Lucknow: The 11th edition of India Food Expo (IFX-2026) will be held in Lucknow from Sept 18 to 20, with a focus on strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s food processing sector and expanding opportunities for MSMEs, exports and investment.Organised by the Indian Industries Association (IIA), the event is expected to facilitate B2B business worth over Rs 700 crore, nearly double the estimated business generated during the previous edition.IIA national president Dinesh Goyal said the expo would connect food processing units and MSMEs with national and international markets. “India Food Expo-2026 is a platform for economic growth, employment generation and agricultural value addition,” he said, adding that UP’s department of horticulture and food processing and Invest UP were the driving force for the event.Additional chief secretary, horticulture and food processing, B L Meena, highlighted the state govt’s focus on the food processing sector and its employment potential. Officials from Invest UP and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India assured support to entrepreneurs in investment facilitation and food safety compliance.An official spokesperson said that this year’s expo would focus on smart packaging, AI and automation, alternative energy-based equipment, e-commerce and global supply chains linked to food products. In all, 160 distributors are expected to participate, while embassies of more than 35 countries are also being approached for international participation.