Union Budget 2025: Strengthens agriculture and advancing a sustainable food system

Sneha Singh, Managing Director of The Good Food Institute India

The Union Budget 2025-26 has been lauded for its progressive steps toward strengthening India’s agricultural sector and fostering a sustainable food system. Sneha Singh, Managing Director of The Good Food Institute India, highlighted the budget’s emphasis on agriculture as a key driver for resilience and sustainability.

“This Union Budget recognises agriculture as the foundation of building a sustainable and resilient food system in India,” said Singh. She praised initiatives such as the Developing Agri Districts Programme, increased crop diversification efforts, and the six-year mission for pulses, which she believes will diversify raw materials for the global alternative protein sector and position India as a key player in the supply chain.

Singh emphasised that a commitment to a smart protein economy can drive innovation in value chains for climate-resilient and Indigenous crops, attract private-sector investment, enhance farmer incomes, and improve agricultural resilience. “These measures will not only protect our natural resources but also ensure nutrition security for the Indian population,” she added.