Making INCC 6.0 a Game-Changer for Millet Startups
The 6th International Nutri-Cereals Convention (INCC 6.0), organized by Nutrihub and ICAR-IIMR, is set to create a significant platform for the millet industry this October. With 80+ stalls, technical sessions, cookery shows, and opportunities for B2B meetings, Millet Startups at INCC 6.0 will have a valuable stage to network and showcase their innovations alongside farmers and industry experts. However, for Millet Startups at INCC 6.0, this event must go beyond just exhibiting their products — it should also address the fundamental challenges facing the millet value chain.
Image credits: https://www.inccmillets.com/
To truly elevate this convention and solve critical issues, here are a few additional agenda items that can make a transformative impact for millet startups:
1. Access to Funding and Investment Opportunities
Challenge:
While INCC 6.0 offers an excellent platform for showcasing products, the lack of capital is a common bottleneck for millet-based startups.
Suggested Solution:
Host Investor Pitch Sessions where startups can pitch directly to investors, venture capitalists, and government funding bodies. These sessions can be backed by preparatory workshops on how to structure a pitch, assess market opportunities, and present financial models. Offering access to grants, such as startup incubation funds or government-supported schemes, will further encourage innovation in this sector.
2. Building Scalable Supply Chains
Challenge:
One of the persistent issues is the scalability of millet production, processing, and distribution, making it difficult for startups to meet larger market demands.
Suggested Solution:
Include a Supply Chain Optimization Workshop where experts discuss logistics, procurement strategies, and the use of digital platforms to build more efficient and scalable supply chains. Encourage collaborations between startups and larger agro-tech companies to bridge gaps in the ecosystem.
3. Fostering R&D for Product Innovation
Challenge:
There is a need for more research-backed product development in the millet sector to compete with established grain products like wheat and rice.
Suggested Solution:
Set up a dedicated Innovation Lab at the event, supported by IIMR’s expertise, to help startups collaborate with researchers and scientists on R&D initiatives. This can lead to the development of value-added millet products, including fortified foods, ready-to-cook mixes, and snacks, which have strong market potential.
Image Credits: The Hindu
4. Addressing Regulatory and Market Access Barriers
Challenge:
Startups often face challenges in navigating regulatory frameworks and gaining access to domestic and international markets.
Suggested Solution:
Organize Regulatory Guidance Sessions with key policymakers and experts who can help startups understand the certification, packaging, labeling, and export requirements. Startups can also benefit from market intelligence on domestic and international trade, highlighting untapped regions where millet consumption is growing rapidly.
5. Enhancing Consumer Awareness and Marketing Strategies
Challenge:
While millets are gaining recognition for their health benefits, many startups struggle with effective consumer engagement and marketing strategies.
Suggested Solution:
Offer a session on Branding and Digital Marketing tailored to millet-based products. Topics such as social media campaigns, storytelling, and leveraging influencers in the health and wellness sector can empower startups to build stronger brand presence and consumer loyalty. Highlighting success stories from startups that have scaled effectively can serve as inspiration and guidance for others.
Image Credits: FasterCapital
6. Promoting Sustainability and Social Impact
Challenge:
The environmental and social benefits of millet farming — such as lower water usage, adaptability to climate change, and improving farmer livelihoods — are often under-communicated.
Suggested Solution:
Elevate the conversation on sustainability by introducing a Green Millets Forum, where startups, farmers, and NGOs discuss ways to enhance the social and environmental impact of millet farming. This could include regenerative agriculture practices, sustainable packaging, and ways to make millets a core part of India’s climate resilience strategies. Incentivize businesses that incorporate sustainability into their operations by showcasing their stories at the convention.
7. Expanding to Global Markets
Challenge:
While the domestic millet market is growing, the potential for international expansion remains largely untapped.
Suggested Solution:
Create a Global Trade Pavilion to showcase millet-based products to international buyers and distributors. Include export-readiness workshops that cover international trade agreements, export financing options, and logistics support for startups looking to expand to foreign markets like the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.
Turning INCC 6.0 into a Catalyst for Change
By incorporating these additional agenda items, INCC 6.0 can go beyond being an exhibition and networking event. It can become a catalyst for real change in the millet industry — addressing challenges such as funding, scalability, R&D, regulatory barriers, and sustainability. For startups, these sessions can help build a more resilient, sustainable, and profitable millet value chain, while positioning India as the global hub for millets.
The future of millets is bright, but only if we continue to address the foundational issues of the ecosystem. Let’s make INCC 6.0 the milestone where we create lasting solutions!
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