Rice Conference – Global Participation Surges Ahead of Bharat International Rice Conference 2026
Rice Conference –Registrations for the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 have already crossed a significant milestone, highlighting rising international engagement with India’s expanding rice sector. With several months still remaining before the event, organisers say the strong response reflects growing confidence in India’s role in the global rice market.
Registrations Reflect Strong International Interest
The Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) announced on Monday that registrations for BIRC 2026 have exceeded 19,193 participants, including 2,135 international buyers. The conference, scheduled to take place from October 23 to October 25 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, is expected to welcome more than 30,000 delegates from over 120 countries. Organisers believe the event will rank among the largest international gatherings dedicated to the rice industry.
India Strengthens Its Position in the Global Rice Market
According to IREF, the early registration figures underline the increasing global focus on India, which remains the world’s largest producer and exporter of rice. The conference is intended to provide a common platform where growers, exporters, importers, policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives can discuss market developments, emerging opportunities, and key challenges affecting the international rice trade.
Success of the First Edition Sets the Stage
The upcoming event follows the successful debut edition of the conference held in 2025. An independent post-event assessment conducted by EY recognised the inaugural BIRC as the world’s largest conference exclusively focused on the rice industry in terms of attendance and overall scale.
During its first edition, the conference attracted 10,854 participants, including 1,083 overseas buyers representing more than 90 countries. Organisers reported that the event supported estimated trade commitments worth around ₹33,453 crore, covering approximately 8.63 million metric tonnes of rice.
Focus Beyond Trade Exhibitions
Organisers say BIRC has been designed as more than a traditional business exhibition. Alongside commercial networking opportunities, the conference will include discussions on market trends, policy developments, and industry knowledge sharing. Participants will also have opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships while exploring new business prospects across the global rice value chain.
New Features Planned for 2026 Edition
Several additional initiatives are being introduced for the 2026 conference to support better business planning across the sector. Among the planned highlights are a coordinated global crop survey and future rice price projections based on anticipated worldwide demand and supply conditions.
The event will also feature specialised business sessions, app-based business-to-business meeting facilities, and interactive experience zones showcasing technological progress, innovation, and the worldwide importance of rice production and trade. Organisers indicated that further details about these initiatives will be announced in the coming weeks.
Industry Leaders Highlight Long-Term Vision
Commenting on the growing response, Dev Garg, Vice President of the Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation, said the original objective behind launching BIRC was to establish a common meeting point for the international rice industry to exchange knowledge and build long-term commercial relationships. He noted that the rising participation for the second edition demonstrates the industry’s confidence in the platform and reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to delivering practical business outcomes while strengthening India’s standing in global rice commerce.
Registrations Continue Ahead of the Event
Looking beyond this year’s conference, organisers aim to develop BIRC into a long-term international platform that supports trade expansion, industry collaboration, and knowledge exchange across the global rice ecosystem. Registration for BIRC 2026 remains open, and organisers expect participation from both domestic and international delegates to continue increasing as the conference dates approach.