APEDA-ISARC to advance healthier rice-based food innovations

New Delhi, India (29 August 2024): An initiative led by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with the IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), is at the forefront of revolutionizing rice-based agri-food systems in India by enhancing the value of non-basmati rice varieties. The varieties are positioned as key contributors to the emerging low Glycemic Index (GI) rice industry in India. This effort also focuses on expanding the production of nutrient-rich rice-based food products, unlocking substantial opportunities in both domestic and international markets.

APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, and the ISARC jointly organized a workshop on “Profiling of Potential Varieties of Non-Basmati Rice and Value-Added Products of Rice” to showcase the outcomes of two pioneering research projects, “Comprehensive Grain and Nutritional Quality Profiling of Non-Basmati Rice” focusing on identifying high-quality aromatic, nutrient-rich, low glycemic index (GI) rice varieties with geographical indication (GI) tag germplasm from various Indian states; and “Value-Added Products from Rice and Rice-Based Food Systems”, a project aimed at creating innovative, healthier rice-based products like nutrient-dense rice muesli, whole grain rice cookies popped rice, rice flakes, and instant upma.

These significant APEDA-supported projects are conducted at the state-of-art Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA) laboratories at ISARC in Varanasi. During the event, IRRI presented the profiling of potential non-basmati rice varieties across India and showcased value-added products with global market potential.

Chief Guest Shri. Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industries acknowledged and appreciated the joint efforts of APEDA and IRRI for coming up with the focused research on the potential varieties of non-basmati rice. He emphasised that this joint initiative has “huge potential and the identified varieties…