Key Takeaways
- India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries is enhancing support for sustainable food processing through financial aid for renewable energy projects.
- New guidelines for environmental compliance include mandatory approvals from State Pollution Control Boards for emissions and adherence to eco-friendly cooling practices.
- Innovations in sustainable packaging and capacity building initiatives are being promoted to minimize waste and enhance food processing infrastructure.
Accelerating Sustainable Food Processing in India
India is advancing its sustainable and low-carbon food processing sector, with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) increasing support for renewable energy and eco-friendly technologies. The MoFPI offers financial assistance of up to Rs 35 lakh per project for adopting renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass, and wind power, under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY). This financial backing demonstrates the government’s commitment to environmentally conscious industrial development.
To promote compliance, the MoFPI mandates that projects receiving funding must secure Consent to Operate (CTO) from State Pollution Control Boards concerning water and air emissions before grant disbursements are made. Furthermore, food processing units involved in cold chain infrastructure must adhere to standards from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, particularly regarding the use of non-ozone-depleting substances (Non-ODS) and low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants.
The sustainability focus was highlighted during the recent World Food India 2025 event, emphasizing “Sustainability and Net Zero Food Processing” as a major theme. This platform showcased innovations aimed at enhancing resource efficiency, minimizing waste, conserving energy, and promoting environmentally responsible packaging.
In technology and innovation, the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship & Management (NIFTEM) is developing sustainable packaging solutions, such as biodegradable plastics made from biopolymers like polylactic acid (PLA) and starch. These initiatives are expected to lower plastic waste while maintaining food safety and packaging effectiveness.
MoFPI continues to encourage the growth of food processing infrastructure through key schemes like PMKSY and the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industries (PLISFPI), alongside the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme. These programs provide subsidies and incentives to a range of eligible entities, including startups and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Capacity building is vital to the government’s strategy, with the PMFME supporting Entrepreneurship Development and Product-Specific Skilling (EDP+) that trains trainers, district resource persons, and food entrepreneurs. The scheme aims to strengthen both backward and forward linkages while fostering common infrastructure and enhancing marketing capabilities.
Additional support is offered through MoFPI’s autonomous institutions—NIFTEM-Kundli and NIFTEM-Thanjavur—which provide mentorship, pilot plants, NABL-accredited food testing labs, R&D support, and networking opportunities for startups and MSMEs. These initiatives are transforming India’s food processing landscape, generating off-farm jobs, increasing farmer incomes, and aligning the industry with the country’s sustainability and net-zero goals.
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