New Delhi, August 2026: The 16th Annual UPDA NextGen Distillery Summit 2026, presented by Dovoy Grain Processing and powered by Novonesis, will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, starting at 9:30 AM at Hotel Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi Airport, New Delhi. The summit will bring together over 300 industry stakeholders including distillery owners, CEOs, plant heads, sugar industry executives, policymakers, technology providers, researchers and global experts for a full day of technical sessions, technology showcases and high-value business networking, culminating in an exclusive Evening Cocktail and Networking Session.
The event is organised by the Uttar Pradesh Distillers Association, an apex body of the distillery industry founded in 1983 and now completing 40 years of active industry representation. UPDA currently represents 85 distilleries in Uttar Pradesh with 20 more coming up, with its members producing over 90 per cent of the state’s potable country liquor. The association holds official recognition from state government departments including Excise, Pollution, Industry, Taxation and Labour, and plays an active advocacy role for its members at both state and central government levels.
This year’s summit carries special significance as it coincides with UPDA’s 40th anniversary milestone. Over four decades, the association has conducted annual international summits, led trade delegations to countries including Brazil, Australia, Scotland and Ireland, and actively represented India at global ethanol forums. The NextGen branding reflects UPDA’s focus on future-facing themes — from distillery technology and process innovation to the rapidly growing ethanol and bio-refinery space.
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The technical programme will cover some of the most relevant topics shaping the industry’s future, including the evolving distillery landscape from record potable production to new possibilities, crafting value through innovation and process efficiency, smart packaging technologies, the transition from distillery to bio-refinery, maize as a feedstock decoded for volume versus value, and winning market strategies beyond production. A dedicated Technology Showcase Arena will allow solution providers and equipment manufacturers to demonstrate their latest offerings to senior decision-makers.
UPDA has also been a key contributor to India’s Ethanol Blending Programme, actively engaging in collaborations with the Indian Agriculture Research Institute and the US Grain Council to develop high-yield varietal seeds and establish innovative farming and logistical practices from global technologies, making the summit’s bio-refinery and maize sessions particularly timely given the government’s accelerating push on ethanol blending targets.
Participation confirmations are already in full swing with leading distilleries, technology providers, engineering companies and solution partners having confirmed their presence. A limited number of sponsorship categories, exhibition booths, standalone technical presentation slots and delegate registrations are still available.
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