork’ enterprise in a phased
manner. Initially, King Fresh would be launching convenient 250 and
500-gm tray packets with cleaned, cut, packed, chilled, and quickly chilled
high-quality seafood. A variety of shrimps including tiger prawns, white leg
shrimp, lobsters, pomfret, Kingfish, squids, and octopus will be immediate
items to be retailed by King Fresh. The company will be offering Sushi
Grade quality for the first time in the Indian domestic market. As part of the
retail foray Kings Infra also plans a 24/7 food delivery hub in Bengaluru to
cater to its customers. User-friendly mobile apps for B2B and B2C segments
would also be unveiled soon. Kings Infra, known for its pioneering role in
semi-intensive aquaculture farming in India, is one of the leading players
in marine products processing and export for the last four decades. The
entry into the retail consumer market is another milestone in the over four-
decade-long journey of the company.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COMPANY NEWS 17

Zeon Lifesciences Barry Callebaut announces
groundbreaking of new
upgrades Paonta chocolate factory in Neemrana

sahib plant with The Barry Callebaut Group, the world’s leading manufacturer
of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, has announced
Industry 2.0 the groundbreaking of its third manufacturing facility in India.
The new chocolate and compound factory will be located in
automation the Ghiloth industrial area, in the city of Neemrana, about 120
km southwest of Delhi. Upon completion of the new chocolate
Zeon Lifesciences, a nutraceutical and factory, India will become Barry Callebaut’s largest chocolate
herbal product manufacturer, has producing market in Asia Pacific. With this announcement,
upgraded its Paonta sahib plant enabled Barry Callebaut’s total investment in India over the last 5 years is
with artificial intelligence (AI) and projected to exceed CHF 50 million. Since the opening of the first
Industry 2.0 automation for business Chocolate Academy Centre in Mumbai in 2007, Barry Callebaut
growth and innovation with the goal of has continuously invested in the Indian chocolate and cocoa
focusing on new innovations and research market. Today, the company operates two factories in Baramati,
advancements in India’s nutraceutical producing high-quality chocolate and compound. The new
industry. New developments have occurred greenfield facility in Neemrana will cover a total of 20,000 sqm
at the existing plant as a result of plant and is scheduled to be operational in 2024. In recent months,
advancement, such as the implementation Barry Callebaut has also unveiled several innovative chocolate
of ZEMANEX’s new operating model products to its customers in India, including its first dairy-free,
(Zeon Manufacturing Excellence- The plant-based chocolate and WholeFruit chocolate, which is made
New Way of Working), the formation of a from 100 per cent cacao fruit.
new independent vertical: Manufacturing
Compliance, the implementation of the
new First Line Leader (FLL) concept for
better accountability and responsibility. The
firm will gain from this in terms of capacity
improvement, a focused perspective on
zero faults, zero waste, zero accidents,
cost optimisation, diverse clientele, and a
greater ability to handle diverse clients and
diverse demands of all dose forms.

Anglo French forays into
fertility segment with new supplements

Anglo French Drugs & Industries It also contains Vitamin D and
has entered into the fertility chromium. LYBER+ is a herbal
space with the launch of the formulation of Shilajit 250 mg
LYBER Range. The products that along with other power-packed
have been launched are LYBER-M: phytomedicines (i.e. Safed Musli,
A male fertility supplement Ashwagandha, Kaunch Beej,
which uses a combination of Gokshura and Shatavari) which
antioxidants to improve sperm helps in increasing stamina,
motility, count, quality and strength, energy and relieves
DNA preservation; LYBER-PCO: stress. The product range has
A PCOS treatments drug which received confirmation from
also helps women in conceiving the Food Safety and Standards
a child and can be used for Authority of India (FSSAI) and the
restoring ovulation processes. Ayurvedic Authority respectively.

18 WORLD NEWS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

India to provide Study identifies
technical support to
Sri Lanka for increasing risk factors for
milk output
malnutrition among
Officials of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
and the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation children in Pakistan
(GCMMF), which markets milk under the Amul brand, are
taking steps to provide necessary technical support for the According to a recent study conducted by
production of milk in Sri Lanka. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the International Islamic University in Pakistan,
President of Sri Lanka has appointed a panel consisting smoking and the older age of the mother are
of public and private players to work in consultation with identified as the major risk factors for both
the multi-disciplinary team of NDDB and chalk out long stunting and being underweight for children
and short-term plans to increase the milk production of under five. Breastfeeding practices, high
Sri Lanka and reduce its dependence on milk imports. economic status, average or above the average
According to UN World Food Programme (WFP), more birth weight of the child, and use of formula milk
than 56,000 children in Sri Lanka are currently suffering are protective factors against stunting, wasting,
from acute malnutrition. According to its data, 32 per cent or underweight children. As per the researchers,
of the households in Sri Lanka are currently food insecure awareness campaigns should be launched to
and 68 per cent of the households are changing their food prevent mothers from smoking and to promote
preference or choosing smaller portions of food. breastfeeding. Older mothers should be provided
supplements during pregnancy. Pregnant women
should be careful about their dietary intake
during pregnancy for the health outcomes of
pregnancy. In Pakistan, among children less than
five years, 44 per cent were found stunted, 31
per cent were found underweight and 15 per
cent were found wasted. Pakistan is among those
seven countries of the world that bear the burden
of two-third of the undernourished population of
the world. Globally, Pakistan has been placed at
77th number out of 113 countries that are facing
malnutrition.

IFC, Singapore’s Agrocorp partner to
improve food security in Bangladesh

To improve food security in emerging markets, is providing price instability, the investment will
Bangladesh at a time of rising an eight-year financing package allow Agrocorp to buy and deliver
commodity prices amidst a global consisting of a senior secured loan millions of tons of wheat and
shortfall of staple crops, the of up to $18 million as well as a pulses from Australia and Canada
International Finance Corporation concessional loan of $14.5 million to Bangladesh, providing safe,
(IFC) is providing a $32.5 million from the International Development nutritious, and calorie-rich staples
loan to Singapore-based Association’s Private
agricultural commodity-trading Sector Window Blended to the country at a time of
company Agrocorp International, Finance Facility. heightened food insecurity.
which is a leading supplier of At a time when These staples are sold to
wheat and pulses to the South- trade financing millers and food processors,
Asian country. IFC, the largest has been which depend on them
global development institution constrained to produce basic foods
focused on the private sector in globally amid for the Bangladeshi
population.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in WORLD NEWS 19

West and Central Africa face USDA invests
another year of record hunger
over $59M
In a joint statement at the annual meeting of the Network for the
Prevention of Food Crisis in West Africa (RPCA) in Lomé (Togo), the Food to improve
and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food dietary health
Programme (WFP) urge governments across the region to increase
support and investments in food security and nutrition programmes and nutrition

that reinforce the resilience of security
communities, and protect their
livelihoods while reducing the risk of The US Department of Agriculture
people falling into catastrophic food (USDA) has announced an
insecurity. The number of hungry investment of $59.4 million to
people in West and Central Africa is support the Gus Schumacher
projected to reach an all-time high of Nutrition Incentive Programme’s
48 million people (including 9 million (GusNIP) Produce Prescription and
children) next year if urgent and Nutrition Incentive programmes
long-lasting solutions to address this crisis are not delivered soon. The designed to encourage families
latest Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis shows that over 35 million and individuals to eat more
people (including 6.7 million children) in the region, approximately 8 healthfully by increasing access to
per cent of the assessed population, are currently unable to meet their fresh fruits and vegetables. GusNIP
basic food and nutrition needs. FAO, UNICEF and WFP will reinforce and programmes strive to improve
expand their ongoing support to national social protection systems that dietary health through increased
are responsive to shocks and sensitive to nutrition for pregnant women, consumption of fresh produce,
nursing mothers, young children and adolescents. improve individual and household
food security, and reduce healthcare
France helps address child use and associated costs. GusNIP
malnutrition in Congo Nutrition Incentive programmes
provide incentives at the point
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced a of purchase among income-
EUR 2.5 million contribution from the Government of France to help eligible consumers participating
stem malnutrition amongst hundreds in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition
of children under two years old in the Assistance Programme (SNAP)
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and income-eligible consumers
in Africa. The contribution, which has been participating in other USDA
provided through the France’s Ministry nutrition assistance programmes.
of Foreign Affairs, will help WFP provide Produce Prescriptions leverage
nutrition products to prevent and treat medical assistance programmes
acute malnutrition to some 140,000 children, to provide “prescriptions” from a
pregnant and nursing women in the Kasaï- healthcare provider for fresh fruits
Central and Kasaï-Oriental provinces where and vegetables.
the nutrition situation remains alarming.
Latest estimates indicate that some 2.4 million
children under five years of age and some
1.7 million pregnant and nursing women are
suffering from acute malnutrition with 45 per cent of deaths, among
children under five related to malnutrition. In addition to providing
nutritious food, WFP will invest in building the skills of nursing mothers
to improve their knowledge of caring and feeding practices.

20 COVER STORY NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Startups Bet Big
on Innovative

Wellness Offerings

Indian food startups are
increasingly upgrading to keep
up with the changing consumer
behaviour and market demand.
The pandemic-induced market
transformation which was mainly
ruled by innovative offerings in
different industries, functional
food innovations are progressively
occupying the shelves. Startups
have realised the jump in demand

for wellness related products
and services, with mental health,

women’s health and preventive
nutraceuticals leading in the

consumers’ list of priorities. The
newfound demand is being

increasingly tapped by startups
and as a leading positive, the

government has been spearheading
the ‘startup cause’ by the Startup
India initiatives, including
incentives. With such a perfect
recipe for success, let’s see what

some of the innovative startups are
bringing to the shelves and what’s

in store for 2023 and beyond.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 21

In 2022, while the pandemic mercifully retreated, the AgFunder and Omnivore, even as the rest of the startup
necessity for agrifood tech innovations stood firm. ecosystem struggles through a funding winter. The
The clear need for urgent tech disruptions in various report titled ‘India AgriFood Startup Investment Report
sub-sectors of Indian agriculture is reflected in the 2022’ said that Indian agri-food tech startups have
sharp upswing in investments. Alongside the increasing overtaken China as Asia-Pacific (APAC)'s biggest funder
volume of deals, the average round sizes have also of agrifood-tech innovation. The report highlighted
increased significantly across all funding stages, with that the deal activity for agri-food tech startups also
the overall investment volume up by 119 per cent. increased to 234 deals in FY22 compared to 189 deals
Furthermore, investors discovered a wealth of untapped in FY21. The Premium Branded Food category saw a
opportunities further up agrifood value chains. marginal 9 per cent increase in funding. Investment
in Online Restaurants & Meal kits saw a remarkable
Indian agrifood startups have attracted Rs 38,079 recovery at Rs 2,491 crore in FY2022, almost 4X more
crore in FY22, up 119 per cent year-on-year from Rs than Rs 529 crore in FY2021.
17,381 crore in FY21, according to a report published
by food and agritech-focused venture capital firms -

22 COVER STORY NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

“The Scale It Up! Innovation Along with the push from the investors’ end, the
Challenge allows regional government as well as the industry players in the field
startups to access our have been putting efforts in this direction in India.
expertise, ecosystem, For instance, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in
capabilities, and facilities to association with Startup India launched the ’Ayush
develop delicious plant-based meat Startup challenge’ to encourage early-stage startups and
products.” individuals working on innovations in the Ayush Food
Innovations, Ayurveda sector, and alternative healing.
- Dr Aparna Venkatesh,
Regional Innovation Lead, Bühler Further, Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister
has announced an incentive to Agri Startups for fuelling
“The FSSAI in November 2021 innovations in the promising millets space in India.
notified that the seed and
its derivatives can be sold At the industry end, the market leaders like Bühler,
or used as an ingredient Cargill, and Givaudan joined forces to help accelerate
in food. This has enabled startups that are innovating in plant-based protein in
the heightened inclusion of hemp in the APAC region in the form of Scale It Up! Innovation
everyday diet.” Challenge.

- Yash Kotak, “The rising protein gap is a challenge too big to solve
Co-Founder, and CMO, alone,” says Dr Aparna Venkatesh, Regional Innovation
Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO) Lead of Bühler. “The Scale It Up! Innovation Challenge
is designed to accelerate startups who are also working
“The product of our research to close that gap. It allows regional startups to access
that is being undertaken our expertise, ecosystem, capabilities, and facilities to
under this grant has the develop delicious plant-based meat products. We’re
potential to alleviate excited to kick off the APAC version of this unique
the environmental challenge with our like-minded partners and look
impact through our sustainable forward to seeing what it will bring.”
innovation."
With the focus on innovations and investments
- Shrey Jain, happening in the food space, let’s dig into the
Former Co-Founder & COO, HempStreet movement of various innovative food startups in India.

