Kingdom banks on India’s expertise in date processing, South Africa looks to technology-led agriculture solutions
Saudi Arabia and South Africa, both rich in agricultural resources, are turning to India’s fast-growing food technology and processing ecosystem to enhance production and secure their nations’ food futures, reported thehindu.com.
Africa’s $313bn food industry projected to hit $1tn by 2030, India seen as key partner.
Labane Gideon, Consul General of South Africa in Mumbai, highlighted that Africa’s food and beverage sector, currently valued at $313 billion, is expected to touch $1 trillion by 2030. “With agriculture still accounting for over 60% of Africa’s value chain, compared to 22% globally, investments in value-added processing and branded products are critical,” he said at the Anuga FoodTec India and Anuga Select India 2025 expo in Mumbai.
He stressed that South Africa, with strong food processing exports including wine, juices, and additives, sees India as a vital partner. “We are especially interested in India’s technological edge in agriculture, where Africa still lags behind,” Gideon added.
From Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Al Ahmari, Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Embassy, noted the Kingdom’s potential as the world’s leading date producer, with 37.1 million palm trees yielding over 1.1 million tons annually
“We want to bring Saudi dates to every corner of the globe in partnership with India. Nations, businesses and investors are invited to join this journey,” he said.
Meanwhile, India’s food processing sector, growing at 8.8% CAGR, is set to double by 2030, while food-tech innovation is outpacing global benchmarks at 14% CAGR. Rising demand for clean-label and health-conscious foods is driving adoption of AI, IoT, and digital traceability across the supply chain.
Reflecting on the sector’s growth, Nilesh Amritkar, MD of Envirocare Labs, said, “India is on its way to becoming the food factory of the world — from farm gate to global plate. Our food-tech ecosystem in areas like AI, cold chain, and precision processing is now exporting innovation to the world.”
Seetharaman Raghupathi, Executive Director, NDDB, also underlined India’s White Revolution 2.0 that aims to create 75,000 new cooperatives by 2028–29, strengthening the dairy sector and food security.
With global food processing markets projected to exceed $4 trillion by 2030, India is expected to emerge among the top three globally. “Our expos offer the perfect platform for sustainable collaborations and next-gen technologies,” said Milind Dixit, MD – India & SAARC, Koelnmesse.
