The recipe of food and technology has given birth to food technology.

Technology has changed how different industries function. Technology in the food industry today is the most sought after ingredient in our diet charts. The food industry has opened its doorway to new technologies and mobile application based services that led to an immense transformation in how the food industry operates. The recipe of food and technology has given birth to food technology.

Let's look at which food tech trends that will still be trending in 2021:

Sugar Rush

Covid-19 pandemic entirely knocked us off track in terms of healthy eating and living in its initial months. Inconsistent routines, lower activity levels, and stress saw consumers gravitate to comfort food and reap the consequences of this shift in behaviour. In a survey, over 3 in 4 Americans said they gained up to 16 pounds in isolation.

However, most of them are now trying to restructure their diets that will include cutting down on sugar. It will also drive the demand for sugar substitutes and new technologies in the sugar reduction space.

Data and Traceability

As per Jean Pougnier, CEO of Crop Enhancement, part of that new health and food awareness comes down to data and traceability. Traceability will grow beyond food safety and production methods to encompass aroma, flavour, texture, nutritional benefits, and other aspects of food quality. It will be imperative for small growers in remote areas of the world who don't have a seat at the table and lack long-lasting equity in their crops once sold to wholesalers.

Plant-Forward

As plant-based trends reach global phenomenon status, the 'plant-based' definition is evolving. Its growing mainstream appeal will drive expansion to different regions and categories in 2021, including rising demand for new formats, plant proteins and more sophisticated substitutes. Propelled by sustainability and animal welfare concerns, lab-grown foods have the potential to disrupt the industry by mainstreaming the use of new technologies. A consumer survey indicated that the top four reasons for considering plant-based alternatives were health, diet variety, sustainability and taste. As consumers are powering up on plant protein, opportunities and challenges linked with regional consumer preferences and sustainability expectations are attracting attention.

Food as Medicine

The global Covid-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of the industry and our collective way of life. Despite the disruption from the pandemic slowing investment in the movement, it has also created an opportunity for real businesses to emerge that will advance the food-as-medicine movement at the same time.

Food-as-medicine technology refers to any service that shifts power to food as a means of health, and they exist throughout the whole value chain. It can include consumer apps functioning as artificial intelligence (AI) nutrition coaches, food featuring active ingredients backed by evidence, or personalised supplements aimed at enhancing your unique microbiome in a tailored manner.

Transparency Triumphs

The Innova Survey 2020 shows that six in 10 global consumers are interested in learning more about where foods come from. Transparency dominates consumer demand in 2021. Increasing transparency to meet evolving ethical, environmental and clean label consumer demands is the key. Brands adopting and pairing new packaging technologies such as invisible barcodes and near-field communication technology with creative, meaningful storytelling will be successful. The consumer lifestyle trend towards cleaner living is widening and heightening expectations around what constitutes a clean label. Aspects include human/animal welfare, supply chain transparency, plant-powered nutrition and sustainable sourcing.