“Our Relief Kit Addressing new pain points
will help us all in Following the trends of foreign markets, Indian food
acknowledging what
natural medicines can startups are increasingly upgrading to keep up with the
do to us. Our focus will changing consumer behaviour and market demand.
remain towards producing The pandemic-induced market transformation which
more such products.” was mainly ruled by innovative offerings in different
industries, functional food innovations are progressively
- George P Joby, occupying the shelves. Along with the new ingredients
Director, TheLifekart.in being introduced in the Indian market, food and
wellness startups are making an effort to address new
“Startups need to build the pain points such as mental health, women's health,
core product, achieve vegan protein demand, and much more.
metrics that will make the
company lucrative once Hemp is one such ingredient getting recognised in
the funding winter is over.” the Indian food and wellness market. The Indian Hemp
- Namit Chugh, industry is growing at a faster pace than has been
Investment Lead, W Health Ventures projected previously. With hemp seeds being recognised
as a wholesome superfood in India as well, various hemp
startups have been increasingly introducing hemp-
based nutrition products in the Indian market. The
entrepreneurs are ready to battle the odds and bet big
on the versatile plant by creating innovative products
that fit right into the wellness basket.

Commenting on hemp’s properties, Yash Kotak, Co-

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 23

Startups Applying Right Taste + Economical Price

Plant-based food alternatives are no longer a promising in the space. Some of them are as follows.
novelty on the shelves for foreign markets. However, Delhi-based ClearMeat is India’s first clean chicken
in a country like India, such innovations are the talk
of the town in the current era. Governing bodies have meat startup. Unlike using plant-based alternatives
also been putting significant attention to this matter. like wheat, soy, or lentils, ClearMeat uses chicken cells
to artificially produce meat in an attempt to help end
For instance, the Plant Based Foods Industry animal agriculture in India. The startup has also filed a
Association (PBFIA), a CEO-led body formed to support patent for its Cultivated Meat Technology. ClearMeat
and help develop India’s nascent plant-based food has raised a total funding of Rs 95 lakh over 2 rounds.
ecosystem, has urged the Food Safety and Standards Their latest funding round was a seed in September
Authority of India (FSSAI) to come up with an effective 2021 for Rs 66 lakh. Bengaluru-headquartered startup
training programme to help plant-based food startups Phyx44, which is using precision fermentation of
climb the high bar set by FSSAI to safeguard consumer microbes to create the full stack whey and casein
interest. Moreover, very recently, Agricultural and proteins and fatty acids to recreate dairy, has raised
Processed Food Products Export Development a total funding of Rs 10.59 crore over 2 rounds.
Authority (APEDA) announced that GREENEST, New Karnataka-based Devigere Biosolutions is one more
Delhi-based startup has shipped India’s first plant- innovative startup to mention here. This startup
based meat export consignment to the USA from is extracting proteins from horse gram and also
Gujarat. The startup has raised a total funding of Rs boosting the income of farmers. Despite the growing
4.59 crore over 2 rounds (excluding their recent pre- demand and innovations in these products, there are a
seed funding undisclosed amount). few business practices startup owners need to employ
to extract the maximum potential out of the segment.
According to Good Food Institute (GFI) India the
funding scenario in the Indian plant-based market in Commenting on the same,
India was not so favourable in 2022. While in 2021, the
alternative protein sector drew Rs 414,09 crore invested Amod Ashok Salgaonkar,
capital across all categories globally, with only Rs
85.71 crore flowing into India, 2022 has seen a difficult Co-Founder & Chief Operating
economic and market environment, on the whole. Officer, A2S2 Enterprises, said
Alternative protein companies raised a total of Rs 18,219 “Making high sales is still far
crore of investment capital, amounting to a modest away, as this category has not
reduction from the high pace of investment growth even been introduced across all
seen in 2021. selling platforms in India. The most
crucial problem which all founders in this segment
Despite the low funding scenario as compared are facing is to give a perfectly similar taste when
to 2021, as the plant-based food market is still just compared with traditional products. To sell the
beginning in India, there are many startups that are very Alternative Protein Products, the strategy of Right
Taste + Economical Price should be applied.”

Founder, and CMO, Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO), Very recently BOHECO launched BLOSSOM, a
India’s foremost industrial hemp and medical cannabis proprietary ayurvedic medicine for symptomatic relief
startup said, “The Food Safety and Standards Authority from PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) & Polycystic
of India (FSSAI) in November 2021 notified that the seed Ovarian Disease (PCOD) and also contemporary range
and its derivatives – oil and flour can be sold or used as of beverages – Blissful (seltzers and lemonades infused
an ingredient in food. This has enabled the heightened with functional ingredients designed to stimulate focus,
inclusion of hemp in every-day diet.” creativity, and energy). The startups claim it is a first-of-
a-kind product for India and aim to open the gateway
In July 2022, BOHECO collaborated with The Hemp to many innovations in the hemp-powered mindful
Factory, India’s first hemp-based cloud kitchen in beverage space. Bombay Hemp Company has raised a
Mumbai. With the vision to transform popular dishes total funding of Rs 48.49 crore over 7 rounds. Their latest
into healthier, nutritious meals, tailored to anyone’s funding round was a seed in November 2021, for Rs
diet, Mumbai-based startup Hemp Factory aims to 16.55 crore.
expand from its current kitchen in Mumbai across
metros through company-owned and franchise outlets, New Delhi-based startup HempStreet, India’s first
eventually setting up kitchens across India. research to retail venture in the ayurvedic cannabis

24 COVER STORY NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Funding and deals scenario of Indian
agri food tech FY2018- FY2022

Despite a pandemic, the economic slowdown, sector, has launched Sarpagandha Vati that helps
and the relentless impact of climate change, treat Hypertension and Insomnia due to its calmative
the decade-old Indian agrifoodtech sector has properties. The startup secured Rs 8.27 crore in Pre-
proven itself resilient and, frankly, indispensable. Series A Funding round in 2020. HempStreet has become
An increasing number of VCs are betting on the first entity in the medicinal cannabis sector to
the sector’s tenacity and the immense scope of receive a Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) from the
growth. Today we have a vibrant ecosystem with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
both talent and capital to support it. Since 2018 (BIRAC) of the Department of Biotechnology.
overall investment in agri food tech in India has
grown by over 400 per cent due to participation "The product of our research that is being
from both domestic and global investors. Through undertaken under this grant, has the potential to
two tough years, startups in this space persistently disrupt the Rs 587,40 crore (projected for 2023) global
showed the business impact that they can deliver transdermal drug delivery system market, while also
addressing and greatly alleviating the environmental
to stakeholders across the value chains. impact through our sustainable innovation" said Shrey
Jain, Former Co-Founder & COO, HempStreet.
Source: India AgriFood Startup Investment Report 2022 by AgFunder and Omnivore
With the increasing hemp-based startups and
investments in the same, innovations in the space are
also on the rise. Bangalore-based hemp startup Satliva
is one such innovator. The startup provides hemp dosa
batter and hemp chutney along with its other hemp-
based offerings.

Delhi-based Ananta Hemp Works and Health
Horizons are more such hemp-based wellness and
nutrition-focused startups in the space. Very recently
Rajesh Kumar Gupta, a part of a Global FMCG Giant,
picked up a stake in Ananta Hemp Works. On the other
hand, Health Horizons has raised a total funding of Rs
2.26 crore over 2 rounds. Their latest funding round was
a seed round in April 2022, for undisclosed amount with

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 25

India AgriFood Startup Investment Report 2022

Source: AgFunder and Omnivore

Domestic market size of plant-based
food products by 2030
(in Rs crore)

Scenario Plant- Plant- Plant- Fermentation
Based Based Based Derived Overall
Current Meat Dairy Eggs Meat
Market
Size 100 250 1 - 351
(2022)
1,803 4,827 527 318 7,475
Low 3,525 7,643
Growth 5,884 10,625 989 622 12,779

Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd and other investors. Medium 1,416 1,038 18,963
With 42 per cent of consumers in Asia-Pacific, the Growth

Middle East, and Africa feeling unable to break away High
from daily pressures, there is a growing demand for Growth
food and beverage products that support mental well-
being. This shift in consumer perception towards mental Source: Good Food Institute India
wellness is driving the health and wellness trend of
self-care and everyday well-being and is influencing food Another wellness startup Nidra Nutrition
and beverage purchases. With this, various Indian food headquartered in Coimbatore, a part of Supercluster Pi
startups have been recently exploring this space and (House of Brands), launched its product line introducing
introducing innovative offerings to the market. the world’s first stress relief gummies containing 175 mg
of Ashwagandha.
Laurik, a startup based in Hyderabad and a producer
of the world’s first Lauric-enhanced coconut shots, Very recently, Delhi-based cannabis wellness startup
launched a new product range Laurik Bites that caters Awshad announced the launch of their new prescription
to three important categories: gut, sleep, and focus. The product – a cannabis medicinal capsule line branded
startup is in the process of filing a patent for Laurik bites. as ‘Calmasule’ to alleviate pain, insomnia, stress and
It has also filed for over 12 formulation patents this year. various other lifestyle ailments. Furthermore, Kerala-
based TheLifekart.in, an e-commerce platform offering
In April 2022, Laurik raised a funding amount of Rs nutrition, healthcare, and self-care solutions introduced
3.7 crore while just in its ideation stage. Laurik is also Algamin tablets for tension relief.
one of the 100 brands in the world and the second
nutraceutical brand in India to be awarded the Clean The startup has also introduced a Migraine Relief Kit.
Label Certification from the Clean Label Project. George P Joby, Director, TheLifekart.in said, “We believe
the science in amalgamation with nature has solutions
The funding round was led by marquee investors to all human ailments, and hence, we have launched our
like Murthy Aradhi, co-founder at FastCollab and Relief Kit which will be a boon to humankind and will
Lakshmikant PB, Director of Finance at Antler, an early- help us all in acknowledging what natural medicines
stage venture capital firm. Laurik’s unique product can do to us. Additionally, our focus will remain towards
has also received recognition from the Telangana producing more such products that will help in the
government and T-Hub as they recently provided the removal of harmful medications from the market.”
startup with a fund through the T-Fund programme.
There are more and more examples of flavoured
beverages, dairy-free, carbonated drinks, alcoholic/ non-
alcoholic shots, etc. However, in India, there has been

26 COVER STORY NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Innovative products launched by Indian food startups and their funding status

Startups Innovative products Funding status
ClearMeat, Delhi
Phyx44, Bengaluru Artificially produces meat with unique Cultivated Rs 95 lakh over 2 rounds
GREENEST, NewDelhi Meat Technology

Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO), Recreates dairy using precision fermentation of Rs 10.59 crore over 2 rounds
Mumbai microbes
HempStreet, New Delhi
Shipped India’s first plant-based meat export Rs 4.59 crore over 2 rounds
Health Horizons, Delhi consignment to the USA (excluding their recent pre-seed
funding undisclosed amount)
Laurik, Hyderabad
Nidra Nutrition, Coimbatore Collaborated with India’s first hemp-based cloud Rs 48.49 crore over 7 rounds
Awshad, Delhi kitchen
TheLifekart.in, Kerala
Aquatein, Mumbai Launched 2 new ayurvedic products that are Rs 8.27 crore in Pre-Series A Funding round
one of their kind in the Indian hemp space (The in 2020
&Me, Bangalore Calm Blend and The Nurture Blend to reduce
Kapiva, Mumbai stress and anxiety and manage the menstrual
irregularities in women respectively)

Launched 2 new ayurvedic products that are Rs 2.26 crore over 2 rounds (latest funding
one of their kind in the Indian hemp space (The round on Apr 25, 2022, for undisclosed)
Calm Blend and The Nurture Blend to reduce
stress and anxiety and manage the menstrual
irregularities in women respectively)

Launched Laurik Bites that caters to three Rs 3.7 crore
important categories: gut, sleep, and focus

Launched world’s first stress relief gummies No info
containing 175 mg of Ashwagandha

Launched a cannabis medicinal capsule line Not raised any funding rounds yet
branded as ‘Calmasule’

Luanched Algamin tablets for tension relief Not raised any funding rounds yet

Launched India’s First Protein Water Rs 1.83 crore over 1 round (excluding the
recently raised undisclosed fund from
Eaglewings Ventures)

Launched Thyrodiet Tea Rs 19.19 crore over 6 rounds

Launched Glow Mix (ingestible Skin Food) Rs 134.05 crore over 5 rounds

increasing acceptance of beverages that have functional a revolutionary approach to manage Thyroid. The startup
properties in them. The use of food ingredients in the has raised a total funding of Rs 19.19 crore over 6 rounds.
health beverages category is now an established trend. Their latest funding round was a Conventional Debt in
Many of these products are an ayurvedic ready-to-serve September 2021 for Rs 2.54 crore.
drink that claims numerous health benefits. Indian
startups in this space are not only staying on top of Indian food startups have been betting high on
global trends but are also incorporating local elements in innovative offerings that are not just regular foods but
their launches so that they are rooted in familiarity. also have generous health benefits. Acceptance and
funding toward hemp have been encouraging hemp-
Redefining the beverage industry and bringing all based food and wellness startups which might continue
of the nutrients and proteins in the form of the world’s in 2023 also. However, the funding winter that started
simplest liquid- water, Mumbai-based Aquatein (Athlex in mid-2022 globally is starting to see its impact in India
Beverages Private Limited) provides India’s first protein now and the next 6-9 months will be very critical for
water. Recently backed by Suniel Shetty as an investor startups.
and Brand Ambassador, Aquatein is driving dehydration
away all the while nourishing and replenishing the As per Namit Chugh, Investment Lead, W Health
protein intake. Aquatein has raised a total funding of Rs Ventures, “Startups need to build the core product,
1.83 crore over 1 round (excluding the recently raised achieve metrics that will make the company lucrative
undisclosed fund from Eaglewings Ventures). once the funding winter is over; as there is ample dry
powder in the country. It's a great time to invest in pre
Bengaluru-based Merhaki Foods Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary seed/seed companies as capital required and cash burn –
of Globalbees Brands Pvt. Ltd. (under the brand andMe), both are lesser.”
a manufacturer and supplier of cold-pressed juice for
women's health has launched ThyroDiet Tea which takes Mansi Jamsudkar
[email protected]

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in R&D 27

Shouldn't the Food
Industry Focus on R&D?

