Written by: Ansh Mehta, Student, IAR – Gandhinagar

With the grasp of the pandemic declining in our lifestyle and with every industry trying to push its way back to its prime, the foreseeable years ahead sure do seem to be very promising as we talk about the food industry, with a lot of scope emerging in it once again.

While various food trends that started before and during the pandemic continue to have their effects, newer trends are emerging this year that are influencing the industry and the consumers. Here are some food trends that you might have encountered or may experience as you advance further into the next couple of years:

1. 2023- International Year of Millets

In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. This provides a very exciting opportunity worldwide, and especially for India which is the largest producer of millets in the world. India produces 80% of the total millets in Asia and 20% of the total millets on a global scale.

The consumption of millets ought to increase over the decade and they shall fall right into your plate because of various factors which include:

– Health Benefits: They reduce vulnerability to colon cancer, protect from cardiovascular diseases, control diabetes, have antioxidant properties, help in weight loss, etc.

– Nutritional Benefits:  High in protein, fiber, Vitamins A and B, Phosphorus, and have low fat content.

– Sustainable growth: Millets can easily grow on arid land and sustain low water and nutrient conditions. Alongside, they have 25% less carbon footprint than wheat, and can easily be grown organically and under harsh climatic conditions.

As people become more health conscious and as the climate change crisis continues to affect us, the need for organic, low maintenance, and resilient crops shall grow, and surely millets shall come to the rescue on a global scale. We shall soon see a stride in the production and consumption of various millets including Pearl millet (Bajra), Finger millet (Ragi), Sorghum (Jowar), and many others.

2. Local and Artisan Foods

There is a growing trend towards locally sourced and artisanal foods. People want to know where their food is coming from, and they want to support local businesses and along with that, promote their own culture. With the rise in e-commerce that includes online order and delivery systems, these local sources are now exposed to a vast horizon and platform that even extends to an international scale. Also, given that many of these local setups are light to the pocket (instead of making the pocket light), this trend is expected to continue further on, with more people seeking out local food markets, small producers, and specialty shops either through the comfort of their homes or even by visiting them.

3. Veganism

With people growing conscious about the greater aspects including biodiversity loss and ethical aspects such as animal life and freedom, veganism is becoming one of the mainstream dietary options. This popularity has led to an increase in the availability of vegan food and vegan substitutes for dairy products in the market as well.

According to a report by the Good Food Institute India and the market research firm Ipsos, the number of vegans in India increased by 360% between 2014 and 2019, with millennials driving the growth. The report estimated that there were around 2 million vegans in India in 2019, and this number keeps on rising as well.

4. Health Conscious Food

As humanity continues to get surrounded by various diseases and health effects, people are trying to change their dietary habits, shifting to healthier meal plans. While some of them are forced to do so due to one or the other health issues, various people are shielding themselves from a range of diseases by shifting to healthier means. This includes:

i) Using Sugar substitutes:

Increased consumption of sugar has been proven to cause obesity, type-2 diabetes, as well as heart diseases. As phones get updated with more social media and internet apps, people are becoming aware of these ill- effects of sugar. This being the reason, they are starting to shift to healthier alternatives to sugar. As the knowledge of our traditional alternatives of the ‘white poison,’ as people call it, blends with modern research and technology, there is a surge of these substitutes that one can choose from. Commonly used alternatives include- Jaggery, dates, monk fruit sweetener, dates… Well, the list is endless.

ii) Increased demand for organic food

Increased use of fertilizers and pesticides in farms has undoubtedly increased the yield of farm-grown food but people sure don’t want to make their gut and body a storehouse of chemicals. Hence, as organically grown alternatives flow into the market, people choose to eat the right thing, and they are ready to bear the extra cost rather than costing their bodies. People have also started growing their fruits and vegetables in their kitchen gardens.

The food trends through the next decade seem to be very encouraging in terms of the organic growth of humankind, and especially favorable towards the critical aspects of sustainable development and environmental preservation, something that is coherently important in the next few years. With a buffet of options available around us in this fast-moving decade, you get to experiment and decide what satisfies your soul and what you fill your plate with.