Top Five Trends in Food Processing

Janifha Evangeline

The global food processing market is anticipated to reach USD 235.67 billion by 2028. Innovation in food processing machinery is one of the major factors anticipated to bolster the food processing market. Other factors include the surge in the adoption of automated technologies in the food processing industry and increasing R&D in food processing machinery. Some of the emerging trends that have a direct impact on the dynamics of the food processing industry include:

Innovating process, products, and packaging

Novel processing techniques, products & packaging Food processors are being developed & marketed in order to appeal to consumer demand. A most exciting new food processing trend is the use of high-pressure processing and it is gaining traction among food producers for more natural applications, such as ice cream and cookie dough. This is a low-temperature pasteurization technique.

High-pressure processing arrives with its own challenges, such as the equipment expense, and the need for packaging which can withstand high pressure & since it is not as thorough a kill step for all microbes, products will have to be refrigerated as well. Apart from its challenges, anticipate witnessing wider adoption as High-pressure processing manufacturers & packaging suppliers innovate to enhance throughput and hence decrease processing costs.

Also, the other segment is Pet food production which is also undergoing major changes, these include the use of refrigeration during processing as well as packaging for maintaining freshness. Owing to the desire of some pet owners for raw pet food, this segment is gaining traction as well & it needs special handling to stop microbial contamination & preserve freshness.

Another reason why food scientists are so excited about the future of food is the development of alternative proteins. The aim of alternative proteins is to make cell-based & plant-based products that possess the same/better taste & feel and cost the same or less than comparable animal proteins. While Plant-based foods have started replacing such animal products that include ice cream, meat, chicken & pet food, cell-based meat & seafood, such as burgers that have the taste & feel of animal protein are upending our notions of what is possible.

In order to complement these spaces & create a more authentic eating experience there has been innovation in cell-based fats recently and these products leverage novel technologies, such as extrusion, which have been scaled up for commercial-scale manufacturing by engineers

who have experience in the design & construction of plant-and cell-based protein manufacturing facilities & process lines.

Increasing consumer preference for sustainable products

There is consumer pressure that continues to grow in the food industry in order to remove the food industry’s high reliance often on single-use plastics, decrease waste & produce food in a sustainable way.

Decreasing packaging waste

Since there is a science to food packaging food businesses have to ensure food safety & satisfy consumers, but at the same time they should carefully balance product quality, appearance, functionality, price as well as environmental impact. Fueled by corporate responsibility as well as consumer demand, manufacturers are now taking a proactive approach to prioritizing sustainability in their packaging.

Nestle, KraftHeinz, and Conagra are all examples of firms that are stepping up to meet consumer preferences and hence have committed to using only recyclable, reusable/compostable packaging by 2025. These firms recognize sustainability as an issue that renders value to customers since these customers are ready to pay a premium for products, which they believe support environmental sustainability.

Another segment is the retail landscape where retailers are also demanding change. A better way for seeing the direction that packaging is taking is to walk the aisles of the largest food retailers such as Walmart. Walmart accounts for about one-quarter of Conagra’s net sales and it announced sustainability goals that are aimed at decreasing single-use plastic and making commitments to enhance sustainability.

Upcycling

Many firms including several startups are utilizing the advantage of the trend in order to repurpose food products that otherwise would be wasted. Hence, Upcycling is the value-add process of changing the food that would have gone to waste into products for consumption. As per the Upcycled Food Association, upcycling possesses the benefits of decreasing food waste & greenhouse gas emissions, rising the value of food which would otherwise be wasted, and building a more sustainable & resilient food system.

A perfect example is Unilever’s use of ice cream which remains in its manufacturing lines when there is a changeover among the products. What earlier used to be waste at one of Unilever’s brands is now turned into a best-selling flavor that repurposes one hundred and sixty metric tons of waste every year & loved by consumers specifically for its sustainable nature.

The surge in food manufacturing automation

The labor shortage issue in the food industry is an ongoing issue. This will accelerate the transition to multiple automated facilities. Also, the supply of raw materials & available land is most abundant in rural regions which can be difficult for adequate staff production & packaging lines. In addition to these, the pandemic has made it even worse.

Although automation renders high efficiency & flexibility of manufacturing, enhanced management of the supply chain coupled with better record keeping for regulatory purposes, it comes with huge initial & ongoing costs, & requires access to skilled operators as well. Most of them look at automation as a way to future-proof a facility in expectation of cost pressures/labor shortages.

The road ahead

Since food processing is a sunrise industry even with the advent of Multi-National Companies in the country, there is always a surge in demand for food that is locally processed. The changing food habits, consumption patterns & food preferences are some of the factors which have contributed greatly to the boom in this industry.