Latest Updates – BIRC 2026 | Day 2

02:03 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Concludes with a Call to Rethink Sustainability in Rice Farming

Knowledge Session 7 concluded with speakers calling for a shift in priorities, policies and mindsets to advance sustainability in the rice sector. They stressed the need to break the myth that sustainability is expensive, while urging farmers to use financial resources carefully and invest in practices that deliver long-term environmental and economic benefits.

01:56 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Examines Climate Risks and Carbon Markets in Indian Rice Farming

Garima Joshi presented a case study on Indian rice, examining El Niño-related risks and the growing impact of climate change on rice cultivation. She discussed sustainable agricultural practices as a way to address rising climate risks, while exploring barriers to adoption and the role of carbon markets in encouraging farmers to transition towards more sustainable practices.

01:48 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Highlights Carbon Removal and Biomass Opportunities for Rice Farmers

Kaushal Bisht discussed working with smallholder farmers to remove carbon from the atmosphere through four nature-based pathways, while providing guidance to support their participation. He pointed to a potential of 42 million tonnes by 2035, and explained how rice millers and processors can create value from paddy and rice husk biomass. Aggregating biomass at scale can help build a more profitable circular economy and improve income opportunities for smallholder farmers.

01:40 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Explores Carbon Credit Generation Through Rice Farming

Barun Kumar explained the methodologies behind sustainable rice cultivation and the importance of raising awareness about carbon credits among farmers. He outlined how rice projects can generate carbon credits and presented a case study from Telangana, demonstrating the “many farms, one carbon project” approach to scaling sustainability initiatives.

01:33 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Highlights Water Efficiency and Farmer Profitability in Sustainable Rice Farming

Deepak Pareek emphasised the need to produce more crops with every drop of water while reducing water use and methane emissions per tonne of rice. He described sustainable rice farming as a new revolution, stressing that farmer profitability, access to free electricity and effective weed management remain key considerations in the transition.

01:26 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Explores Rice Quality, Low-GI Markets and Heat Stress

Dr. Saurabh Bhadoni discussed the importance of maintaining grain appearance and milling quality, highlighting the market potential of low-glycaemic index (GI) rice. He also addressed how heat stress can affect grain appearance and quality, along with opportunities for developing specialised rice varieties.

01:18 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Discusses Technology Gaps and Incentives for Sustainable Rice Farming

Dr. Swati Nayak pointed to gaps in technology adoption and stressed the need for stronger communication around sustainable farming practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). She also highlighted challenges posed by El Niño, inflation and market fluctuations, calling for redesigned incentives to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable practices.

01:11 PM | BIRC 2026: Sanjay Sethi Discusses Methane Reduction and Carbon Credit Opportunities in Rice Farming

Sanjay Sethi said sustainability has yet to become a major priority for the Indian rice market, despite on-ground initiatives delivering measurable results in methane reduction. He discussed how Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) can help reduce emissions, while implementing Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) presents practical challenges. He also addressed criticism surrounding carbon credits, pointing to their rising value and potential to provide financial incentives for sustainable rice-farming practices.

01:05 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 7 Begins, Focusing on Sustainability and Carbon Credits in the Rice Supply Chain

Knowledge Session 7 on Sustainability Initiatives and Carbon Credits in the Rice Supply Chain has begun at BIRC 2026. Moderated by Manisha Gupta, the session features speakers Sanjay Sethi, Dr. Swati Nayak, Dr. Saurabh Badoni, Deepak Pareek, Barun Kumar, Kaushal Bisht and Garima Joshi. The discussion focuses on reframing rice sustainability and exploring initiatives to promote more sustainable practices across the rice supply chain.

01:02 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 6 Concludes with Dr. Prem Garg’s Book Launch on the Rice Economy

A new book titled The Rice Economy: India, the World and the Future of Rice, authored by Dr. Prem Garg, was launched at BIRC 2026. The launch was attended by speakers from Knowledge Session 6, along with Dr. Prem Garg, K. L. Ganju, President Diplomatic, and Rajiv Setia, President, Basmati Rice The book explores India’s rice economy, its role in global rice trade, and the future of the sector.

12:55 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 6 Concludes with Felicitation of Speakers

Knowledge Session 6 on policy, trade schemes and incentives concluded with the felicitation of all speakers with awards. The session offered thought-provoking and informative insights into India’s rice export opportunities, trade agreements and policy challenges. The organisers thanked the speakers for sharing their valuable perspectives and taking the time to contribute to the discussion.

