Replacing Soil With Glass, Regional Preferences Shape Oils Market

Replacing soil with glass

Researchers from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley have found that replacing soil with recycled glass fragments sped up development and reduced fungal growth for plants used in salsa making.

The research, which was presented at the American Chemical Society’s fall meeting, experimented with the effects of recycled glass as a growing tool for cilantro, jalapeño, and bell pepper plants. The researchers used pulverized glass bottles, like those from beer or soda, that had been treated to reduce sharp edges.

“Recycled glass can share specific physical properties with traditional soil, such as porosity and the ability to retain water,” explained Julie Vanegas, nanoparticle scientist and assistant professor with the university, in an interview with Food Technology. “Additionally, recycled glass can be crushed into fine particles that, when combined with its resistance to compaction, provide a loose, well-drained structure like that of soil. Moreover, the elemental composition of recycled glass is typically low in nutrients, which can be advantageous in specific agricultural applications.”

Vanegas and her research team experimented with growing cilantro, bell pepper, and jalapeño plants in various soil conditions that ranged from 100% soil to 100% recycled glass. The results showed that plants grown in the recycled glass had faster growth rates and retained more water compared with those grown in traditional soil. The researchers believe that the use of recycled glass may inhibit fungal growth in the plant, allowing for better plant development.

“It is a pilot project, but we have many possible hypotheses that recycled glass improves drainage and aeration in the growing medium, preventing excessive moisture accumulation around the roots,” Vanegas said. “This less humid environment could be less favorable for the growth of pathogenic fungi, thereby promoting healthier plant development.”

The research team will wait until harvest time to determine which soil combinations produce the best yields and the best taste. But the team believes these results are promising and indicate that recycled glass could be a sustainable growing medium.

“Finding alternative methods to grow vegetables can help with one of the most pressing challenges related to food security, especially in areas with soil problems,” Vanegas said. “The next steps in this research could include more detailed studies on the interactions between recycled glass and different plant types and its long-term impact on plant growth and health.”

© vm2002/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Regional preferences shape oils market

The global edible oils market is adapting its product offerings to match regional consumer demands, according to research from Innova Market Insights.

Innova’s research indicates that, across the globe, edible oil product launches have increased by 4% over the past three years. These products represent a range in types, such as olive, sunflower, sesame, coconut, and soy, and a range of textures, including smooth, thick, and creamy.

Asia Pacific leads the oils market in both launches and sales over the past three years. Innova’s analysts believe this region can credit its performance to its indulgent, premium offerings. The research shows that the Middle East and Africa are also experiencing high growth rates in product launches, fueled by extra virgin olive and coconut oils and minimally processed options.

When it comes to flavor, garlic, truffle mushroom, chili, basil, and lemon are the favorites around the world. Further, Innova’s research shows that chili oil is a top flavor in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Vegetarian is the top claim in global oil launches, followed by organic, halal, low/no/reduced cholesterol, and no additives and preservatives. Consumers in different areas of the world are looking for different attributes in their oils, leading to regional trends. For example, European consumers look for heart health, gluten-free, and omega-3 claims, while consumers in the Middle East and Africa look for skin health and GMO-free claims.

Innova’s analysts suggest that health benefits and sustainability claims will be major drivers in the global oils market.

© THEERADECH SANIN/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Satisfying a thirst for hydration products

Consumers of all ages are seeking products with hydration benefits, according to an analysis by retail data provider SPINS.

SPINS research indicates that U.S. hydration product sales total at least $750 million monthly, across channels, with clear sales spikes during the summer months. Water accounts for more than 60% of the total dollar share of hydration product sales, but market share for other product categories, including powders, tablets, liquid shots, and gummies, is growing. In both the water and other beverages categories, sales of sparkling and carbonated options are growing fastest.

Classic flavors such as grape, fruit blends, and lemon lime continue to lead in both sales and product launches. SPINS analysts forecast continued rapid growth for three flavors: tropical punch, apple, and piña colada. While these products are not as prevalent as the classic flavors, according to SPINS, their strong growth over the past year will continue to impact the hydration category.

Low- and no-sugar claims lead the way in hydration product launches in the United States. Sales of products sweetened with sucralose have grown by 10% in the past year, and products using agave nectar as a sweetener have seen strong sales as well.

Research around children’s nutrition helped give hydration products for children a sales boost. In fact, sales of products positioned specifically for children shot up by 1179% over the past year. SPINS research points to a trend toward products focused on everyday hydration versus products positioned for condition-based needs. Dads doing more grocery shopping

© Eoneren/E+/Getty Images Plus

Most people are not consuming enough micronutrients

More than half of the world’s population does not consume adequate levels of several micronutrients, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

The study, published in The Lancet Global Health, used data from the Global Dietary Database, the World Bank, and several publicly available dietary recall surveys to compare nutritional intake across 185 countries. The team then broke the populations into groups based on sex and age, providing 34 groups for analysis. The researchers focused on 15 vitamins and minerals considered crucial to human nutrition: calcium, iodine, iron, riboflavin, folate, zinc, magnesium, selenium, thiamin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E.

According to the analysis, 68% of those studied do not have an adequate intake of iodine. Further, 67% do not consume enough vitamin E, 66% do not consume enough calcium, and 65% do not consume enough iron. Intake of niacin across the studied population was the closest to sufficient, with only 22% of the population consuming inadequate levels.

Inadequate intakes of iodine, vitamin B12, iron, and selenium were higher for women than men, while more men consumed inadequate levels of calcium, niacin, zinc, and vitamin A. Both sexes in the 10–30 age group were most prone to low levels of calcium, especially in South Asia, East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

The research team believes that this study will help further identify nutrition gaps across the world.

“Our study is a big step forward,” said Chris Free, co-lead author and research professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Free said that this is true not only because the study is the first to estimate inadequate micronutrient intakes for 34 age/sex groups in nearly every country, but also because it makes these methods and results easily accessible to researchers and practitioners.

The research team noted that the lack of available data on individual dietary patterns may limit the scope of this study.

© nicoletaionescu/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Robots on the production line

Food industry executives in the Netherlands are looking to add robotics to their operations soon, according to research from Rabobank.

Rabobank conducted a survey among 20 midsize food producers in the Netherlands to determine their attitudes and plans regarding the use of robotics in their facilities. The results showed that every company surveyed is planning to add robotics in some capacity to automate their processes.

Personnel shortages lead the list of reasons to invest in robotics, the research found. As the population continues to age and labor continues to become scarce, the respondents said that they are looking to robots to increase productivity and help with employee retention. Rabobank’s analysts note that food companies are investing in specific areas of robotics, such as automated guided vehicles and collaborative robots, leaving room for human employees in the production line.

The food producers surveyed did cite some concerns about implementing robotics into their facilities. The biggest hurdle noted in the survey is adjusting production processes to ensure the maximum performance and efficiency from the technology. The lack of employees with the skills to handle the robots is another concern. But Rabobank’s researchers believe that investment in robotics can help ease labor stresses.ft