The food industry is considered to be an industry with medium- to low-intensity research and development
(R&D). The share of total output attributable to R&D is significantly lower than in other industries such as
the automobile, software, or pharmaceutical industries. This is understood to be related to the fact that
research activities in many food companies play a minor role or are simply not carried out at all. Many
innovations are derived from other input sectors and incorporated in machinery, packaging, and other
manufacturing supplies. The lack of interest towards R&D stems from these factors and a lack of support
from the government, claim some industry insiders. Let's understand the current R&D situation and how it
can be revamped for the better.

Innovation strategy and its outcomes for firms may agricultural manufacturing industry. Investment in R&D
be different in developing countries as compared also enables the firms to reap benefits from externalities
to developed countries. Thus, a study that focuses present in the industry. This study is the first to analyse
on an emerging economy like India, with a majority the impact of innovation in the food and agricultural
of the population dependent on agriculture, is of industry on a firm’s performance in an emerging
prime importance to the firm performance in the food
and agricultural manufacturing industry. One such economy context with the latest data.
research carried out by the researchers of Birla Institute Commenting on the findings of
of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, K K Birla Goa
revealed that investments in innovations have a positive the research conducted, Dr Aswini
effect on the growth of firms in the Indian food and
Kumar Mishra, Associate Professor in

Economics, BITS Pilani, K K Birla Goa,
said “The younger food processing firms

28 R&D NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

grow faster when they invest in R&D. More specifically, in What Indian core food companies
the case of the food and agricultural industry, the import
of raw materials negatively affects the firm’s growth and are up to in terms of R&D practices
export intensity positively affects the growth in the case In FY 2021-2022, Kolkata-headquartered Britannia
of R&D firms. Our study suggests that the government
should encourage industries to invest optimally in R&D Industries Limited invested 0.28 per cent of its total
projects by providing favourable fiscal treatments and revenue into R&D, amounting to Rs 37.12 crore. Britannia
R&D subsidies which are observed to have positive has a state-of-the-art R&D centre, expertise, and
effects in various developed countries.” capabilities for meeting its goal of becoming a 'Global
Total Foods Company'.
The Asia Pacific region (including developed and
developing countries), now accounts for almost half Britannia’s R&D has built capabilities to use
the world’s spending on agri-food R&D. China is now nutraceuticals for developing functional food products
outspending the US in both public and private agri- and has further strengthened its capabilities in the
food R&D, accounting for around 23 per cent of global inclusion of alternate cereals, whole grains, and millets in
agri-food R&D spending. Although the scenario is in the product portfolio. In order to address Iron Deficiency
the favour of Asia Pacific and hence India, the analysis Anaemia, the R&D team developed a tasty and
revealed that most of the core food companies in affordable Iron & Folic Acid fortified biscuit delivering
India spend the bare minimum conceivable on R&D, in 50-75 per cent Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
comparison with their total revenue. Moreover, more of these nutrients to adolescent girls and women.
than half of the food processors in the country are
FMCGs and have multiple businesses contributing to R&D efforts have helped Britannia achieve plastic-
their total revenue, it’s quite challenging to claim that neutral status as of March 2022. It is also working
the mentioned R&D expenditure of such conglomerates towards making bread packaging materials 100 per cent
is entirely food-business specific. and reducing sugar and sodium by 8 per cent and 6
per cent respectively in its portfolio by the end of 2024.
There could be multiple reasons behind such low The firm invested in a state-of-the-art manufacturing
R&D investments in the food business. facility at Ranjangaon as part of its efforts to build back-
While commenting on a few such end capabilities in dairy. Moreover, Britannia brought
reasons, Pedro Andrés Garzón to market several new innovations such as Good Day
Harmony, 50-50 Potazos, NutriChoice Seeds, NutriChoice
Delvaux, Food System Policy Herbs, and much more.

Economist, The Food and Agriculture Delhi-based one of the largest rice millers and
Organisation (FAO) said, “The agro-food Basmati rice exporters, KRBL Limited, invested 0.13
industry is very heterogeneous. There is per cent of its total revenue into R&D, amounting to
geographical heterogeneity, for example, firms in the Rs 5.53 crore. The company has in place a state-of-
Netherlands or Finland spend a significantly higher the-art R&D unit. The R&D team of KRBL has been
percentage of output on R&D than their Italian or French working in collaboration with various premier institutes
counterparts. In turn, some firms in the sector are simply in developing several new varieties of rice with
innovative and active in R&D. There is also heterogeneity innumerable benefits such as - improved yields, disease
in terms of the type of innovation: process, product, resistance, ameliorate cooking attributes, etc. Made in
or organisational innovation. In addition, the agro- collaboration with the Pusa Institute, 1886 and 1667
food sector is dominated by small and medium-sized seed varieties introduced in FY 2021-22 are backed by
enterprises (SMEs), which do little research. Moreover, the positive results achieved in the R&D testing phase,
most food products are rather easy to imitate, with the seeds would be handed over to the farmers in the
significant R&D spillovers, which reduces firms’ FY23 sowing season.
incentive to invest in R&D – innovators have difficulties
internalising (capturing) returns from investments.” Further, the R&D team engaged in developing
The global food industry giants like Nestle innovative and healthy rice-based agro products such
International (1.90), Danone (1.55), PepsiCo (0.94), as India Gate Basmola Rice Bran Oil and India Gate
Mondelez International (1.20), Tyson Foods (0.24), etc. Amaranth. KRBL’s R&D team works closely with the Indian
have invested between 0.2 and 1.9 per cent of their Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. KRBL has
total revenue on R&D in 2021. Having said that, the emerged as a plastic-neutral company – India’s only rice
low-investment R&D scenario of food companies looks company to achieve this feat.
somewhat similar for both domestic and international
food processing firms. Pune-headquartered Tasty Bite Eatables Limited,
invested 0.70 per cent of its total revenue into R&D,
amounting to Rs 2.7 crore in FY 2021-22. The company
has an accredited R&D centre called Tasty Bite Research

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in R&D 29

Centre (TBRC) located within the factory campus On an average, Indian food firms have
that is continuously engaged in research on new and a very low R&D budget which makes
innovative products, both for export and domestic up approximately 0.03-0.70 per cent of
market. New products developed at TBRC in the last total revenue. Whereas, in the case of
2 years contributed 14 per cent of the company’s the Indian pharmaceutical industry,
revenues. A total of 17 new products were launched in the average R&D expenses constitute
FY 2021-22. The TBRC team comprises global cuisine between 7 and 9 per cent (or less than 13
experts in culinary and food technology. To assure per cent) of their annual turnover.
adherence to standards and to make the production
system resilient, boost efficiency, and provide data products have been well accepted in institutions and
and product integrity across the value chain, the firm Hotel, Restaurant and Catering (HORECA) segments and
uses a rigorous Tasty Bite Quality Management System the company is working on various value-added product
(TBQMS). categories to enhance offerings. The company has also
added new customers in the category of institution and
In FY 2021-2022, Ahmedabad-based Adani Wilmar HORECA and continues its efforts to further expand its
invested Rs 1.8 crore in R&D with total revenue customer base. Further, Umang Dairies launched two
amounting to Rs 54,214 crore. The company has a new products based on changing demand patterns and
product application center at Hyderabad and Kakinada consumer research.
for R&D of various new products. The company
also leverages the global R&D of its joint venture While sharing his thoughts on the importance
partner- Wilmar Group. The firm’s R&D teams engage of R&D in the Food & Beverages (F&B)
in cross-border collaborations as well as with external sector, Manish Aggarwal, Director,
organisations to share knowledge and resources. Bikanervala Foods mentioned,
“Similar to many other industries, the
The company continues to maintain its R&D F&B sector relies heavily on R&D to
leadership in edible oils and fats. The R&D activities make their products last longer and
support increasing product offerings and portfolio taste better. R&D in the food industry has
expansion in ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat product
segments. R&D has successfully developed and made it possible to enhance the shelf life of food items
commercialised several new products under the without compromising on taste and nutritional value.
'Fortune' brand in FY 2021-22 which include Fortune In an ever-changing business landscape, standing still
Poha and Sattu. One of the first of its type in India, a is no longer an option. There’s an increasing shift in
product made from three edible oils, “Fortune Total focus towards holistic health driven by the consumer
Balance Oil” has been scientifically formulated to provide trend of preference towards healthy food. R&D can offer
a balanced fatty acid profile and the optimal ratio of a unique opportunity for F&B companies to introduce
Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. The company has revolutionary products that meet customer needs.”
ensured that its edible oil and fats portfolio is compliant
with the new trans-fat guidelines applicable from A study titled 'The impact of private R&D on the
January 1, 2022. performance of food-processing firms' revealed that
the food-processing firms that invest in R&D tend to
Amongst the top dairy companies in India, be closer to the efficiency frontier than those that do
Hyderabad-based dairy firm, Heritage Foods Limited, not invest in R&D. Hence R&D in the food-processing
invested 0.034 per cent of its total revenue into R&D, industry is associated with higher firm performance.
amounting to Rs 89.9 lakh in FY 2021-2022. The company Looking at the significantly low R&D spending of food
has a robust R&D policy, advanced technology for processing firms worldwide, policy interventions at
manufacturing and processing, top-tier quality control, the government as well as firms’ end to boost the
and a highly qualified team of 490 members in quality R&D of the private food sector is the need of the hour.
assurance and product development. The company Although the Ministry of Food Processing Industries
carries a wide range of products like fresh milk, curd, has been rolling out various initiatives like the R&D
paneer, ghee, buttermilk, UHT milk, lassi, and other dairy- Portal, funds, and schemes for food R&D projects,
based products. Currently, its products are present in 11 private players are yet to experience decent spending
states. Heritage Foods introduced eight new products in on their R&D.
FY 2021-22.
Mansi Jamsudkar
During FY 2021-22, from a total turnover of Rs 208.08 [email protected]
crore, the New-Delhi-based Umang Dairies Limited spent
Rs 15.02 lakh of minimal amount on R&D. Umang Dairies’

30 OPPORTUNITIES NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

2023 Looks
Promising
for Indian

Millets

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 75th session on March 5, 2021 declared the year 2023
‘International Year of Millets (IYM 2023)’. Spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government
of India (GoI) sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the
(UNGA) and is being adopted with support from more than 70 nations across the globe. The declaration has
been instrumental for India to be at the forefront of celebrating the IYM 2023. The Prime Minister has also shared
his vision to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’.

