The conference brings together stakeholders from across the rice value chain, including exporters, importers, millers, traders, policymakers, researchers, logistics companies, financial institutions and technology providers.

By BL Mangaluru Bureau

The Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) expects over 30,000 participants at the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026, to be held in New Delhi from October 23 to 25.

A media statement said that registrations for the BIRC 2026 have crossed 19,193, including 2,135 international buyer registrations, nearly three months ahead of the event.

BIRC is a global platform dedicated exclusively to the rice sector. The conference brings together stakeholders from across the rice value chain, including exporters, importers, millers, traders, policymakers, researchers, logistics companies, financial institutions, and technology providers, to discuss trade, policy, innovation, and emerging market opportunities.

The organisers expect participation from more than 30,000 delegates representing over 120 countries, making it one of the largest international gatherings of the rice sector, the statement said.

Previous edition facilitated ₹33,453 crore in trade commitments

The previous edition in 2025 brought together 10,854 participants, including 1,083 international buyers from more than 90 countries, and facilitated trade commitments estimated at ₹33,453 crore, covering 8.63 million tonnes of rice.

BIRC brings together business networking, market intelligence, policy discussions and knowledge-sharing on a single platform. The conference is designed to help participants understand changing trade trends, strengthen business partnerships and identify new opportunities across the global rice value chain, it said.

New initiatives to focus on crop survey, price projections

The 2026 edition will introduce several new initiatives to strengthen business decision-making across the industry. These include a coordinated global crop survey and the projection of future prices based on expected global demand and supply for rice. The conference will also feature business-focused knowledge sessions, app-enabled B2B meetings and curated experience zones highlighting the evolution, innovation and global significance of rice.

Quoting Dev Garg, Vice President of IREF, the statement said: “When we launched BIRC last year, our objective was to create a common platform where the global rice industry could meet, exchange ideas and build long-term business relationships. The response to the second edition indicates that the industry sees value in such a platform. We remain focused on creating practical business outcomes while strengthening India’s position in global rice trade.”

Published Date: August 6, 2026