Global and Indian Food & Agriculture Industry - Brief Perspective:

Global Food & Agriculture Industry

The global food & agriculture sector is a $8-10 trillion industry, of which 15-20% is traded through the import-export route, and the rest is contributed through domestic consumption in local economies. Of this, the global processed food and beverages market is estimated to be over $5.5 trillion as of 2017.

It is astounding to note that even as technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, 60-70% of the world population is still dependent on agriculture as a source of livelihood, and one third of the world’s GDP is derived from it. On the other hand, agriculture, forestry and land use change are responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions & 70% of water use worldwide.

Indian Food & Agriculture Industry

India is the one of the world’s largest food producers, and leads the world in the production of milk, spices, cashew nuts, buffalo meat, cotton etc.; it is the 2 nd largest producer of fruits & vegetables, food grains, fish, eggs, goat meat etc.; it is the 3 rd largest producer of broiler meat and so forth, being a leading producer of many other commodities.

The Indian food processing industry is one of the largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export and expected growth. It contributes around 13 per cent of India’s exports and six per cent of total industrial investment. Further,

• By 2020, Indian Food and Retail market is projected to touch $ 828.92 bn
• By 2020, the Indian Dairy industry is expected to reach $ 140 bn
• By 2024, it is expected that the Food Processing industry will potentially attract $ 33 bn investments and generate employment for 9 million people.

Market Influencers

While the food industry is indeed one of largest industry sectors in the world and offers immense business opportunities, it is characterised by several challenges. The rapidly evolving market is typically driven by:

• Multiplicity & diversity of standards & requirements (ISO, FSSC, BRC, IFS, SQF, GlobalG.A.P., UTZ, MSC, GRMS etc.)
• Evolution of the regulatory landscape (e.g. US FSMA, FSSAI, EU)
• Changing consumer preferences and trends (e.g. vegan, organic)
• Demographic influences (rise in casual dining; shift; increased preference for “healthier” options)
• Business models (e-commerce)
• Technological shifts (AI, Blockchain)
• Food scandals (e.g. horse meat, melatonin)
• Trade barriers (border/market entry regulations)

To meet these diverse challenges, Flywheel Management Services brings in comprehensive knowledge-based services and helps its customers through expert advice for -

• Review and evaluation of existing QA systems for Food Safety & Quality. Advisory services for harmonisation/rationalisation of multiple systems and reducing complexity while improving compliance.
• Customized solutions for Food Safety & Quality for deployment across Own Locations (manufacturing, warehousing, various retail formats), Supply Chain and Franchisee Outlets (QSR).
• Assessments for compliance to various standards such as GFSI standards (e.g. BRC, FSSC 22000..), ISO standards (e.g. ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001..), FSSAI requirements etc. Includes 3 rd party Certification as well as 2 nd party assessments for supplier selection & monitoring, internal benchmarking, store audits for QHSE and other tailored assessments.
• 2nd/3rd Party assessments
• Training & Implementation
• Technical Due Diligence
• QHSE Assessments
• Technical Guidance for Product Testing & Compliance.