Abstract:
The above headlines are not just catch phrases to grab a reader’s
attention, but reality. We live in challenging times where the
income disparity, knowledge & access to technology, conflicts,
political uncertainties, access to funding and a host of other
factors have driven the world we live in, to multiple directions.
Therefore, food is and will be the currency that we will be
dealing with in the years to come. While Digital currencies and
a new norm in social media will influence our culture, ultimately
FOOD will be doing all the talking. When our primary needs
are not met, everything else comes to a halt, therefore being connected to the world of
food is indeed both a privilege, a priority and for some a passion.
When taking a wholistic approach to food and the trends that are emerging, one needs
to start with the originators of food, namely the farmers. Agriculture has experienced
strained labor markets for over a decade caused by an aging workforce, restrictive
government policies, and decreasing interest in farm work due to the harsh nature of
the job. And in some parts of the world climate changes. Today however, the modern
Farmer ( mod goviya) globally has access to automation, digitization and an exciting
world of alternative inputs to impact their yield. How strategically and purposefully this
is adopted by our current generation will have a significant impact on the food security
of our nation and planet in the years to come.
Next as food moves to the next step in the process which is the supply chain who aims
to bridge the divide between producers and consumers. Operational factors such as
production disruptions and external factors such as weather conditions, transportation
issues, input shortages, and pricing volatility have led to substantial food supply chain
inefficiencies. We experienced this during Covid 19 and now with the conflict in Ukraine
this is once again a key topic of discussion. We have at our disposal new ways of process
optimization, decentralization of activities and most importantly innovation to reduce
food waste. Therefore, Supply Chain Resilience can improve Food Security Finally, we as consumers are demanding more sustainable packaging and according to the World Economic Forum, the global demand for meat is expected to double by 2050, and in addition want to know we are doing good by choosing plant-based options . Novelingredients will enable the next generation of plant-based food to be made available.
Today we cannot separate the discussion of Food from Health, as today’s consumers
want evidence- and data-backed recommendations on what and when to eat to improve
their health. Hence food will become central to the effort to prevent chronic disease and
improve health outcomes.
