BIRC 2026 to showcase India’s rich rice diversity alongside international varieties, creating new opportunities for global trade and rice exports
New Delhi, Sep 22: Rice may be a staple food, but there is no single story behind the grain. Across India and around the world, different varieties reflect local soil, climate, farming traditions and culinary cultures. BIRC 2026 will bring many of those stories together, giving global buyers a closer look at the diversity of rice available across markets.
The Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 is set to showcase around 200 commercially relevant Indian and international rice varieties through a Global Rice Archive. The conference will be held from October 23 to 25 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together stakeholders from across the rice value chain.
A showcase of India’s rice diversity
The exhibition will feature popular international varieties such as Italy’s Arborio, Thailand’s Jasmine and Glutinous RD6, and Japanese Sushi Rice, alongside India’s wide range of Basmati, non-Basmati, aromatic and traditional rice varieties.
Indian Basmati varieties including 1121, 1718, 1509 and Pusa Basmati will be showcased along with varieties such as Sona Masoori, PR-11, PR-14, Sugandha and Sharbati.
The display will also give attention to regional varieties that are closely connected with local food traditions. These include Joha from Assam, Chakhao Black Rice from Manipur, Tulaipanji from West Bengal, Seeraga Samba from Tamil Nadu, and traditional varieties from Kerala and Kashmir.
Connecting farmers, exporters and global buyers
The initiative comes at a time when international food markets are becoming increasingly interested in speciality grains, distinctive flavours and products with a strong regional identity.
For India’s rice sector, showcasing this diversity can help create greater visibility for varieties beyond the country’s established export products. It can also open opportunities for branding, value addition, speciality food markets and wider international distribution.
BIRC 2026 is expected to bring together exporters, importers, millers, farmers, food businesses, technology companies, logistics providers and other industry participants. Buyer-seller meetings and business networking sessions are expected to provide opportunities to explore new trade relationships.
Turning regional varieties into global opportunities
For many farmers, a rice variety is closely tied to the land where it is grown and the communities that have cultivated it for generations. Giving these varieties a larger platform can help connect that agricultural heritage with modern markets.
Greater demand for distinctive rice varieties could support opportunities in processing, packaging, branding and export-oriented value addition. This can help move the conversation beyond simply selling rice in bulk towards building stronger identities and markets around individual varieties.
More than a grain on the table
The Global Rice Archive is designed to show just how diverse the world’s rice basket can be. From the fragrant grains of India to the varieties used in Italian and Japanese cuisine, each type serves a different culinary purpose and carries a distinct agricultural story.
For India, the showcase also represents an opportunity to present its rice sector through a wider lens — combining agriculture, food culture, farmer livelihoods and international trade.
As global buyers explore the varieties on display, BIRC 2026 aims to create stronger connections between India’s rice-growing regions and international markets, while giving traditional and speciality grains a chance to find new audiences around the world.