India is poised to become the global hub for millets with launch of the IYM 2023. Millets have a glorious history of
a production of more than 170 lakh tonnes which makes being among the earliest crops grown by humans. They
for more than 80 per cent of the millets produced in have been an important food source in the past. But the
Asia. The earliest evidence for these grains has been found need of the hour is to make them a food choice for the
in the Indus civilization and was one of the first plants future! Raising awareness to create 'Millet Mindfulness'
to be domesticated for food. It is grown in about 131 is an important part of this movement. Both institutions
countries and is the traditional food for around 60 crore and individuals can make a tremendous impact. While
people in Asia and Africa. India accounts for 80 per cent of institutional mechanisms can encourage the production
Asia’s production and 20 per cent of the global production of millets and make them profitable via policy initiatives,
of millet. India’s average yield of millets (1239 kg/hectare) individuals can make health-conscious and planet-friendly
is also higher than the global average yield of 1229 kg/ choices by making millets a part of their diet. I am positive
hectare. As per the Directorate General of Commercial that the IYM 2023 will start a mass movement towards a
Intelligence & Statistics (DGCIS) data, India registered secure, sustainable and healthy future.”
a growth of 8.02 per cent in the export of millets in
the financial year 2021-22 as the export of millets was Preparing for the IYM 2023
159,332.16 metric tonnes against 147,501.08 metric The declaration of IYM 2023 has led to a series of
tonnes during the same period last year.
events and initiatives being organised by concerned
India has also planned to organise millet promotional Ministries / Departments in India to create awareness
activities in South Africa, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, and inspire all stakeholders to work towards improving
Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sydney, Belgium, Germany, the production and productivity of the climate-resilient
United Kingdom and United States of America by and nutritious millets across the globe. A number of
facilitating the participation of different stakeholders events were also organised in the country to facilitate
from India in some of the significant food shows, Buyer the millet movement. The IYM stands to provide a
Seller Meets and Road Shows. unique opportunity to increase global production,
ensure efficient processing and consumption, promote
While conveying his message at the opening better utilisation of crop rotations, and encourage better
ceremony of the IYM 2023 held at the headquarters of connectivity throughout food systems to promote
the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Italy on millets as a key component of the food basket.
December 6, 2022, Prime Minister said, “I would like to
congratulate the United Nations and the FAO for the On December 15, 2022, Anita Praveen, Secretary,

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in OPPORTUNITIES 31

“I am positive that the
International Year of
Millets 2023 will start
a mass movement
towards a secure,
sustainable and healthy future.”

- Narendra Modi,
Prime Minister, Government of India

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), chaired a “Many of the millet-
roundtable interaction with senior officials from central related startups came
ministries, departments, and key stakeholders such as into this business
major agri-food companies. During this roundtable, the after PM Modi
Ministry has proposed to organise a Mega Food Event declared that 2023
on October 16-18, 2023 in New Delhi. This event is aimed would be the year of millets.”
at providing an opportunity for stakeholders such as
producers, food processors, equipment manufacturers, - Piyush Goyal,
logistics players, cold chain players, etc. to showcase Union Minister of Commerce and Industry,
their strength in the Indian Food Processing Sector. While
the mega food event will focus on all segments of the Consumer Affairs, Food, and
Food Processing Sector, this will have a specific focus on Public Distribution & Textiles, Government of India
promoting millets and millets-based products owing to
the IYM 2023. Through this event, the ministry envisages “Government plans
spreading awareness about the role of millets in to hold several
sustainable agriculture and food security and its benefits programmes in the
as a superfood in the contemporary world. country and abroad
for popularising millet
While addressing the ‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ and other Nutri-cereals.”
Conclave held on December 5, 2022, Piyush Goyal,
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer - Narendra Singh Tomar,
Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution and Textiles said Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
“There were around 250 startups being supported by the
centre working on millets and Indian Institute of Millets Government of India
Research (IIMR) has been incubating startups on millets
and the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) could be roped “IYM2023 will lead India
in to innovate and improve the packaging of millets toward Food and Nutritional
and millet products. Many of the millet-related startups Security. Nations need to
came into this business after PM Modi declared that 2023 collaborate to develop a
would be the year of millets. We must work together to sustainable future, & millets
mainstream the millet story and make millets globally will play a pivotal role in the process.”
acceptable to solve problems of malnutrition and
starvation that many parts of the world continue to face.” - Shobha Karandlaje,
Minister of State, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
The government is currently organising IYM 2023 at
the domestic and international levels. To promote the Government of India
shipment of Nutri-cereals, the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry through its apex agricultural export Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has
promotion body, the Agricultural and Processed Food prepared a comprehensive strategy to promote Indian
millet exports across the globe. Centre has developed
30 e-Catalogues on each of the targeted countries
comprising information on various Indian Millets and the
range of their value-added products available for export,
a list of active exporters, startups, FPOs, and importer/
retail chain/hypermarkets, etc. that to be circulated
to the Indian Embassy abroad, importers, exporters,

32 OPPORTUNITIES NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Centre’s initiatives to promote millet Government of India) for the IYM 2023 to create awareness
and a sense of public participation about this ancient
 APEDA created a separate section for millets on nutritious grain (millet). MyGov has become a very
its website and the country-wise and state-wise important and successful medium for raising awareness
e-catalogs have been uploaded through contests. Millet startup innovation challenge,
Mighty millets quiz, designing millet comic story, etc. are a
 The government has started formulating a five- few contests to name. Indian Railways is also all set to serve
year strategic plan for the promotion of millets and high-end delicacies and customised health-conscious low-
value-added millet products in the international calorie millet-rich regional menu to the passengers. This
market in association with prestigious institutes initiative in terms of the millet menu for Vande Bharat Train
is in sync with the theme of the IYM 2023.
 Centre has created the Nutri Cereals Export
Promotion Forum to give impetus to the export of In line with the IYM celebration in India, a variety of
potential products, including millets other initiatives are rolling in the country. NITI Aayog and
the World Food Programme (WFP), India, launched the
 Government approved a PLI Scheme for the ‘Mapping and Exchange of Good Practices’initiative for
Food Processing Industry including millet-based mainstreaming millets in Asia and Africa on July 19, 2022.
products. This initiative will present an opportunity for sharing
among Asian & African countries and trigger informed
 Government suggested introducing millet (coarse decisions if they wish to scale up/replicate this idea.
grains) based menu once a week under the PM Moreover, the Department of Food and Public Distribution
POSHAN Scheme has recently directed to introduce and promote millets in
their canteens and in meetings. Additionally, APEDA has
 The Government under National Food Security launched gluten-free millet products for all age groups
Mission (NFSM)- Nutri Cereals is creating awareness at affordable prices. As part of the promotion of Indian
among farmers for Millets through demonstration millets, APEDA has planned to showcase millets and its
and training. value-added product at various global platforms such as
Gulfood 2023, Foodex, Seoul Food & Hotel Show, Saudi
 The Government has revised the guidelines for Agro Food, Fine Food Show in Sydney (Australia), Belgium’s
movement of the surplus production of millets to Food & Beverages Show, Germany’s BioFach and Anuga
other states. Food Fair, San Francisco’s Winter Fancy Food Show, etc.

 The National Year of Millets was celebrated in 2018. In the opening ceremony of IYM 2023 in Italy on
December 6, 2022, Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of
startups and stakeholders. State, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in her speech, said
While chairing the meeting of the Parliamentary “Nations need to collaborate to develop a sustainable
future, and millets will play a pivotal role in the process.
Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture There is an opportunity to contribute to the future well-
and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) on the subject being of mankind by bringing back ancient food grains
‘International Year of Millets’, Union Minister of MoA&FW, through IYM. India will steer the IYM 2023 celebrations
Narendra Singh Tomar stated, “Government plans to worldwide and organise campaigns to promote the
hold several programmes in the country and abroad for cultivation and consumption of millets, both in India
popularising millets and other Nutri-cereals. Besides, and abroad during the next year. IYM 2023 will lead
all ministries/departments of the Government of India, India toward Food and Nutritional Security. Millets are
along with the state governments, will promote the considered 'Smart Food' as they are easy to cultivate,
Nutri-cereals in coordination with the Department mostly organic, and contain high nutritional value.
of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the With PM Modi’s vision of “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” (The
Department of Agricultural Research and Education World is One Family), the IYM 2023 celebration is an
(DARE). The action plan of IYM 2023 focuses on strategies opportunity for India to promote Nutri-cereal Millets
to enhance production, consumption, export, branding, globally and place them in the world's 'food map'.
etc. of millets and other Nutri-cereals.”
With this level of preparedness, the year 2023 looks
On October 3 2022, a Memorandum of promising for Indian millets, both in terms of domestic as
Understanding (MoU) was signed between DA&FW well as international markets.
and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
Federation of India Limited (NAFED) to work together for Mansi Jamsudkar
the promotion and marketing of millet-based products, [email protected]
keeping in view the initiative of IYM 2023.

A series of pre-launch programmes and initiatives
are also being organised by the DA&FW on the MyGov
platform (a citizen engagement platform of the

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SPEAKING WITH 33

"Smart protein sector is Astha Gaur,
poised to create 4 lakh
jobs in India by 2030" Policy Specialist-Regulatory,
GFI India

While the alternative protein sector drew $5 research on cultivated meat in 2019. Furthermore,
billion invested capital across all categories in researchers at the Central Institute of Fisheries Education
2021 globally, with only $10.35 million flowing (CIFE), Mumbai received a Rs 66 lakh grant in 2021 to
into India, 2022 witnessed a difficult economic and conduct research in cultivated seafood.
market environment, on the whole. Alternative protein
companies raised a total of $2.2 billion of investment To support training and facilitate knowledge
capital, amounting to a modest reduction from the high partnerships, the Chief Minister’s Office of the
pace of investment growth seen in 2021. However, the Government of Maharashtra sanctioned a partnership
sector moved into a critical stage of market activity, with between GFI India and the Institute of Chemical
many companies announcing new product launches and Technology (ICT), Mumbai, to set up a Centre of
brand partnerships under the umbrella of Good Food Excellence in cellular agriculture, which will also incubate
Institute India (GFI India) in 2022. This central expert entrepreneurs, for which work is underway. Even bodies
organisation, thought leader, and convening body in the like the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance
Indian ‘alternative protein’ or ‘smart protein’ sector has Council (BIRAC) and the DBT have been funding
recently announced new initiatives to popularise this several smart protein startups through their existing
space in India. In conversation with nuFFooDS Spectrum, Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) programme, where
Astha Gaur, Policy Specialist-Regulatory and Akshay grantees are awarded Rs 50 lakh each.
Vishnu Bhat, Sci-Tech Specialist at GFI India reveal their
plans for 2023. Edited excerpts; Astha: Alternative proteins remain a
highly underinvested category,
What are your views on the current funding scenario globally. In order to scale smart protein
for smart protein startups in India? What are solutions, we’re going to need capital
the bottlenecks and ways forward to strengthen infusion from diverse players across the
this space? What support is required from the risk, social, and public landscape, from VCs to
government? development finance institutions, along with favourable
industrial policy to support the growth of the industry.
Akshay: The Government of India The lack of established manufacturing processes,
recognises the potential of smart sustainable value chains, and a clear path to market are
protein and has extended public the primary bottlenecks faced by the industry in India.
funding support to several When it comes to manufacturing capacity, off-take
entrepreneurs and research institutions capability already exists among hundreds of startups
in the past. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and large companies, however, facilities for small-scale
(CCMB) and the National Research Centre on Meat (NRC experimentation and pilot- and industrial-scale
Meat) secured a Rs 4.6 crore grant from the Department production continue to be non-existent. The market
of Biotechnology (DBT) in 2019, based on a joint research demand for highly innovative and more sustainably
proposal co-written by GFI India. Similarly, the Sanjay produced smart protein products is, therefore, not
Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences something entrepreneurs and companies are currently in
(SGPGI), Lucknow received a Rs 50 lakh grant from the a position to meet.
Department of Science & Technology (DST) to conduct We also need patient and smart capital, particularly
on the deep-tech side, to support the use of specific
technologies to establish an end-to-end vertical value

34 SPEAKING WITH NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

chain proof of concept, which subsequently shows GFI India has been able to open multiple communication
promise to self-sustain or absorb larger funding channels between industry stakeholders and APEDA,
and ability to scale in the future. Finally, an enabling helping both sides identify, understand, and address the
regulatory environment is, and will continue to be, export challenges faced by companies.
critical to build investor confidence in the sector to
enable capital infusion. Additionally, as a knowledge partner to APEDA, GFI
India also works to increase the overall understanding
Akshay: Bio-based transformative foods of this sunrise sector. With the larger aim of addressing
such as fermentation-derived proteins farmer welfare, we are currently discussing localising
and cultivated meat can provide production and end-to-end value chain creation of
affordable, sustainable, and delicious smart protein products. This includes cultivation,
protein products across the manufacturing, and distribution of value-added
socioeconomic pyramid. This could prove to be pivotal to products (ingredients, isolates, texturised protein, etc.)
the global fight against malnutrition and climate change, using indigenous crops along with creating market
while vastly reducing the public health risks that current linkages to the industry or for exports. Leveraging India’s
models of meat production pose. For the Indian smart tremendous crop biodiversity and localised value chains,
protein sector to become globally competitive with crops such as pulses, legumes, millets, hemp, etc. will
markets like China, Canada, or Israel, the sector requires become viable raw materials for smart protein foods,
critical support from policymakers and regulatory bodies. thereby diversifying the global inputs for the sector and
boosting India’s economy.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
GFI India has recently partnered with the ICAR-CIFE
Development Authority (APEDA) is preparing a to promote development of cultivated seafood.
Please elaborate more on this.
roadmap for export promotion of smart protein
Akshay: The ICAR-CIFE has proved to
products. How is GFI India supporting in this regard be a key partner organisation,
especially in promoting cultivated
and what is the progress so far? seafood research and development
Astha: India is not only predicted to be (R&D) and education. Dr Mukunda
an important market for smart protein, Goswami, a principal Scientist at CIFE, has dedicated his
but also has the potential to be a major entire career to cultivated seafood R&D with full support
exporter of plant-based products and from the current Director, Dr C N Ravishankar. We are
ingredients. Based on a study by GFI currently in the process of formalising our partnership
with ICAR-CIFE, a key outcome of which will be naming
India and Deloitte India, the export potential for plant- the institute the first ever ‘Smart Protein Innovation Hub
based meat in 2030 ranges from Rs 2,194 crore to Rs
6,824 crore. Similarly, for plant-based dairy, it ranges
from Rs 459 crore to Rs 1,889 crore. And for plant-based
eggs, the export potential in 2030 ranges from Rs 266
crore to Rs 631 crore.

