CSR: The Food Industry Trends of the Future
The global food industry is reaching a crossroad. It has been estimated that by 2050, the global population will reach up to 2 billion people. Countries around the world will have to find a way to produce more food than they have in the past 8,000 years to meet the increased demand for food.
World Bank has stated that climate change is becoming a source of significant additional risks for agriculture and food systems. On top of this, increasing water stress around the world is another challenge to agriculture. Growing awareness about the harmful effects of chemicals in food has led to consumers seeking more information about the source and the impact of the food they consume on their health as well as the environment.
Owing to all these facts, the food industry will see a lot of changes. Following are some of the trends that the food industry will see as predicted by food industry experts.
Increase in pressure for transparency
The people of the world are becoming more conscious about the impact caused by their food on their health as well as the environment. The way people buy their food—and who they buy it from—is changing rapidly. The rising demand for greater transparency around health and environmental metrics shows no signs of slowing down—and large companies must respond by taking greater steps to share more information with customers.
Soil degradation necessitates innovation on the farm
Experts across the globe say that around 70% of the world’s topsoils are depleted. More than 95 per cent of the food we eat depends on a mere 6 inches of topsoil. In 2015, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calculated that we’ll only have about 60 years of harvests left if soil degradation continues. With rising food demand, the pressure on innovating firms to find a solution to this problem.
Loss of farmland presents new challenges
Today, 55 per cent of the world’s population lives in urban areas. By 2050, that proportion is expected to reach 68 per cent, according to the U.N. As more people move to cities and suburbs, former agricultural land is being developed at a startling pace.
Plant-based eating is on a roll
Veganism is an upcoming popular trend on social media including Instagram and YouTube. A huge number of influencers are posting content on the plant-based lifestyle, the philosophy and benefits to health and environment because of it. This trend is being picked up by several celebrities including Virat Kohli, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Aamir Khan, etc. These influential celebs have inspired many everyday joes to embrace veganism too.
The policy change is needed to keep family farming alive
The world’s farmer population is ageing quickly. The children of farmers aren’t willing to continue farming. The uncertainty in the profession is driving the young people away from it. In order to encourage more people to take up farming as a vocation, special policies will need to be in a place that would provide them with benefits for choosing the profession.
Food companies will demand changes in the distribution
As diners seek healthier, local and sustainable food choices, the industry will need to find new ways to get fresh food from local farmers to the brands and restaurants that want to buy it.
Rise of Simple Food
While the consumers today look for options in everything, in the food they are choosing the simplest food that is easy on the environment as well as their health. A shift from wanting quantity and global food to choosing quality local and simple food will soon be observed in the industry.
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The CSR Journal Team
