From a recent American research by theInternational Food Information Council published on Forbes it has emerged that 54% of consumers decided to adopt a healthier diet in 2020 compared to ten years ago, favoring organic foods. Furthermore, according to a survey conducted by Innova Marketing Insights and published on Food Industry Executive, in the coming years there will be a surge in consumption of plant-based foods, reaching a growth of 20% by 2024.
According to the American outlet Glipsecorp 2021 will see the return of the “climatarian” diet followers, those who follow a diet designed to fight climate change. A term that entered the list of most used according to the New York Times and that will also mark the post-pandemic period. Future foods, instead, will be based on insects, a source of more sustainable protein thanks to the lower environmental impact and high nutritional value, recently approved by the European Food Safety Authority: from a Dealroom research published on Bloomberg it emerged that it will be a disruptive business exceeding 4.1 billion dollars by 2025.
Space is also made for alternative packaging to plastic which, according to a Market Allied Research study, will increase by 12.4% by 2022. “Attention to sustainability and environmental impact will be even more prominent within the post-pandemic food sector. For this reason, after a twenty-year experience in the organic world, I decided to challenge myself again by creating a line of fresh ready soups which, unlike products contained in common plastic bowls, are packaged in packs made with paper certified by PEFC and sourced from a sustainable supply chain – explained Marco Roveda – The Pioneer of Organic – An ideal solution to embrace the 2021 trends and respond to the needs of people who daily prefer a healthy diet, seeking health, wellness, innovation in recipes and packaging.”
Among the main food trends of 2021 is also that of phytonutrients, vegetable compounds rich in proteins and vitamins, ideal to improve immune functions: from a Businesswire survey published on Glimpsecorp it emerged that their consumption will reach 24 billion dollars by 2023. Moreover, the digitalization of the food chain will be prominent thanks to the presence of foods entirely created by artificial intelligences according to a research reported by Today. Space is also made for super-fruits from the Amazon such as buriti and camu-camu, foods rich in vitamins A and C, and minerals like iron and calcium, helpful to stay in shape and invigorate mental well-being put to the test by lockdown periods. The health emergency has also increased the need for transparency by companies towards consumers. From a survey by Label Insight and Food Marketing Institute it emerged that 75% of consumers want precise information about the origin of foods arriving on their table. Demand will increase for foods high in vitamin D, magnesium, probiotics: 3 out of 5 consumers, according to Innova Market Insights survey, are constantly looking for foods that can beneficially impact mental health and ensure better sleep quality. But that’s not all, as the practice of foraging – gathering plants and ingredients that grow in woods and along rivers – will also become popular.
Top 10 food trends of 2021
Organic boom
The sector seems to have resisted the effects of the crisis and will have billion-dollar growth by 2025.
The return of the climatarian diet
The health emergency has increased consumers’ desire to seek foods that can have a beneficial impact on climate change.
Foods created with artificial intelligence
Startups and multinational companies will begin using machines and robots to digitize the food chain.
Insect proteins on the plate
They will no longer be a taboo and will become one of the main dishes of 2021 thanks to their nutritional properties and low environmental impact.
Space for phytonutrients
Foods that offer immune benefits will be a must in the post-pandemic era. Consumers will seek every way to strengthen their health.
More flexible packaging
Efforts will be made to minimize the use of plastic packaging, favoring alternative packaging.
Superfruits arrive from the Amazon
Foods such as buriti e camu-camu will become a must on the table due to their important presence of vitamins and minerals.
More attention to food transparency
Consumers will pay much more attention to the origin of products, demanding greater transparency from companies.
Steady growth of food delivery
The demand for home food delivery has increased exponentially during the lockdown months and will continue in 2021.
The foraging trend
The practice of gathering plants and ingredients that grow wild in woods and meadows or along rivers, which has been growing for several years, will become increasingly common even in the post-pandemic period.
