Food is no longer a private matter - whole economies and even national security depend on it. The choices we make about how and what to eat are shaping the world's food system. The influence of technology on the food industry is greater than ever. Sweeping innovations, including trends in vertical farming, aquaculture, biotech, blockchain, and robotics, are transforming the way we produce food and will continue to do so.
What does the future of food look like? What factors will impact food production most? How will supply chains adapt? These are the main themes we explore in this report. We know that the technology needed to revolutionize the food system already exists. The trouble is that it’s being developed in silos with limited integration.
We invite you to explore how the food industry is about to change. Discover the drivers shaping the future of food and upcoming challenges.
Dive into the details
Population growth
The UN estimates farmers will need to produce at least 50% more food by 2050 because populations are growing and incomes are rising.
Climate change
Changing weather conditions will have a major impact on food production. According to the UN, the most important agricultural regions worldwide may face substantial declines in agricultural output due to climate-related changes (e.g. extreme heat).
Water access
Water use has tripled since the 1950s and demand continues to soar. Under current trends, demand for water will exceed supply by 40 % in 2030.
Food waste
The UN estimates 1.3 billion tons of food are lost or wasted annually, equating to roughly one-third of global food production. Food is wasted in almost every category: 45% of fruit and vegetables, 30% of cereal products, 35% of fish and seafood, 20% of dairy and 20% of meat.
Major demographic shifts
Consumer demands
Demographic shifts are disrupting how food will be consumed in the future. Surging middle-class growth and increasing consumer demand for transparency and nutritious alternatives are forcing the food industry to adapt.
According to Deloitte, by 2020 millennials will make up 40% of all consumers. This group are adopting digital solutions that provide instant access to products and services they want without being confined to physically nearby choices. Millennial consumers increasingly show a preference toward “mindful eating” – that is, choosing brands and foods that come from sustainable sources – and a conscious engagement with the food industry, and how food is produced and the way it is consumed.
Digital living
The food and agriculture industry is on the cusp of digital revolution. New technological advances and their proliferation across industries are gradually ushering in a new wave of food-related innovation.
Order food delivery demand driven by young consumers
ordering frequency per week
Barcoding technologies
Offers opportunity to consumers, brands and food producers
Overall market: USD 700bn market by 2030
Overall, we estimate the food innovation opportunity represents a USD 700bn market by 2030. We expect it to grow more than fivefold, at a 15% CAGR, from USD 135bn in 2018.
Online food delivery: USD 365bn market by 2030
Online food delivery is set to be the largest segment, expanding from a market worth USD 60bn in 2018 to USD 365bn, a mid-teen CAGR, according to our forecasts. Emerging markets, improving logistics, and a structural shift from offline to online food delivery are likely to drive this growth.
Farming 4.0: USD 90bn market by 2030
Farming 4.0 is another promising segment within that timeframe. We anticipate it expanding from a USD 15bn market in 2018 to USD 90bn.
Plant-based protein: USD 85bn market by 2030
We expect the plant-based meat market to expand from USD 4.6bn in 2018 to USD 85bn at the end of the next decade.
How big is the addressable market?
Revenue opportunity
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