The importance of food goes far beyond basic sustenance. It plays a central role in festivals and rituals and reflects our cultural identity. The food industry drives growth, creates jobs, and fosters rural and agricultural development. It significantly contributes to the national economy through domestic consumption and exports. As India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat in its 78th year of Independence, advancing food safety and security is crucial. This entails ensuring that the food reaching consumers is safe, as well as minimising loss and waste to guarantee that sufficient, nutritious food is available to all.
Addressing these losses, especially of perishable items like fruits and vegetables, is crucial. It also helps ensure remunerative prices for farmers.
As the trade of agricultural and processed food products grows, food safety management is becoming increasingly important. Many developed economies have stringent food safety regulations and practices, including for imports. Food safety incidents can have serious economic repercussions — public health risks, reduced consumer confidence, and disruptions in food supply and price stability.
To address the issues of food safety and security, in line with India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Union budget for 2024-25 has allocated funds to set up 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector. Food irradiation technology extends the shelf life of agrifood products, ensuring they reach consumers in optimal condition while reducing food losses along the production and supply chain.
Irradiation involves exposing food, whether packaged or in bulk, to ionising radiation in a controlled environment. This method reduces the risk of food-borne illnesses by eliminating harmful microorganisms. It also prevents spoilage by slowing down the process of decay and minimises food loss by delaying premature ripening, germination, or sprouting. It also reduces the need for chemical preservatives, contributing to a more sustainable food supply chain. Irradiation processing typically requires just one exposure treatment to achieve the desired effects, which simplifies food safety practices, and contributes to cost savings in the food supply chain.
While the concept of using radiation for food preservation is not new — traditional methods like drying fruits, vegetables, shrubs, meat, fish, etc., under the sun have been used for preservation for centuries — modern interest in food irradiation technology surged after the Codex Alimentarius Commission, part of the Joint Food Standard Programme of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, established global standards.
Food irradiation, much like cooking, is a safe and effective method to ensure food safety. It has been widely adopted, especially in countries with advanced safety standards such as the US, Japan, Australia, Canada and in the EU, where it is extensively used for domestic and export markets. A notable example of its impact is the 2012 agreement that allowed Indian mangoes to be exported to the US after a 20-year ban. This breakthrough was achieved by India agreeing to irradiate its mangoes before export to eliminate or significantly reduce the threat of pests, thereby, protecting US domestic agriculture.
India has made significant progress, establishing 34 irradiation processing facilities nationwide. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has played a crucial role in developing this infrastructure, with 16 of these facilities receiving MoFPI support. While this is commendable, expanding the number and distribution of facilities will further enhance our ability to meet the growing demands of our vibrant agrifood market.
However, widespread commissioning of food irradiation facilities is constrained by high capital costs. Establishing an irradiation facility with a 1 MCi Cobalt 60 source requires an investment of approximately Rs 25 to 30 crores, excluding land and additional infrastructure costs. Its commissioning involves several stages, including proposal scrutiny, approval, site clearance, plant construction, source installation, safety assessments and guidance, supervision, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance including occasional replacement of radiation sources. Key organisations such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board oversee this process.
Despite the initial high capital costs involved, there are substantial opportunities here for investors. The growing demand for safe, long-lasting food products in both domestic and international markets presents a lucrative opportunity. The ability to enhance food safety and extend shelf life makes food irradiation facilities crucial players in reducing food waste and meeting stringent export standards. With the Indian food processing sector expected to reach $535 billion by 2025-26 and an ever-increasing share of processed food exports, irradiation facilities represent a promising investment window.
The MoFPI also offers financial assistance of up to Rs 10 crore per project for setting up food irradiation units. This support, provided as grants or subsidies, is designed to treat perishable produce, including fruits and vegetables, and enhance their hygiene and shelf life. Following the announcement in the Union budget 2024-25, MoFPI has invited “Expressions of Interest” from entrepreneurs for setting up multi product food irradiation units under the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain scheme).
There is a pressing need to expand our infrastructure to meet the demands of the Indian food supply chain and agrifood export sector. Investors and entrepreneurs must seize this opportunity to establish additional irradiation facilities, utilising the financial support provided by the Ministry. Join us in transforming India’s food industry — your investment will drive the future of sustainable agriculture and contribute to a thriving economy.
The writer is Union Minister for Food Processing Industries
