SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | SDG 15: Life on Land
APEDA | Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India has been conferred the prestigious ‘Country of the Year’ honour at BIOFACH 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for organic products, held in Nuremberg, Germany. Scheduled for February 10–13, 2026, this designation marks India’s return to the center stage of global organic farming after 14 years. Organized by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), India’s participation will feature a 1,074 square-meter pavilion hosting 67 co-exhibitors, including exporters, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and state government bodies. The event serves as a high-impact platform to showcase India’s rich agricultural heritage and its capacity as a premier global supplier of high-quality organic goods.
Strategic Pillars of India’s Organic Export Strategy The designation highlights several foundational pillars that define India’s role in the global organic value chain:
Regional Diversity and Inclusion: Exhibitors from over 20 States and Union Territories—ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to Tamil Nadu—will showcase region-specific organic produce, emphasizing India’s vast agricultural variety.
Showcasing Heritage and GI-Tagged Produce: The pavilion will highlight five GI-tagged rice varieties, including Chak Hao (Black rice) and Gobindbhog, alongside organic spices, oilseeds, and essential oils to underscore India’s unique agricultural legacy.
Farmer-to-Global Market Integration: By facilitating participation from FPOs and cooperatives, APEDA is bridging the gap between small-scale organic farmers and global buyers, enhancing the global competitiveness of Indian organic agriculture.
Branding and Value-Added Promotion: India is scaling up its presence through curated food tastings and live samplings, shifting the focus from raw commodities to value-added organic products like essential oils and mango purees.
What is BIOFACH Germany and why is it significant for India? BIOFACH is the world’s largest and most influential exhibition dedicated exclusively to organic food and agriculture. As the “Country of the Year,” India receives prominent branding and promotional opportunities across the Nuremberg Messe exhibition center, allowing it to act as the primary voice for organic sustainability during the event. This status reflects the expanding footprint of Indian organic exports and the growing global demand for environmentally responsible lifestyles, reinforcing India’s position as the “organic food basket of the world”.
Policy Relevance
India’s role at BIOFACH 2026 represents a transition from participation to strategic leadership in the global organic economy. By institutionalizing organic exports through APEDA, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is leveraging India’s traditional farming strengths to meet the rising international demand for sustainable and high-quality food systems.
Strategic Impact:
Enhancing Export Competitiveness: The “Country of the Year” status allows India to set global standards for quality and sustainability, directly supporting the goal of increasing agricultural export earnings.
Promoting Environmentally Responsible Lifestyles: The focus on high-quality, sustainably produced organic products aligns India with global climate and conservation goals, particularly under SDG 12.
Empowering Small-Scale FPOs: High-impact global exposure provides small-scale organic cooperatives with direct access to sophisticated European markets, ensuring better price realization for Indian farmers.
GI-Tag Advocacy: Showcasing heritage rice and spices on a global stage strengthens India’s intellectual property claims in agriculture and boosts the market value of indigenous crop varieties.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can APEDA and the Ministry of Commerce leverage the ‘Country of the Year’ status at BIOFACH 2026 to establish permanent ‘Organic India’ retail corridors in major European and North American markets by 2028?
Follow the full news here: PIB: India Country of the Year at BIOFACH 2026