Agristo Masa Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Masa Global Food Pvt Ltd (part of Wave Group) and IMSTO NV, Belgium (holding company of Agristo NV), has announced an additional investment of ₹750 crore to expand its potato processing facility in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. This investment aims to enhance the plant’s production capabilities by adding a new production line dedicated to frozen French fries.
The announcement was made during a visit by a Belgian business delegation as part of BEM India, an initiative promoting trade and investment between Belgium and India. During the visit, delegates toured the facility and were provided insights into the plant’s operations, including a look at VYNCKE’s biomass boiler. The expansion is expected to enhance Agristo India’s production capacity. Additionally, Agristo India and EKOPAK Sustainable Water announced a partnership, under which Ekopak will install a water treatment system at the new facility.
The Bijnor plant, operational since July 2022, initially focused on producing potato flakes with an annual capacity of 7,500 tonnes. The new investment will introduce a French fries production line with an annual capacity of 80,000 tonnes, catering to both domestic and international markets, including North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan.
Since its inception, the plant has collaborated with local farmers to improve agricultural practices. Productivity in potato cultivation has increased from 17 tonnes per hectare to 32 tonnes per hectare, among the highest yields in India. Approximately 500 farmers have benefited from these initiatives, and the expansion is expected to positively impact an additional 2,500 farmers in the region.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion was attended by Princess Astrid of Belgium, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, and Chief Secretary Manoj Singh.
Wave Group Chairman Manpreet Singh Chadha emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering farmers and diversifying crops beyond sugarcane. He noted that the introduction of new technologies has helped farmers double their potato output, leading to a 50% increase in income over the past three years.
Kristof Wallays, Director of International Expansion, Innovation, and Sustainability at Agristo, highlighted the collaboration between Indian and Belgian expertise in achieving significant results in the agriculture and food processing sectors.
The Bijnor plant is equipped with advanced Flemish technology, reflecting strong Indo-Flemish relations and Belgium’s commitment to participating in India’s growth story, as noted by Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders.
This expansion underscores Agristo Masa’s dedication to enhancing agricultural productivity and supporting sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers in Uttar Pradesh.