NutriBharat2026: National Conference on the Role of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in Nutrition Security

The vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, as articulated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, places a healthy, productive and resilient population at the core of India’s development journey. Nutrition security is central to this vision, with direct implications for public health, workforce productivity, human capital development and inclusive economic growth. Despite progress in food availability, India continues to face challenges related to undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies and the growing burden of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, particularly among women, children and vulnerable groups.

Addressing these challenges calls for nutrition-sensitive, evidence-based interventions that complement existing food and health programmes. India’s nutrition ecosystem is evolving, with persistent micronutrient gaps and rising lifestyle disorders. Growing consumer awareness has increased demand for nutraceuticals and functional foods, reinforcing the need for scientific validation, quality assurance, consumer safety and effective regulatory oversight aligned with national nutrition objectives.

Nutraceuticals and functional foods have emerged as important supplementary components of India’s nutrition ecosystem, supporting targeted micronutrient supplementation and preventive health strategies. Their role must remain complementary to staple food-based nutrition and public health interventions, supported by affordability, access and regulatory compliance. The nutraceutical and functional food sector is witnessing steady growth, driven by innovation and health awareness, while facing challenges related to quality standards, safety and regulatory clarity. The food processing ecosystem, under the policy leadership of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and FSSAI, plays a key role in enabling responsible sectoral growth aligned with national health and nutrition priorities.