APEDA has shown great foresight and visionary
leadership in understanding the export potential of
smart protein products. We, at GFI India, in working
towards a ‘National Mission for Smart Protein’, have
provided inputs on the roadmap that APEDA has created
and have been supporting APEDA in advancing the
agenda for the export promotion of smart proteins, ever
since. Varun Deshpande, President, Asia at the Good
Food Institute and I, are also a part of the committee that
has been set by APEDA to develop export standards and
guidelines for plant-based exports from India and for the
promotion of plant-based exports. The Vegan Committee
on Export Standards, Guidelines and Promotion for
Vegan Food Products, which falls under the National
Programme on Vegan Products, meets regularly to
discuss the development of the standards and is already
working on a draft for the same.

As the key facilitator of the smart protein industry,

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SPEAKING WITH 35

on Cultivated Seafood’ in India (SPIH-CS). cannot grow in silos. Our flagship initiative - the India
Dr Goswami is also working on introducing cultivated Smart Protein Innovation Challenge (ISPIC) - aims to
address this talent bottleneck by training hundreds of
seafood coursework to universities across the globe in new innovators every year, stimulating research in
collaboration with Dr Reza Ovissipour from Virginia Tech multiple scientific whitespaces, and accelerating
University in the US. The biggest challenge for us today go-to-market for dozens of early-stage entrepreneurs.
is replicating this model of engagement with other top ISPIC cohorts form direct pipelines for the GFI India
universities in India. We aim to achieve this milestone by Talent Community - a network of early stage
finding similar champions at other academic institutions professionals, researchers, and students wanting to get
and strongly advocating for placing smart proteins as a involved in the smart protein sector.
priority focus area of R&D and education.
Astha: An important element of
How is GFI India working towards developing better meeting our National Mission goals is
job opportunities in the smart protein space? Is there creating the next generation of talent
an agenda chalked out for the coming years? and skilled workforce in smart protein.
This is possible by introducing smart
Astha: GFI India worked with Deloitte protein curricula and training programmes at key
on a rigorous market study and Indian universities, colleges, and vocational training
modelling to investigate what smart institutes across food science, agri/crop sciences,
protein could mean for India’s biotechnology, engineering, manufacturing,
economic future in terms of market computation, etc. Recently, GFI India partnered with
size, export potential, job creation, and more. This the Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative (FICSI)—
Economic Analysis showed that with the right widely known as Food Processing Sector Skill Council to
interventions, the smart protein sector is poised to create develop a job role and the eligibility criteria for a
up to 4 lakh jobs by 2030 for India. These include both ‘Plant-Based Food Technologist’, a job now recognised
direct high-value jobs created in the processing of raw by the National Council for Vocational Education and
materials and manufacturing of innovative new products Training. The job role can be found on the government’s
as well as jobs created indirectly across the value chain in public record under the National Qualifications
services supporting the smart protein industry. We Register. We’re also working with our partner university,
estimate that each job in the smart protein sector could the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and
create up to 10 jobs in allied sectors. Technology (TDU) in Bengaluru to create hands-on
Akshay: There is, therefore, an training opportunities for those interested to enter the
immediate need to start building a plant-based industry.
dedicated and robust talent pool for Akshay: The technical talent pool for
the sector, as job creation and talent specialised job roles in the smart
development are interconnected and protein sector needs a significant
facelift. One way to facilitate this could
be to encourage PhD scholars and
postgraduate students from Food Science and
Technology programmes to pursue research projects
related to alternative proteins. An effective academia-
industry collaboration is needed to nurture young
talents in the alternative protein sector. Engaging
relevant industry stakeholders as resource persons and
mentors in skill development initiatives and for student
projects could critically enhance the industry-readiness
of the student community. Startups, key food industry
players in the smart protein sector, and equipment
manufacturers must come together and come forward to
support training initiatives at their production facilities,
to serve as inspiration for young talent seeking to pursue
their careers in this field.

Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

36 SPEAKING WITH NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Tarun Arora, "With tech interventions
Indian growers are upgrading
Director Single Family Office, their produce to address
IG International export-specific challenges"

With more than a billion people to feed, India Which new varieties of fruits will be imported into
ranks second in the production of fruits and
vegetables in the world. Despite this, the India in 2023 and beyond? Are those varieties better
value of fruit and vegetable imports in the country
amounted to over Rs 19,700 crore in fiscal year 2022, in terms of quality and cost for the Indian market?
as per Statista report. India imports most of its fresh We are planning to import cherries, melons, and
fruit from Thailand, Vietnam and Chile and is the
largest importer of fresh fruit in the world. To dig pineapples into the country. We are in discussion and
further into this space, nuFFooDS Spectrum recently expect to conclude it in the upcoming quarters. We
interacted with Tarun Arora, Director, Single Family have identified the potential areas in Karnataka, Kashmir,
Office, IG International. With more than 50 varieties, Arunachal Pradesh, and Kerala for melons, cherries and
this Mumbai-based company boasts an extensively pineapples respectively. If things go well as planned, it
multifarious stack of offerings from 22 countries for will result in a combination of company-owned land as
its Indian customers. In addition, IG International well as collaboration with farmers.
possesses 16 cold storage, accommodating about
40,000 pallets, making it the country's largest
cold chain logistics space. Edited excerpts;

What are the regulatory challenges involved in fresh

fruit imports in India?
India’s imports of fruits are growing in double-digits,

but there was a point in time when we were facing
challenges in terms of imports in India. The fumigation
process was posing a big hurdle for us in importing
various fresh fruits. Hence, the discontinuation of the
fumigation process, helped us to import cherries from
the US-based Stemilt Growers within four weeks.

With the withdrawal of trade privileges by the US,
the imports of fresh fruits in India increased and it hit
back with 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs in 2019. The year
2021-22 has seen imports between 450,000 tonnes and
5000,000 tonnes with apples contributing a major share.
Fresh fruit imports did not face any problems with regard
to sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures undertaken by
the government. There are regulatory challenges but
officials are cooperating with importers. They are actually
helping solve the problem, understanding the logistics
hurdles.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SPEAKING WITH 37

What was the revenue of IG International in FY 2021- In India, the growth of cold chain logistics
22 and what's your expectation for FY 2022-23? is in a developmental stage and the loss
of food resulting from the lack of it is
The revenue from operations for the financial year estimated to be $8-15 billion per annum.
2021-22 equals Rs 1,335.78 crore (as compared to Rs Cold chain management is quite a costly
852.19 crore for the financial year 2020-21). The expected affair and has a direct impact on the
growth rate for 2022-23 would be in the range of 8-10 profitability of the business. It comes
per cent compared to the preceding year. with a higher operating cost, as fuel
costs constitute around 45 per cent of
Could you comment on a few of your new joint the operating expenses of cold storage
ventures and partnerships? in India, which is way above that in the
West, as fuel costs constitute a mere 10
Our new joint ventures and partnerships in CEA- per cent for them.
Controlled Environment Agriculture, Plant Bioscience,
Logistics, among others, are all forward-looking in giving How are you leveraging technology to adapt to the
us better control over our upstream and downstream new challenges in this sector?
supply chain and also in making India a premium fruit-
producing nation. IG International has entered into a joint The pandemic was the turning point for IG in
venture with Hortifrut, Chile to produce the finest berries embracing technology with an urgency never seen
for the domestic market as well as export; a joint venture before. In fact, at that point, it was technology that kept
with Engin Tarim, Turkey for apple production; partnered us afloat, and today, technology is keeping us ahead
with Palogix International, USA for reusable transit bins; of others. We are deploying technology in production,
with Aatreyas in protected cultivation systems such as procurement, shipment, and supply chain, and finally in
net houses, greenhouses and tunnel systems; Esquire selling our product. In the production line, we use plant
Corrugation for fresh produce packaging; Deccan Exotics genetics in rootstock and sapling selection, we use CEA
for avocado plant nursery; and Rajat Biotech for tissue in our growing practices in orchards and farms. In the
culture rootstock and sapling for imported premium fruits. procurement line, we use data science in forecasting
and market studies, we use GPS and other related
technologies in the supply chain and finally, we use
our App – MYIG in selling our products online. We are
becoming a technology-driven venture, all-in-all.

What steps have you taken to be 'ahead of the game'?
The imported fruit market in India is all set to grow

and IG International has realigned its vision to be
future-ready – by making its fruit basket as varied and
easily available throughout India, throughout the year,
adopting the highest sustainable practice that involves
everything from growing and procurement of fruits to
the plate of its millions of customers. To achieve this, IG
has set its goal to gain the highest control over the value
chain of the company through investment in vertical
integration moving upstream and downstream.

How are you overcoming the roadblocks in the
management of cold chain logistics?

In India, the growth of cold chain logistics is in a
developmental stage and the loss of food resulting from
the lack of it is estimated to be $8-15 billion per annum.
Cold chain management is quite a costly affair and has a
direct impact on the profitability of the business. It comes

38 SPEAKING WITH NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

with a higher operating cost, as fuel costs constitute with a goal in the near future of a total transition to
around 45 per cent of the operating expenses of cold renewable and green and clean power sources. And we
storage in India, which is way above that in the West, as are educating our people to embrace the change.
fuel costs constitute a mere 10 per cent for them.
Please list the countries from which fruits are being
To run a successful cold logistics, one needs to rely imported into India. How is it helping the Indian
on integrated technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, market?
Machine Learning, and the Internet of Things for
optimum efficiency. We are at an initial adoption and IG imports fresh fruits from more than 22 countries
developmental stage. Breakdowns in equipment caused throughout the world including the USA, Argentina,
by power failure are a challenge as well, and unless Peru, Chile, Mexico, South Africa, Italy, Belgium, France,
attended to immediately, may result in the loss of the Czech Republic, Russia, Spain, Australia, Turkey, Egypt,
entire shipment. Therefore, cold chain logistics comes Iran, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, New Zealand, and
with a very big risk factor. other countries. Exotic fruits from these countries are
offering diverse choices to Indian customers, apart from
At IG, we are installing power-efficient modern providing health and wellness. The inclusion of these
cooling systems in our cold storage. Our reefer vehicles fruits is redefining fine dining experiences as well.
are equipped with GPS, enabling us to monitor
breakdowns in real time. As the cold chain logistics in These products are creating a new segment,
India is developing, there is a huge opportunity, making known as Imported Fruits, and are expanding the
it one of the most promising industries. And, although fruit market in India. Although higher in price than
the proposition is costly, looking into the future of this the Indian counterpart, imported fruits are becoming
industry, IG is making a massive investment in setting up phenomenally popular as the market size has grown
cold warehousing throughout the country. from zero in 2000 to 721,493 tonnes by 2021. The
upward trend continues to rise.
The company is betting high on Sustainability. What
are the company’s goals in this regard? What are your views on the fruit export capabilities
of India?
IG International understands that only sustainable
fruit-growing practices can be our most practical defence India is progressing well in creating a global
against the threat of climate change. We have made footprint. With our diverse climate spread across our
an elaborate ESG (environmental, social, and corporate country, it provides excellent conditions to produce
governance) assessment and are working in that direction. diverse fruits. As corporates are gradually entering
We are reducing the fruit mile (food mile) by growing this trade, fruit growers are recalibrating their farms
those fruits in India that we usually import. We are using according to the international market demand. With
CEA in our farms, conserving water, land, and other natural CEA and other technological interventions, Indian
resources, while on the other hand, increasing output. growers are upgrading their produce to address the
We are using reusable and renewable packaging for our export-specific challenges that had been barring our
products. We have set our goal in EV (electric vehicle) participation in the export market.
transportation to reduce emissions from our vehicles. We
are currently using solar power to run our cold storage Mansi Jamsudkar
[email protected]

