About the Session

As India steps into a new era of agricultural innovation, the future of clean food and food processing stands at the forefront. From solar-based dehydration technologies to traceable, safe, and hygienic handling of produce, this session will explore how we can ensure that what reaches our plates is not only nutritious but also responsibly produced. Beyond food safety, the conversation will dig into how food processing — when done right — can be a powerful tool to enhance farmer incomes, prevent massive post-harvest losses, and drastically reduce food wastage. As global demand for high-quality, clean food rises, India has a unique opportunity to lead by integrating technology, decentralised infrastructure, and farmer-first innovations into its food systems.

About the Speaker

A former software engineer turned farmer, Shashi Kumar is the Founder of Akshayakalpa Organic — India’s first organic dairy brand. What began as a crowdfunded venture by ex-Wipro employees has grown into a ₹400+ crore enterprise, empowering over 1,200 farmers.
At Akshayakalpa, dairy is just the starting point. Shashi is building a regenerative, tech-enabled farming ecosystem where farmers earn over ₹1 lakh/month through integrated models combining dairy, poultry, beekeeping, and organic vegetables.
His 4-Quadrant Philosophy — Economics, Ecology, Diversity, and Technology — is reshaping the way India approaches sustainable agriculture. Under his leadership, Akshayakalpa is more than a brand — it’s a movement to transform rural livelihoods.

About the Session

As India steps into a new era of agricultural innovation, the future of clean food and food processing stands at the forefront. From solar-based dehydration technologies to traceable, safe, and hygienic handling of produce, this session will explore how we can ensure that what reaches our plates is not only nutritious but also responsibly produced. Beyond food safety, the conversation will dig into how food processing — when done right — can be a powerful tool to enhance farmer incomes, prevent massive post-harvest losses, and drastically reduce food wastage. As global demand for high-quality, clean food rises, India has a unique opportunity to lead by integrating technology, decentralised infrastructure, and farmer-first innovations into its food systems.

About the Speaker

A Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honoree and Shark Tank India success, Varun Raheja is tackling India’s massive post-harvest losses through innovation. His startup, Raheja Solar Food Processing, builds affordable solar tunnel dryers that allow farmers to preserve surplus produce at the source—without chemicals or electricity.

With over 225 dryers installed across 23 states, Varun’s tech is turning food waste into shelf-stable products, boosting farmer incomes and enabling clean, decentralized food processing at scale.

About the Session

As India steps into a new era of agricultural innovation, the future of clean food and food processing stands at the forefront. From solar-based dehydration technologies to traceable, safe, and hygienic handling of produce, this session will explore how we can ensure that what reaches our plates is not only nutritious but also responsibly produced. Beyond food safety, the conversation will dig into how food processing — when done right — can be a powerful tool to enhance farmer incomes, prevent massive post-harvest losses, and drastically reduce food wastage. As global demand for high-quality, clean food rises, India has a unique opportunity to lead by integrating technology, decentralised infrastructure, and farmer-first innovations into its food systems.

About the Speaker

A Forbes-featured agri-tech leader, Deepak Pareek is solving critical food and farming challenges through AI, blockchain, and smart data platforms. Named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, his work empowers farmers with precision insights, reduces crop losses, and improves supply chain efficiency. With ventures like MyCrop and AgriChain, he’s helping shape the future of digital agriculture across India and beyond.

About the Session

An IIT-Hyderabad alumnus and a leading voice in India’s agri-drone ecosystem, Prem Kumar is the Founder & CEO of Marut Drones — a company at the forefront of drone and UGV deployment in Indian agriculture. Under his leadership, Marut has introduced scalable tech solutions for precision spraying, fertigation, and crop monitoring. His work bridges innovation and impact, helping farmers cut input costs, save water, and boost yields. With a focus on both open-field and protected cultivation use cases, Prem is reshaping the future of farming with robotics and AI.

About the Speaker

As Indian agriculture evolves, drone and UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) technologies are emerging as powerful tools to solve pressing challenges — from labour shortages and inconsistent spraying to inefficient resource use. This session will delve into how aerial and ground-based robotics are transforming modern farming. We’ll explore precision spraying, fertigation, data-driven scouting, and even maintenance use cases in greenhouse structures — showcasing how automation can improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability in Indian farming.

