Consumers’ concerns about the health of the planet surpassed concerns about the health of the population for the first time in Innova Market Research surveys, prompting the food trend specialists at the company to designate “Shared Planet” as No. 1 on its list of Top 10 Trends for 2022.
“People watched the world burn and flood during the lockdown, and it continues,” says Innova Insights Director Lu Ann Williams. “And anyone with Gen Z kids most likely hears about their concerns about the environment. There are cues and reminders everywhere about consuming less, buying secondhand, and recycling old clothes. It is a constant reminder to think about global issues.”
The “Shared Planet” trend continues a pattern of consumer emphasis on trust and transparency that’s been apparent for several years, the company points out. Innova cites Moonshot snacks as an example of a brand that’s successfully tapped into the “Shared Planet” positioning. The company touts its focus on environmental stewardship in everything from the use of ingredients produced by regenerative agriculture techniques to its packaging made from recycled materials.
“Plant-Based: The Canvas for Innovation” is No. 2 on Innova’s list of leading trends, underscoring the fact that nutrition and sustainability are playing bigger roles in the next generation of plant-based foods.
To attract new consumers to plant-based products, “they will have to move way past” merely mimicking meat products, says Williams. “Chefs are great at expanding our imaginations when it comes to what’s possible with plants. More and more restaurants feature plant-based options that bring home how meat doesn’t have to be at the center of every plate.
“And plants can be used in new ways to make beverages exciting,” Williams continues. “Think about functional benefits and flavors,” she adds.
Other trends Innova identified include the growing role of technology in food product development, shifting consumer eating patterns. and strong interest in the microbiome’s role in health.
Innova Market Insights Trend Talk Schedule
The editors at Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), have announced their predictions for the hottest food trends for 2022.
While canning is commonplace today, for that generation of food technologists it was a paradigmatic example of the power of science to change food for the better.
In October 2021, the FDA released new voluntary guidance on sodium reduction with the overarching goal of reducing consumption by 12% over the next two-and-a-half years.
What changes have occurred in the way Canadians perceive cannabis since it was legalized there in 2018? How do Canadian and U.S. consumers of cannabis and edibles compare?
It’s a new era for the agribusiness giant, and Leticia Gonçalves, president of global foods, is well equipped to help guide the company’s reinvention as a more consumer-focused, value-added organization.
IFT 2022-2023 President Chris Downs discusses IFT’s response to the White House Conference on Hunger Nutrition and Health.
Returning menu superstars, reimagined classics, and internationally inspired cuisine are upgrading foodservice menus.
High-tech growing systems are transforming agricultural production, yielding increasingly fruitful harvests in tightly controlled environments.
A profile of startup Thimus, which is using neuroscience techniques to glean insights into consumers’ sensory perceptions and product preferences.
IFT’s Anna Rosales attended the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. Here are her key takeaways.
Two IFT members reflect on how resource groups help them promote diversity and inclusion on the job.
Tune in to the IFT FIRST on-demand content channel and hear from experts and innovators who are making big impacts.
A few simple steps are all it takes to keep school lunches not only tasty but safe, says IFT’s food safety expert Sara Bratager.