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in DAIRY 39

How Dairy Industry Dr Ashish Agarwal,
Can Scale New
Heights in 2023 Co-Founder & Chief Technology
Officer, Weather Risk Management

Services (WRMS)

In recent years, technology-driven products, services, Monitoring Supply Chain Systems: The dairy supply
and solutions have substantially improved the dairy chain in India is very complicated because it depends
business in India. The third white revolution in this on so many factors such as cold temperatures, weather
country will be largely brought about and sustained by conditions, shelf life, etc. One commodity that must be
technology. The use of technology in the dairy sector has delivered to consumers as soon as possible and in the
expanded from automated/mechanised milk collecting best condition is milk. As a result, technology is crucial for
and testing milk composition at the village level to ensuring timely distribution, cold chain upkeep, and other
real-time milk procurement, evaluation of overall milk factors. Participants in the supply chain can effectively
quality criteria, automatic dairy plant operation, and manage inventory as well. The cold chain management
other activities. One may now track data and information system is anticipated to develop quickly. Instead of being
at the farmer level in the milk pool with the click of a limited to insulated/refrigerated trucks, warehouses, or
button. Additionally, technology is making significant cold stores/freezers, cold chain systems are now mounted
strides toward modernising and revolutionising the at the shelf level in malls or marketplaces.
other key areas of the dairy industry.
E-commerce Marketplace: The only thing that
For the unorganised Indian dairy industry to become connects buyers and sellers is technology. The seller is
more structured, the appropriate technology and its connected on the back end to the farmers and suppliers
effective application are essential. The majority of the in order to guarantee or monitor the milk supply. The
challenges encountered while handling a perishable supplier may easily guarantee product traceability
commodity like milk can only be overcome by adopting on both ends of forward and backward links. Farmers
technological innovations. The goal is to digitise as many and dairy producers would be able to access doorstep
data points as possible. services on their smartphones, especially given the
technology they currently have and the advisory
Some areas where technology has played a key role services that have been made possible by technological
and where implementation is expected to increase advancements.

Freshness and Quality of Milk: Milk is a perishable Key initiatives of 2022
commodity. If not chilled in time, including through Farm Management: A dairy farm needs to make
pasteurisation, freezing, and other preservation
techniques, it has a tendency to become stale or sure that every aspect of its business is run effectively.
undergo significant irreversible quality decline. Thanks to Farm management systems can be used to digitise
technological improvements, milk can now be processed input and operational procedures. Access to energy,
so that it can be used for a longer period of time and its the digital revolution, and a reasonably priced
freshness can be detected. At the farmer, dairy plant, smartphone with access to bigger markets, verifiable
and consumer levels, it is now possible to estimate milk knowledge, and high-quality services are the first steps
purity, microbiological load, adulterants, and shelf life toward empowering farmers. Thanks to technological
by deploying technology-based apps and programmes. improvements, a farmer can now easily manage large
Technology-driven devices are taking on the herd sizes using an app-based system that can run on
responsibilities of several quality criteria that previously mobile phones. Online payments to farmers are lowering
required well-established laboratories, wet chemistry costs, enabling financial independence, and greatly
techniques, and time-consuming methodologies.

40 DAIRY NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

easing business processes. be utilising these three distinct dairy industry trends in
The herd record, cow performance, control of the order to get a head this year.

breeding cycle, lactation cycle, and vaccination schedule 1. Digital banking: Digital banking, digital
are all maintained in such handy ways that alerts are payments, and fintech will play a key role going forward
provided for a specific farm/cow activity that is needed. in the livestock industry by making it faster for farmers to
A few applications allow you to assess the nutritional get paid for milk and other services they provide.
requirements of cows and feed them accordingly. The
entire operation of a dairy farm will be automated and 2. Sustainable practices: One of the largest trends
digitalised by these applications. Using RFID-based taking shape in the dairy industry currently is sustainable
chips, farmers may continuously monitor the health, practices. The year 2023 will see the dairy industry’s
food, lactation, health issues, pregnancy, and other growth heavily depend on companies taking ownership
characteristics of their cattle. Large dairy farms in the of their negative impacts by reusing waste, saving water,
country are already using robotic milking machines and and making sure the air stays clean.
herd tracking drones to manage their herds.
3. Tech interventions: In India, dairy farming is
Product Traceability: Consumers are becoming unorganised, so technology penetration is relatively
more knowledgeable about the nutritional content and less; however, in the past few years, numerous startups
sources of their diets. Retention of customers depends have emerged in this space. One of the key areas where
on the food supply chain's capacity to be tracked. digitalisation can play a significant impact is cattle
Technology is being increasingly used by dairy producers management. Farmers can track cattle feeding patterns
to communicate with farmers about the whereabouts and monitor their health by leveraging IoT and advanced
of their products as well as the techniques of processing analytics. This is likely to boost cattle productivity and
and consumption. Using technology, such as a QR code milk yield. However, cattle monitoring via AI-based
on their phones, customers can also track the collection, solutions is still in its infancy in India but will mushroom
packaging, shipment, and storage of their purchases. in times to come.

Projected Key Trends for 2023 Achieving Tech Adoption
2022 witnessed a number of tech developments in The Indian dairy industry is truly at a turning point,

the dairy sector. And 2023 already looks to be shaping with countless opportunities to increase its influence
up to be an interesting one with the increased pressure globally. The dairy business may play a critical role in
on companies to script the next phase growth of the democratising India's entrepreneurial landscape and
dairy sector with new tech interventions. bringing rural communities into the mainstream as we
observe a fundamentally changed global paradigm. With
Dairy industry growth will depend on new appropriate adoption of technology, the Indian dairy
innovations and the drive to meet new consumer sector can scale to new heights that will benefit the dairy
demands. And the top dairy companies are going to farmers as well as the consumers.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in MILK PROCESSING 41

Zeroing-in on Sarah M Reyes,
Efficacious Human
Milk Processing Tech PhD, Scientific Liaison and
Consultant, Human Milk & Clinical

Research, Prolacta Bioscience

With mounting evidence that an Exclusive Retaining donor milk bioactivity
Human Milk Diet (EHMD) provides improved Many factors must be considered when selecting
outcomes for premature infants in hospital
neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), there has been appropriate technology for the processing of human
increased interest in different human milk processing milk intended for vulnerable infants. First and foremost
technologies used to provide safe sources of donor is safety. Like blood and other human tissue, human
human milk. In fact, the American Academy of milk has the potential to harbour harmful pathogens
Paediatrics recommends the use of donor human milk that were either present in the milk donor or that were
for premature infants when mother’s own milk (MOM) is introduced during collection, processing, distribution,
not in adequate supply. A safe supply of donor human storage, or reconstitution.
milk is particularly important for very low birth weight
infants, who often require the addition of nutritional Elimination or neutralisation of harmful pathogens
fortifiers to MOM to meet their high nutritional needs. introduced during collection and processing can be
Fortifiers are predominantly made from either cow achieved with technologies that employ heat and
milk or human milk. However, evidence indicates pressure. These include retort sterilisation, ultra-high-
that preterm infants fed human milk–based fortifiers temperature (UHT) processing, and vat pasteurisation. In
experienced several improved outcomes, including a retort sterilisation, packaged milk is sterilised by being
reduced incidence of necrotising enterocolitis. Some of heated to 115°–145°C under high pressure. The milk is
these improvements are likely related to the bioactive then distributed and stored in the same packaging it
components found in human milk. was in during the retort sterilisation process, eliminating
the risk of introducing new pathogens before it reaches
Why bioactivity of human milk matters a patient. It is marketed as the safest form of milk
Human milk naturally contains a wide variety of processing because it neutralises pathogenic spores,
but this added safety comes at the price of destroying
bioactive compounds that have been shown to improve bioactive milk proteins that are important for infant
infant survival, development, and health. Notably, health and development.
lactoferrin and α-lactalbumin enhance mineral absorption.
Lactoferrin, lysozyme, and immunoglobulins provide UHT processing produces shelf-stable milk by
protection against both bacterial and viral pathogens. heating it to 135°C for 2 to 5 seconds and then filling
Cytokines, polymeric immunoglobulin receptors (PIGR), and sealing it in sterile packaging in preparation for
and osteopontin promote a healthy immune system. distribution. Both retort sterilisation and UHT processing
Finally, transforming growth factor (TGF) β21 and are typically combined with homogenisation, to prevent
lactoferrin are important for the healthy development of the fat from separating out of solution and to reduce
the gastrointestinal system. Other crucial components the browning of milk that can make it less visually
of human milk are growth factors, which may promote appealing. Vat pasteurisation, which is equivalent to
healthy development of the infant intestinal tract, Holder pasteurisation, involves heating milk in individual
vasculature, nervous system, and endocrine system. batches at lower temperatures for a longer period than
Examples of such growth factors include vascular for either UHT processing or retort sterilisation.
endothelial growth factor (VEGF), TGF-β1, and TGF-β2.
Vat pasteurisation preserves higher levels of milk
proteins and other substances in their bioactive
state. Researchers have demonstrated this in a recent

42 MILK PROCESSING NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Vat pasteurisation preserves higher levels after vat pasteurisation, compared with either retort
of milk proteins and other substances in sterilisation or UHT processing. These findings provide
their bioactive state. Researchers have manufacturers with data to make informed decisions
demonstrated this in a recent study about which technology to employ when processing
in which they compared the effect of human milk. A primary consideration here should
thawing, homogenising, vat pasteurisation, be providing the optimal nutrition to meet patients’
retort sterilisation, and UHT processing needs. Since vulnerable infants in the NICU, have been
on the structure of bioactive proteins shown to benefit from bioactivity that is as close as
in donor human milk. They found that possible to MOM while ensuring microbiological safety,
freeze thawing, freeze-thawing plus vat pasteurisation is currently the leading processing
homogenisation, and vat pasteurisation technology, based on current data.
all preserved immunoglobulins important
for immune function, notably secretory Notably, the majority of research to date on the use
immunoglobulin A (sIgA), IgA, IgG, and IgM. of an EHMD in preterm infants has been conducted using
nutritional fortifiers which employ vat pasteurisation. It
study in which they compared the effect of thawing, remains unclear whether human milk–based nutrition
homogenising, vat pasteurisation, retort sterilisation, that has been processed using another method will
and UHT processing on the structure of bioactive provide the same outcomes.
proteins in donor human milk. They found that freeze-
thawing, freeze-thawing plus homogenisation, and Challenges in ensuring safety and bioactivity
vat pasteurisation all preserved immunoglobulins Retort sterilisation and UHT processing, both
important for immune function, notably secretory
immunoglobulin A (sIgA), IgA, IgG, and IgM. In popular in the dairy industry, have benefits related
contrast, almost all immunoglobulins were degraded to convenience and cost efficiency that make them
with retort sterilisation and UHT processing. PIGR better suited for producing foods for a non-vulnerable
immunoreactivity was unaffected by freeze-thawing, population, such as healthy children and adults. UHT
freeze-thawing plus homogenisation, and vat is a form of continuous processing, which allows for
pasteurisation, but detection was increased with both high-volume production and reduced processing times.
retort sterilisation and UHT processing. All processing High thermal processing results in products that remain
methods increased α-lactalbumin immunoreactivity. sterile during distribution and storage, provided the
This increase in PIGR detection and α-lactalbumin packaging remains intact. The final product is shelf
immunoreactivity could be an indicator that bioactive stable for long periods of time, eliminating the need for
proteins are degrading and interacting with each other temperature control during distribution and storage.
during thermal processing.
With vat pasteurisation, human milk and human
VEGF, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 were fully preserved with milk–derived products are sampled and tested at
vat pasteurisation. VEGF and TGF-β2 were decreased by multiple points in time. Some products may also be
37 to 61 per cent with UHT processing and by 92 to 99 reserved to be tested after packaging. The final product
per cent with retort sterilisation. Osteopontin, a protein is not shelf stable, requiring careful temperature
that is important for healthy immune function, was not control at all stages of distribution and storage. These
altered by UHT processing but was degraded by about additional steps are necessary when manufacturing a
50 per cent with vat pasteurisation and by about 70 product intended for vulnerable preterm infants who
per cent with retort sterilisation. The immunoreactivity are dependent on a nutritional product most similar
of lactoferrin was reduced by 35 per cent with freeze- to MOM. Meticulous testing for pathogens can be
thawing plus homogenisation, by 65 per cent with vat paired with testing for metabolites from drugs and
pasteurisation, and by 84 per cent with UHT processing. for adulterants to further ensure a safe product. Thus,
Lysozyme survived all processing conditions. vat pasteurisation paired with testing for pathogens,
adulterants, and drug metabolites would ensure both
Choosing the best tech safety and preserved bioactivity.
The findings of Liang et al indicate that donor
Ensuring that premature infants treated in hospital
milk bioactivity most closely resembles that of MOM NICUs receive a safe source of nutrition that resembles
MOM as closely as possible is an important challenge for
manufacturers of human milk–based nutrition. Evidence
to date indicates that vat pasteurisation results in better
preservation of bioactive proteins than either UHT
processing or retort sterilisation.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in PACKAGING INKS 43

