Parliament Question: Modern Food Preservation and Processing Technologies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2136 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 MODERN FOOD PRESERVATION AND PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES

2136. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Ministry is collaborating with other Ministries and Departments of the Government to identify, adopt, and scale up diverse forms of modern food preservation and processing technologies aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, improving food safety and enhancing value addition for farmers and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether such collaborations include engagement with scientific and technical departments such as the Department of Atomic Energy, inter alia, for specialised technologies such as food irradiation along with other emerging preservation and processing methods and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Ministry has established or proposes to establish convergence mechanisms with export-promotion and regulatory bodies, including the APEDA, to align food processing infrastructure with export requirements, international standards and market access;

(d) if so, the details of such inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor and the steps being taken to strengthen institutional convergence in the food processing ecosystem? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) collaborates with various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India to identify, adopt and promote modern food preservation and processing technologies with the objectives of reducing post-harvest losses, improving food safety and enhancing value addition for farmers. Such collaboration is undertaken through inter-ministerial consultations, scheme convergence, technical advisory mechanisms and institutional partnerships.

Under Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) Scheme, representatives of line Ministries / Departments, including Department of Atomic Energy and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), are members of the Technical Committee for evaluation of the applications received for financial assistance.

Setting up of Irradiation facilities are supported through Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure Scheme of PMKSY. MoFPI consulted with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy for specialized technologies such as food irradiation for ensuring compliance, enhancing shelf life and improving food safety. Applicants also have to submit an agreement with designated agency of Department of Atomic Energy for the supply of source of food irradiation.Under Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, all the States/ UTs have appointed State Nodal Agency, constituted State Level Approval committee & District Level Committee for implementation of the scheme. MoFPI under PMFME Scheme has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) / Joint Letters with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

(MoHUA), Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation

(NSTFDC), National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Further, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been signed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for convergence of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme with the PMFME Scheme, enabling micro food processing enterprises, Farmer Producer Organizations

(FPO), Self Help Groups (SHG) and cooperatives to access institutional credit.

In addition, MoFPI works in close coordination with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to align food processing infrastructure with export requirements, international quality standards and market access, including capacity building of enterprises, quality certification, and promotion of export- oriented food processing. These arrangements facilitate technical support, capacity building, credit linkage, quality and food safety compliance, and inclusive participation of cooperatives, SHGs, and SC/ST entrepreneurs in the food processing sector.

Further, MoFPI, through its schemes, encourages adoption of other emerging technologies such as Controlled temperature/ ventilated vehicle and Marketing Infrastructure (Retail chain of outlets for perishable products with facilities such as frozen storage/ cold room/ cold storage/ deep freezers/ refrigerated display cabinets/ chillers/ packing/ packaging/ ripening chamber etc.) as part of its preservation and processing methods.

In order to align food processing infrastructure with export requirements, international standards and market access, MoFPI is implementing “Production Linked Incentive scheme” for Food Processing Sector with an outlay of Rs 10,900 Crore to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in international market.

With the objective to boost investments and sourcing of Indian food products, MoFPI had organized four editions of World Food India (WFI) during the years 2017, 2023, 2024 and 2025 which serve a premier platform to highlight investment opportunities and advancements in food processing by facilitating their integration into domestic and international markets. The event brings global food processing companies, innovators, supply chain stakeholders, equipment manufacturers, etc. on a collaborative platform and provide foreign companies with tie-up/ business opportunities with its Indian counterparts.

*****