About the Session

This session explores two high-impact techniques transforming horticulture in India. Grafted vegetable seedlings offer better disease resistance, longer crop cycles, and higher yields — making them ideal for greenhouse and open-field setups. Espalier-grown fruits like guava and pomegranate enable high-density planting, easier management, and greater profitability per acre. A must-attend for growers looking to scale smartly and sustainably with fruit farming.

About the Speaker

Vimal Chawda is a pioneer in India’s high-value fruit and vegetable seed industry. As the Founder & CEO of VNR Seeds, he has led the development and large-scale adoption of innovative grafted seedlings and advanced fruit crop varieties — transforming farmer incomes across the country.

Known for introducing hybrid watermelon and papaya varieties suited to Indian climates, his work is rooted in R&D, scalability, and farmer-centric solutions. Today, VNR Seeds works with thousands of farmers, bringing scientific precision to commercial cultivation through high-quality planting material and technical know-how.

Vimal Chawda continues to drive the future of profitable horticulture in India.

About the Session

Greenhouse films are not just covers — they define the performance, longevity, and productivity of every protected cultivation structure. In this session, Alasker Napso from Ginegar will unpack the latest innovations in greenhouse film technology and what they mean for Indian growers. From light diffusion and UV stability to anti-drip, anti-algae and thermicity, discover how the right film can make or break your yield, cost-efficiency, and crop quality in Indian conditions.

About the Speaker

With over 13 years of global experience in the production and innovation of greenhouse films, Alasker Napso leads operations at Ginegar — one of the world’s foremost names in protected cultivation solutions.

A systems engineer by training, Alasker has deep expertise in manufacturing, engineering, and materials science, and has worked extensively across global markets to optimize greenhouse film technology.

At Ginegar, he plays a pivotal role in developing next-generation films tailored to enhance yield, durability, and climate responsiveness — especially for challenging agricultural environments like India.

About the Session

Access to capital and government support is often the missing link between a good farming idea and a great farming business. In this session, Mr. Brajendra Singh — former Director of the National Horticulture Board — will break down key government schemes, including the NHB subsidy for horticulture and greenhouse projects.

From eligibility to documentation and disbursement, attendees will get a step-by-step walkthrough of how to successfully apply and benefit from these schemes. Whether you're an established grower or just entering the world of agriculture, this session will offer invaluable clarity on unlocking government-backed financial support.

About the Speaker

Brajendra Singh brings over two decades of leadership in horticulture financing and policy implementation at India’s National Horticulture Board (NHB). As a former Joint/Deputy Managing Director, he played a key role in rolling out flagship subsidy programs—especially the NHB’s capital investment schemes for horticulture and greenhouse infrastructure.

With deep expertise in navigating eligibility, documentation, and fund disbursement, Mr. Singh has empowered farmers and agripreneurs to adopt modern, high-tech farming systems across the country. His insights offer a clear roadmap for accessing financial support and scaling sustainable horticulture in India.

About the Session

Greenhouse cultivation in India is undergoing a quiet revolution — powered by cutting-edge automation, IoT, sensor-based climate control, and soilless growing systems. At the forefront of this change is Eeki Foods, which has successfully engineered greenhouse environments to consistently produce up to 17 kg of tomatoes per square meter — all while using minimal water on otherwise barren lands in Rajasthan.

This session will explore how tech-first design, precision agriculture, and data-backed decisions are transforming greenhouse vegetable farming into a scalable, export-ready, and economically viable model for Indian growers.

About the Speaker

A materials engineer from IIT Bombay, Amit Kumar leads the design, production, and cultivation systems at Eeki Foods. Alongside co-founder Abhay Singh, he started Eeki on a modest terrace farm — driven by a vision to grow high-quality, affordable vegetables without relying on fertile land or excessive resources.

Today, Eeki operates across 120+ acres in Rajasthan, converting arid land into highly productive, climate-resilient farms. Their breakthrough approach to protected cultivation combines low-input growing with high-output yields, offering a blueprint for the future of sustainable vegetable farming in India.