Why FBOs Must Jatin Takkar,
Comply With IS 15495
Head, Product Safety and
Regulatory, Siegwerk India

Food safety has been a topic of discussion among must not contain substances from the exclusion list
the packaging industry stakeholders for a while and must not contain toxic substances. In the case that
now. Everyone, from regulatory agencies to ink and a functional barrier does not exist, bleeding dyes and
substrate manufacturers to converters are waking up, colouring agents need to be avoided.
not just to the importance of safe packaging for food
items, but also their legal implications. 2. Printing inks on Immediate Food Wrappings
- Those must be applied to the outside of the food
The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India wrapper, comply with the exclusion list and must not
(FSSAI) continues to raise the bar on packaging safety, contain toxic substances. Inks are to be printed in such
pushing the supply chain to be safer than ever. Moreover, a manner as to avoid set-off. The final intended articles
post pandemic, consumers are more focused on hygiene need to be manufactured such that under normal or
and food safety. Thus, the packaging supply chain has to foreseeable conditions of use, they shall not transfer
gear up and align itself to the new legal requirements as their constituents to the food in quantities, which
well as customer expectations. may endanger human health, cause a deterioration in
the organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable
Food Safety and Standards change in the nature, substance and/or quality of the
(Packaging) Regulations food. In the case that a functional barrier does not
exist, bleeding dyes and colouring agents need to be
The standard prescribes that any material used avoided.
for packaging, preparation, storing, wrapping,
transportation and sale or service of food shall be of 3. Printing inks for direct food contact - They
food grade quality (“Food grade” refers to materials must be formulated only with food additives under the
made of substances, which are safe and suitable for appropriate regulation of the Government of India. The
their intended use which shall not endanger human final intended articles need to be manufactured such
health and bring change in the composition of food or that under normal or foreseeable conditions of use,
organoleptic characteristics). FSSAI mandates that the they shall not transfer their constituents to the food in
printing inks for use on food packages shall conform to quantities, which may endanger human health, cause
IS 15495. IS 15495:2020 is the standard developed by a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics or an
the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) which needs to be unacceptable change in the nature, substance and/or
followed in accordance with the following-mentioned quality of the food. In the case that a functional barrier
regulation. does not exist, bleeding dyes and colouring agents need
to be avoided.
Packaging Inks conformance to IS 15495
The Indian Standard IS 15495:2020 ‘Printing Ink for 4. Printing inks for disposables (e.g., paper plates,
drinking straws or table napkins) - These inks must
food packaging – Code of practice’ prescribes guidelines not contain substances from the exclusion list or those,
for printing inks for use on food packages. The standard which are otherwise known to be toxic. As far as possible
differentiates between four categories of printing inks and practicable, the printing ink manufacturers shall
and gives guidance on the formulation of the respective ensure that inks are formulated in such a way as to avoid
inks: migration of dyes or other colouring agents, liable to
bleed under the expected conditions of use, onto the
1. Printing inks on external (secondary/tertiary) food.
food packaging - They can be formulated freely but

44 PACKAGING INKS NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Specified requirements across the supply chain or foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer
their constituents to the food in quantities, which may
stakeholders: endanger the human health, cause a deterioration in the
organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change
Ink Manufacturer: in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food.
I. Ink manufacturers are responsible to formulate
packaging inks by using only raw materials other than IV. For immediate food wrappings and direct contact
those known to be toxic, carcinogenic, sensitising or applications the printer needs to establish appropriate
mutagenic, primarily governed by the exclusion list as controls to avoid set-off in the printing process.
per Annex A.
II. Ink manufacturers are expected to take all V. The converter needs to perform adequate analysis
necessary precautions to meet the guidelines of the for the specific application in context of validating the
standard. bleeding capacity of dyes and pigments used in the inks.
III. Ink manufacturers shall inform the converter
and print buyers on the suitability of ink type towards Print Buyer/Brand Owner:
the packages of food and the norms followed in I. Print buyers need to design the packaging with the
formulations as per the requirement. restriction of printing in mind.
IV. Ink manufacturers need to declare the material II. For immediate food wrappings and direct contact
safety data sheet (MSDS) for the Ink formulations. applications the final intended articles needs to be
V. The sum of concentration levels of lead, cadmium, manufactured in such a way, that under normal or
mercury and chromium (VI) shall not exceed 100 ppm for foreseeable condition of use, they shall not transfer
printing inks. their constituents to the food in quantities, which may
endanger the human health, cause a deterioration in the
Printer / Converter: organoleptic characteristics or an unacceptable change
I. The printer and converter is finally responsible for in the nature, substance and/or quality of the food.
manufacturing and storage of the food packages in such III. Relationship between the press speed and the
a manner by which all preventable transfer of material curing/drying power needs to be fully understood to
from the ink or coating to the food content is avoided, ensure that an adequate curing/drying takes place.
even if such transfer is unobjectionable on the grounds IV. For immediate wrappers, the print buyer needs to
of health, odour and flavour. recommend substrates with sufficiently low permeability
II. The printer needs to ensure that the storage to prevent migration.
environment should be free from potential volatile It is very important to understand that packaging
contaminants, which could adversely affect the safety can only be implemented when packaging supply
organoleptic characteristics of the food. chain partners share information with each other and
III. For immediate food wrappings and direct follow an integrated approach. Integrated Packaging
contact applications the final intended articles needs Supply chain is the key to success of packaging safety
to be manufactured in such a way, that under normal implementation.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in PEOPLE NEWS 45

Shilpa Vaid takes charge as CHRO for Diageo India

The Indian arm of British alcoholic employee experience and an Arvind, Prione (Amazon Catamaran
beverage company Diageo has advantaged & inclusive culture. JV) & its subsidiary, Cloudtail.
announced the appointment of Shilpa’s experience spans several Shilpa has led Global and Regional
Shilpa Vaid as the Chief Human Talent Management initiatives
Resources Officer (CHRO). sectors, many of which have across countries, with specific
Shilpa was earlier serving as been senior leadership focus on designing and deploying
the Business Unit People roles, encompassing programmes for developing high-
Lead at Mondelēz various functional areas performance talent, leadership
India. In this role, she of HR, across different building and strengthening
is responsible for industries: financial organisational capabilities for
enabling sustainable services, retail, tangible business impact. She
business growth by e-commerce and has also played a pivotal role in
building talent and FMCG. She has held driving business through significant
organisational senior leadership expansion & growth, restructuring
capabilities, roles at MetLife, and transformation, as well as
delivering Bharti AXA preparing for listing on stock
superior General exchanges.
Insurance,

Barista picks Paul-Robert Bouhier
steps in as Pernod Ricard
Priyankar Singh India Managing Director

as General French company Pernod Ricard, world’s second-largest wine
and spirits seller, has announced the appointment of Paul-
Manager- Marketing Robert Bouhier as the Managing Director (MD) for the India
business. His appointment as Pernod Ricard India Managing
Barista Coffee Company, headquartered in Director is with effect from January 1, 2023. Bouhier takes
New Delhi, has announced the appointment the reins from Thibault Cuny, who
of Priyankar Singh as General Manager- stepped down in October 2022 due
Marketing. He will be responsible for creating to health issues. In his new role,
marketing campaigns and working towards he will report to Philippe Guettat,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
strengthening of Pernod Ricard Asia, and will be a
brand connect. member of the Pernod Ricard Asia
Singh holds Executive Committee. Most recently,
more than Bouhier was serving as Managing
14 years of Director, Pernod Ricard Southern
experience in Europe since 2020. He joined Pernod
Marketing, Brand Ricard in 1995 and has worked in
Strategy, and France, Ireland, Singapore, South
Communication Africa, and Italy. Bouhier has held
across North several leadership positions at
and South India. the company. Bouhier has been
He started his career with Tag Media Network instrumental in successfully leading
in Bengaluru, and later he joined Inox Leisure the transformation and acceleration
where he worked for almost a decade. The in Africa and Southern Europe, keeping the pace of delivering
Barista Coffee Company has over 315 Barista multiple strategic and growth initiatives through strong
Coffee Espresso Cafe and Barista Coffee Kiosks people engagement, vision, and drive.
across India including its Franchise partners.
Besides India, Barista Coffee also has cafés in
locations across Sri Lanka and Maldives.

46 INGARCEADIEMNTICS NEWS NUNFUFFOFODOSDSSPSEPCETCRTURMUM | | JaMnuaracrhy 20213 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

CP Kelco and Chr. Royal DSM, Azelis
strengthen vitamins
Hansen join forces offerings in India

to develop plant- Royal DSM, a global purpose-led, science-based company active
in Health, Nutrition & Bioscience, has announced a distribution
based Vegurts partnership with Azelis, a leading innovation service provider in the
specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry. Effective January
Ingredient powerhouses CP Kelco and 1, this mandate strengthens and expands Azelis Pharmaceuticals &
Chr. Hansen are offering customers a Healthcare’s lateral value chain in India with DSM’s complete range
collaboration combining their world- of vitamins for use in pharmaceutical solutions. With over 150 years
leading expertise and solutions to take of history, DSM specialises in sustainable solutions for human and
consumer-friendly, shelf-stable, plant- animal health and nutrition. As the world’s largest vitamin producer,
based yogurt alternatives (vegurts) to the the company has developed an extensive portfolio that provides
next level. The technological challenge access to US and Japanese Drug Master Files (DMFs) and the
to produce both spoonable and Certificates of Suitability (CEPs) for all 13 vitamins. This partnership
drinkable ambient vegurts with great builds on Azelis India’s existing relationship with DSM, which
nutrition, taste and texture is significant. already includes the distribution of its market-leading enzymes
Selecting the right culture to provide and cultures portfolio for the food and beverage industry, and also
fermentation performance, texture allows Azelis to offer additional solutions in order to meet growing
and flavour for each recipe, and having consumer demand.
these complement the stabilisation
and flavour systems is critical to making
great products. To date, a range of
vegurt prototypes are available to food
producers for tasting, and they have
received positive feedback from select
customers. The prototype recipes can be
tweaked to meet specific requirements
for sugar, protein, fat, texture and flavour,
thanks to the comprehensive expertise
in fermentation, stabilisation, flavour,
processing and packaging offered by the
collaboration.

Tetra Pak develops breakthrough ‘whole soya’ processing method

Swedish–Swiss multinational food high-fibre product with no added of the soybean, okara, into the
packaging and processing company sugar, creamy taste and texture, final beverage. The company
Tetra Pak has developed a unique and a desirable smooth mouthfeel. experimented with different
processing method for soya drinks, Since then, more customers in grinding solutions, reducing okara
which utilises the entire soyabean Asia have added whole soya particles so they can be integrated
in production. Meeting increased beverages as premium products into the final product without
consumer demand for healthy, complementing existing traditional impacting taste or texture and
immunity-boosting products, the soya beverages in their portfolio. produce a versatile, high-fibre
resulting product is composed of Tetra Pak’s new technology reduces
1.2 per cent fibre, compared to 0.26 waste and increases the fibre beverage. This solution
per cent, for traditional, extracted and protein content of has a shelf-life
soyabean drinks. The whole soya the beverage by stability of six to
line was co-created with customers incorporating twelve months
at Tetra Pak’s product development the fibre without stabilisers or
centre in Shanghai, producing a component emulsifiers, making it
a clean label product.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in R&D 47

IMTECH & CSIO IISc uses green tea ingredients
make copper-based for antimicrobial air filtration
low-cost water
purification device A newly developed air filter can deactivate the germs, ‘self-
cleaning’ them out of the system using ingredients commonly
The demand for pure drinking water has been found in green tea. Impure air might make our life shorter, to
increasing steadily for the last few decades. the extent that Indians lose 5-10 years of their lives because
With technological advancements, numerous of air-borne contaminants leading to respiratory diseases,
commercial water purifiers have appeared adversely affecting physical health as well as mental health,
in the market. However, in an attempt to according to a report by University of Chicago in the US. A
purify water, most of these also eliminate the research team led by Prof. Suryasarathi Bose and Prof. Kaushik
necessary oligo-dynamic minerals vital for our Chatterjee at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has
health. Copper's oligo-dynamic properties, developed germ-destroying air filters that can inactivate germs
antimicrobial, antioxidant, alkalising/pH using ingredients like polyphenols and polycationic polymers
balance, and high electrical and thermal commonly found in green tea. These ‘green’ ingredients rupture
conductivity make it the best candidate for the microbes through site-specific binding. This technology
water purification. A team of researchers has been transferred to AIRTH, a startup that is replacing the
from the CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments existing germ-growing air filters with germ-destroying air
Organisation (CSIR-CSIO) and the CSIR-Institute filters for commercialisation. As this innovation holds promise
for Microbial Technology (CSIR-IMTech), has to develop antimicrobial filters that can prevent endemics
developed an antimicrobial water purifying caused by air-borne pathogens, a patent was granted in 2022.
device that is simple to fit into any wide-mouth
opening water bottle. The device is based
on the surface-to-volume ratio of copper
for improving the quality of stored drinking
water. It is efficient against microbiological
contamination and enhances the water’s
quality with minerals. The novel design of the
copper ionic device makes it a good option for
travellers, office goers, children, campaigns,
homes, outdoor, on-site personnel, hikers, etc.

