India plans to expedite the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) within the food processing sector, officials announced on Wednesday. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency, increase farmers’ incomes, and reduce environmental impact.
During a conference convened by the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) to explore the integration of frontier technologies in the sector, senior bureaucrats and government advisors emphasized the necessity for a strategic roadmap to implement AI tools. They highlighted that despite being in a nascent stage, these tools hold immense potential within India’s expansive food processing industry.
“We, as an industry, must develop a roadmap. The MEITY secretary has expressed commitment to this cause. I am confident that his involvement will greatly bolster our efforts,” stated Anita Praveen, the Food Processing Secretary, in reference to the secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).
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S. Krishnan, the Secretary of MEITY, advocated for broader integration of AI, noting that while some progress had been made in agriculture, the food processing sector was still in its nascent stages regarding the adoption of such technologies.
Ramesh Chand, a member of NITI Aayog, highlighted that effective food processing practices are “climate-smart,” as they contribute to increased farmer incomes, consumer satisfaction, and environmental sustainability, especially in the face of growing challenges posed by climate change.
He proposed leveraging AI to create user-friendly, portable devices for assessing the quality of agricultural produce, which he deemed as potentially providing significant benefits to the nation. Chand urged consideration of small-scale devices for evaluating produce quality, emphasizing that without such tools, the focus remains primarily on quantity over quality.
The officials highlighted that AI tools have the potential to enhance the overall efficiency of the sector, aligning with India’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.
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