12:40 PM | BIRC 2026: Prashant Raizada Urges India to Tap New Rice Export Markets Through Trade Agreements

Prashant Raizada stressed that India has significant untapped potential in markets such as the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Australia, where competing suppliers include Thailand and Italy. He emphasised the need to leverage trade agreements, including the India–UK agreement, to expand rice exports by identifying demand for products such as milled and brown rice. Despite India’s strong production capacity, its share in certain markets remains limited, underlining the need for a more targeted export strategy.

12:30 PM | BIRC 2026: Rajiv Kumar Points to Asia’s Role in Broken Rice Trade

Rajiv Kumar noted that Asia remains a key market for broken rice, with demand supported by trade and humanitarian channels. He also stressed the need to strengthen trade infrastructure and facilities to tap opportunities for rice residues and address challenges arising from shipment rejections.

12:25 PM | BIRC 2026: Odisha Targets ₹10,000 Crore in Rice Exports Under Vision 2047

Shubhranshu Mishra emphasised that Odisha must move beyond a residual approach to rice exports and adopt a demand-driven export strategy. As both a rice-producing and consuming state, Odisha needs to assess global demand and build the capacity to serve international markets. He outlined the vision of achieving ₹10,000 crore in rice exports by 2047, with improved infrastructure and facilities to establish Odisha as a leading rice-exporting state.

12:18 PM | BIRC 2026: Ravi Gupta Calls for Better Port Utilisation and Stronger Logistics Policies

Ravi Gupta stressed the need to improve the utilisation of ports, citing Haldia Port in West Bengal as an example. He urged the government to develop supportive logistics policies to help rice exporters ship more efficiently. He also emphasised that export competitiveness depends not only on the product but on how effectively it is transported to international markets. While India has strong bargaining power in rice trade, he noted that both the government and the trade industry have a role to play in making better use of this potential.

12:13 PM | BIRC 2026: Tarun Bajaj Outlines FTA Benefits for Rice Exporters

Tarun Bajaj explained how India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are opening up opportunities for rice exporters through tariff benefits, smoother trade processes and greater transparency. He also pointed out that broken rice exports remain permitted under specific conditions, while FTAs are helping strengthen India’s position in global rice markets.

12:04 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 6: Rajesh Paharia Flags Policy Shifts and Rising Export Restrictions in Global Rice Trade

Rajesh Paharia noted that rice remains a political commodity, with governments balancing domestic consumer needs and export interests. He observed that India’s rice trade environment was relatively smoother in 2025–26, with basmati exports largely free from major policy restrictions. However, non-basmati rice faced different challenges due to government procurement policies and domestic priorities. He also pointed to a wider trend of countries introducing their own export policies, citing Senegal’s limited export permissions and similar policy measures across Kenya and other African countries.

11:59AM | BIRC 2026 Day 2: Knowledge Session 6 Explores Policy, Trade Schemes and Incentives for the Rice Sector

Knowledge Session 6 at BIRC 2026 focused on policy frameworks, trade schemes and incentives shaping India’s rice industry and export landscape. The session was moderated by Sandeep Das from FE, with speakers Rajesh Paharia, Tarun Bajaj from APEDA, Shubhranshu Mishra, Rajiv Kumar, Ravi Gupta and Prashant Raizada sharing their perspectives on key policy and trade-related issues.

11:54 AM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 5 Concludes with Key Insights on Rice Quality and Export Compliance

Knowledge Session 5 concluded with an informative and thought-provoking discussion, as speakers shared important insights on rice quality standards, certification, pesticide residue concerns and shipment rejections. The session emphasised the need for stronger quality management, effective testing and better coordination across the rice export supply chain.

11:33 AM| BIRC 2026: Isha Garg Flags Testing Costs, Certification Delays and Quality Challenges for Rice Exporters

Isha Garg outlined the challenges rice exporters face in maintaining quality standards while meeting export requirements. She pointed to repeated testing at private laboratories, retesting of new lots, certification costs and extensive documentation as key concerns. Delays in testing and approvals further increase costs and put pressure on already-low profit margins in the rice industry.

She also stressed that meeting different countries’ certification requirements while maintaining consistent rice quality remains a major challenge. Garg called for greater government oversight of the chemicals used by farmers, noting that controlling chemical use at the farm level could help exporters meet international standards while protecting India’s rice export interests.

