Mary Ellen Kuhn

Mary Ellen Kuhn

Innova's Shared Planet TrendConsumers’ 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

  • 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Health Strategies in Beverages
  • 11:30 a.m. – Noon  Innova’s Top 10 Trends 2022
  • 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. Plant-Based: The Canvas for Innovation
  • 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. Positive Nutrition for Holistic Health
  • 2:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. Trends and Opportunities in the Sweetener Category
  • 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Who’s Snacking on What: Consumer Insights

About the Author

Mary Ellen Kuhn is executive editor of Food Technology magazine ([email protected]).
Mary Ellen Kuhn

Digital Exclusives right arrow

Organic Versus Regenerative Agriculture: A Complicated Relationship

Organic and regenerative agriculture aren’t the same, but advances in organic may pave the way for broader adoption of regenerative practices.

How Danone Supports California Farmer’s Regenerative Ag Practices

A look at how Danone’s partnership with a California farm promotes regenerative agriculture.

AI Helps Restaurants Reduce Waste

How startup Orbisk uses artificial intelligence to help restaurants reduce food waste back of house.

Best By Confusion

Consumer misunderstanding around “best by” dates contributes to food waste, experts agree. Retail practices, manufacturers’ decisions, and lack of regulations aren’t helping.

Food Technology Articles right arrow

Startup Makes Pizza Crust From Chicken

Indiana-based startup ZeroCarb Lyfe created a gluten-free, keto-friendly pizza crust.

From Family Recipe to Retail Shelf

Family restaurant owner Dane Carder navigates the hurdles to bring his grandfather’s spaghetti sauce to U.S. grocery stores

Can We Future-Proof the Food System?

IFT President Chris Downs reflects on megatrends identified by CSIRO and the 2023 IFT FIRST programming.

Ground-Level Solutions Toward Net-Zero Food Production

Ensuring the health of the world’s soil—through regenerative agriculture and other practices—takes center stage in the race to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

Less Packaging, More Sustainability

Whether food packaging is made from fossil fuels, plants, agricultural waste, sand, or any other material, less is more when it comes to delivering more sustainable packaging.

Recent Brain Food right arrow

A New Day at the FDA

IFT weighs in on the agency’s future in the wake of the Reagan-Udall Report and FDA Commissioner Califf’s response.

Members Say IFT Offers Everything You Need to Prepare for an Uncertain Future

Learn how IFT boosts connections, efficiencies, and inspiration for its members.

More on the FDA's Food Traceability Final Rule

In a new white paper, our experts examine the FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule implications—and its novel concepts first proposed by IFT.