IIT-D designs low cost powerless
system to heat food in remote areas

A new low-cost heating system users can heat ready-to-eat food, is a natural mineral that easily
which can be activated by plain make instant noodles, and any integrates into the soil without any
water anytime, anywhere and does beverage like tea, coffee, etc. The toxic effects. North East Center for
not require any fuel or electricity by-product of the heating process Technology Application and Reach
to heat or power it, can act as a (NECTAR), an autonomous body
heating solution in any location. Dr under the Department of Science &
Sumer Singh, Associate Professor, Technology, Government of India,
Department of Design, Indian supported Dr Singh and his team
Institute of Technology, Delhi to develop a food box and a liquid
(IIT-D) along with his research container that can be integrated
team has developed a technology with the Powerless Heating
that works on chemical energy. Technology. They have used it to
It is called ‘Powerless Heating develop containers which can heat
Technology’. With this technology, food or and beverages on demand.

48 ASCUAPDPELMIEIRC NEWS NUNFUFFOFODOSDSSPSEPCETCRTURMUM | | JaMnuaracrhy 20213 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Plastipak opens Essae Teraoka launches
indigenous dual ultrasonic
major recycling sensor-based milk analyser

facility in Spain Bengaluru-based Essae Teraoka, a joint venture with Teraoka Seiko of
Japan, has launched the first ‘Made In India’ dual ultrasonic sensor milk
US-based Plastipak, a global leader analyser – Essae MA-825 for the dairy industry. The MA-825 is a state-
in the design, manufacture and of-the-art machine, industrially designed in Germany, fully engineered
recycling of plastic containers, has and built in India, aesthetically and elegantly styled, and very simple
announced the formal opening of to use. The MA-825 comes with a dual ultrasonic sensor for quick and
a major recycling investment at its precise measurement of fat, solids non fat (SNF), and added water
manufacturing site in Toledo, Spain by
Don Emiliano García-Page, President content analysis of milk
of the Castilla-La Mancha Region. samples. Essae’s USP is that
The new recycling facility converts the ultrasonic sensors used
PET flake into food-grade recycled in these analysers are entirely
PET (rPET) pellets suitable for direct conceived, engineered, and
use in new preforms, bottles and built-in in India, unlike other
containers. The new recycling plant players who import these.
will produce 20,000 tonnes of food- Another uniqueness of the
grade recycled pellet per year and will MA-825 is that it analyses
eliminate recycled resin transport- samples and shows results
related emissions since it is co- in flat 23 seconds at 30
located at Plastipak’s current preform degree Celsius. With the
manufacturing site. The recycling plant MA-825, there is absolute transparency in how the milk is analysed,
is Plastipak’s fifth recycling facility, maximising the help of technology and digitalisation. With state-of-the-
with other recycling plants located in art technology in play, there are zero sampling errors ensuring farmers
the USA, France, Luxembourg and the are satisfied. Farmers are also made aware they are getting paid as per
United Kingdom. In Europe, Plastipak what is shown. Further, Essae MA-825 milk analysers are on par with
is the largest producer of food-grade the significant advancements in technology and design, cost-efficient,
rPET, with well over 150,000 tonnes of hygienic, and compliant with regulatory recommendations.
rPET capacity per annum.

Waters introduces new quantitation workflow
to detect PFAS-based chemicals in food

Waters Corporation has limits. A key component of the results that fall outside specified
announced a new Per-and waters_connect for quantitation targets, cutting data review time by
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) software is the MS Quan app which up to 50 per cent. In addition to the
quantitation workflow enabled includes an Exception Focused waters_connect for quantitation
by enhancements to its waters_ Review feature allowing users to software, the Waters PFAS
connect for quantitation software. implement tailored rulesets to focus quantitation workflow solution
Through a combination of Waters the review process on only those consists of everything needed
ultra-sensitive instrumentation, for laboratories to measure PFAS
sample prep chemistries and accurately and reproducibly in a
software, the end-to-end workflow variety of sample matrices. Products
simplifies and automates the include Waters’ ultra-sensitive
measurement of PFAS in food, liquid chromatography and
soil, air, and water at parts-per- mass spectrometry instruments,
quadrillion levels that meet and separation columns and sample
exceed regulatory detection preparation cartridges.

NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SUPPLIER NEWS 49

WeighPack launches two state-of-the-art
packaging machines for bulk bagging

Montreal-based packaging candy for shipping, these units are automated system that forms, fills
company WeighPack has launched designed to fit seamlessly into a bulk and seals cases, trays and bins and
two state-of-the-art packaging bag filling line with a case erector, the bulk-sized bags within them. The
machines designed to automate the bulk weigh filler and case sealer, BI 600 bag inserter dispenses film
bulk bagging process. The BI 600 on a roll, cuts, seals and then inserts
automatic bag inserter and BU completing a fully
600 automatic bag uncuffer the bag into an erected case.
are the perfect replacement for Once the product is weighed
the manual insertion of bags
into cases and the manual and filled, the case passes to
uncuffing and sealing of the BU 600 bag uncuffer. The
those bags prior to case bag is then uncuffed from the
closure. Perfect for preparing case and folded over the product
bulk quantities of products before the box is conveyed to the
such as pet food, frozen next phase of the packaging
food, snacks and wrapped
process. Bag sealing and
vacuum assemblies are also
available.

Tetra Pak unveils new Smurfit Kappa
aseptic packaging for Minute
Maid juice range in India invests over €20M

Tetra Stelo Aseptic, the latest member of Tetra Pak’s global in Central and
packaging portfolio, is now the package of choice for Minute Maid,
leading nutrition brand under The Coca-Cola Company’s portfolio Eastern Europe
in India. This is the first ever Tetra Stelo Aseptic package for The
Coca-Cola Company in the world, and the first time the package Smurfit Kappa has completed significant
is being launched by Tetra Pak in investments in its manufacturing plants
the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The in Olomouc in the Czech Republic and
unique new tall, rounded, seamless Obaly Štúrovo in Slovakia respectively.
package is designed to create tangible The investments of more than €20
differentiation in the market for the million announced last year further
new benefit-led Minute Maid range- highlight Smurfit Kappa’s expansion and
Honey Infused & Vita Punch variants. commitment to investing in its Central
The package also comes with WingCap and Eastern European operations.
30, one-step opening with Direct The two plants received significant
Injection Moulding Concept (DIMC) upgrades, installing state-of-the-art
technology, that ensures a perfect equipment to expand capacity and
grip and great pouring experience. In address the rise in customer demand
addition to the package itself, Tetra for paper-based packaging solutions.
Pak has also provided the processing The investment sees the installation
and filling equipment for the range, making it an end-to-end of new converting equipment which
partnership. The Tetra Stelo Aseptic is paper-based, recyclable, Forest will increase the capacity by over 100
Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and offers the environmental million regular and offset printed boxes
advantages that are unique to Tetra Pak packages. The package per annum. The investments strengthen
meets the needs of not just the consumer looking for nutritional, Smurfit Kappa’s position in the Czech
safe food, but also one who is environmentally conscious. Republic and Slovakia and will enable
the business to further target specific
industries, most notably the FMCG and
electro-technical sectors.

50 LET’S TALK FOOD NUFFOODS SPECTRUM | January 2023 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

More Funds, More Jobs, More Enterprises

India's food processing sector is a sunrise sector to farmers, creation of employment opportunities,
that has gained prominence in recent years. etc. The ministry is also implementing the PM-
Major processed food products exported from Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises
India include processed fruits and juices, pulses, (PMFME) Scheme for providing financial, technical
guar gum, groundnuts, milled products, cereals and business support for setting up/upgradation of
preparations, oil meals and alcoholic beverages. two lakh micro food processing enterprises across
India created history in agriculture and processed the country. A new Production Linked Incentive
food exports by exporting products worth $25.6 scheme (PLIS) for the Food Processing Sector, with
billion in FY22. an outlay of Rs 10,900 crore over a six-year period
from 2021-22 to 2026-27, is being implemented
India witnessed a significant growth in the to support creation of global food manufacturing
export of processed food items during the last five champions. This scheme will also create more
years from $5.27 billion in 2017-18 to $10.42 billion employment opportunities and higher exports for
in 2021-22 showing a Compounded Annual Growth the sector.
Rate (CAGR) of 13.57 per cent. Major exported
processed food items include marine products In addition to enhancing job opportunities,
including shrimps and prawns, animal feed, instant these schemes from the MoFPI have helped in
coffee, oil cake and oil cake meal, sweet biscuit and reducing the post-harvest losses of major crops and
other bakery products, preparations/preserved commodities in the last seven years.
cucumber and gherkins, jams, jellies, marmalades
of mango etc., according to the Directorate of According to a latest study by NABARD
Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) Consultancy Service Pvt Ltd (NABCONS) (2022) and
under the Department of Commerce. the 2015 study by the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research-Central Institute of Post-Harvest
This increase in exports of processed foods is Engineering and Technology (ICAR-CIPHET), both
due to an increase in the Gross Value Addition (GVA) commissioned by the Ministry, the percentage of
in the food processing sector from Rs 1.79 lakh crore losses in milk in 2022 was 0.87 as against 0.92 in
in 2016-17 to Rs 2.37 lakh crore in 2020-21 at a CAGR 2015.
of 7.27 per cent.
Similarly, there is slight drop in percentage of
The food processing sector contributes loss in Fisheries (Inland) from 5.23 (2015) to 4.86
12.2 per cent of employment in the registered (2022); Fisheries (Marine) 10.52 (2015) -8.76 (2022);
manufacturing sector. As per the latest Annual Meat 2.71 (2015)-2.34 (2022); Poultry 6.74 (2015)-
Survey of Industries (ASI) 2019-20, 41,481 food 5.63 (2022); Egg 7.19 (2015)-6.03 (2022). The drop in
processing units existed in the country with Andhra percentage of post-harvest losses is more for pulses
Pradesh (5737 units), Tamil Nadu (4995), Telangana at 5.65-6.74 (2022) from 6.39 - 8.41 (2015) and Oil
(3989), Punjab (3267), Maharashtra (2728) as Seeds from 3.08 - 9.96 (2015) to 2.87-7.51 (2022).
the leading states with highest number of food
processing units in the country. The actual expenditure of the MoFPI in 2020-
21 was Rs 1145.52 crore as against budgeted
The ASI report noted that the total number of estimates of Rs 1308.66 crore an increase from Rs
persons engaged in the registered food processing 591.38 crore in 2018-19. For the current year, the
sector has increased to 20.32 lakh in 2019-20 from budget estimates of the ministry is Rs 2941.99
17.65 lakh in 2015-16. However, the Ministry of crore. The ministry has to take up more activities
Food Processing Industry (MoFPI) has not set any and campaigns to reach out to more farmers and
target for creating employment opportunities and entrepreneurs by offering incentives, so that more
increasing its contribution to the GDP. jobs are created and the post-harvest losses are
reduced in the coming years. This can happen if the
To promote the industry, MoFPI has ministry gets more budget allocations during the
implemented various schemes and policy upcoming budget.
initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan
SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) which, inter–alia, aims Narayan Kulkarni
at creation of modern post-harvest infrastructure, Editor
boosting value addition, providing better returns
[email protected]