11:24 AM | BIRC 2026: Dr. Pankaj Raises Concerns Over Buyer Perceptions and Pesticide-Related Risks in Rice Exports

Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy underscores concerns over the perception of Indian rice shipments among European buyers, arguing that pesticide-related issues should not be viewed solely as a supply-chain problem. He also discussed concerns surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the perception of rice as a natural product. He noted a broader shift in regulatory approaches, with countries moving from risk-based assessments towards greater scrutiny of hazardous substances and potential risks.

11:13 AM | BIRC 2026: Avinash Maheshwari Highlights Milling and Packaging Inspections to Prevent Rice Export Rejections

Avinash Maheshwari highlighted milling as a critical stage for inspection in the rice export supply chain. He emphasised that samples should be sent for testing if contaminants are suspected and stressed that quality checks must begin at the farm level to minimise the risk of shipment rejections. He also underlined the importance of packaging inspections in ensuring rice quality and compliance before export.

11:06 AM | BIRC 2026: Purvi Shah Calls for a Shift from Product Testing to Supply Chain Risk Prevention

Purvi Shah emphasised that risks can emerge at any stage of the rice supply chain, while testing the finished consignment provides valuable information about product quality and safety. She called for the industry to move beyond a testing-led approach and make greater use of advanced laboratory technologies and risk assessment to help clients anticipate potential issues. Shah also highlighted the importance of collaboration between testing services and insurance providers, saying that working together can strengthen risk management across the supply chain.

11:00 AM | BIRC 2026: Anand Sharma Highlights Pesticide Residues and Rice Shipment Rejections

Speaking at BIRC 2026, Anand Sharma presented data on chemical contaminants reported in rice-related food safety alerts, highlighting aflatoxins (39 notifications), ochratoxin A (21), MOSH/MOAH (17) and heavy metals (6) for 2025–26. He stressed the need to help exporters understand the reasons behind shipment rejections and comply with varying global maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides.

Emphasising prevention over rejection, Sharma highlighted the importance of a four-question framework, pesticide-use records maintained by farmers, free testing at the procurement stage, and testing-based decisions for procurement and final export release.

10:52 AM

UPDATE 1 | BIRC 2026: Rice Quality Parameters Divided into Negotiable and Non-Negotiable Standards

Speaking at BIRC 2026, Mirza Alam highlighted two key categories of rice quality parameters: buyer-seller requirements, which can be negotiated, and importing-country regulations, which are mandatory and non-negotiable. He also pointed to pesticide-related rejections in European markets, citing data for 2024–25 and 2025–26.

UPDATE 2 | BIRC 2026: Purity, Cooking Quality and Moisture Among Key Rice Export Concerns

Mirza Alam identified purity as a major concern in rice exports, alongside cooking quality for basmati rice and moisture levels for non-basmati rice. He also highlighted the issue of varietal mixing, underscoring the importance of maintaining consistent quality to avoid shipment rejections.

10:45 AM | BIRC 2026: Session 5 Focuses on Quality and Certification

Session 5 of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 is set to focus on Quality and Certification, bringing together industry experts to discuss key quality standards and certification requirements in rice exports.

The session will be moderated by Sandeep Das of FE, with speakers including Mirza Alam, Anand Sharma, Purvi Shah, Avinash Maheshwari, Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy and Mr. Sandeep from SGS. Isha Garg will represent the exporters’ perspective, highlighting industry concerns and practical challenges related to quality compliance and certification.

10:39 AM | BIRC 2026 Day 2 Opens with Saraswati Vandana

The second day of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 began with a Saraswati Vandana performance, marking the opening of the day's proceedings. The conference will continue with key knowledge sessions focusing on rice quality, certification and export compliance.

10:19 AM

UPDATE 1 | BIRC 2026: Session 2 to Focus on Rice Quality and Certification

The second day of BIRC 2026 is set to begin with Session 2, titled Quality and Certification. The session will address why buyers reject basmati and non-basmati rice shipments and explore measures exporters can take to prevent rejections and meet quality and certification requirements.

UPDATE 2 | BIRC 2026 Day 2 Begins

The second day of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 is underway, with preparations completed for the day's programme. Knowledge Sessions 5 to 9 will feature discussions on key industry topics, followed by a cultural programme and the awards ceremony