If previous decades of food manufacturing focused on bulk, then the current climate favors quality. But what about the future? It’s likely that the next era of food manufacturing will be about efficiency and sustainability. The global population is exploding. Even if growth slows modestly, we’re still looking at a potential shortfall in food — that is, if we don’t act.
The good news is that food manufacturers are already tackling the issue. Not only are they putting smarter techniques into practice, but they’re mapping out solutions for the decades ahead.
How Do We Feed a Growing Population?
It’s safe to say that we’re close to maxing out what we can do on dry land. And while rooftop and urban farming shows promise, it’s got limits — think space, water usage and pest control. The next logical frontier is perhaps the most promising yet: the ocean.
Covering more than 70 percent of the planet, the ocean has massive potential for sustainable farming and food solutions. In some parts of the world, seaweed is already a dinnertime staple. It’s versatile, flavorful, and more importantly, it’s very sustainable. Seaweed, kelp and other underwater crops require no fresh water or fertilizer — and use no dry land.
Expect food manufacturers to get more creative with ingredients culled from the depths of the ocean.
Get Out Your Microscope
Another potential solution that’s already making inroads is algae production. Like seaweed and kelp, algae are very easy to grow and harvest. In addition to freeing up resources such as water and fuel, algae can be used as an ingredient, providing natural sugars, oils and fats. The challenge will be changing perspectives about the slimy products. But as algae are increasingly incorporated into food manufacturing around the world, it’s not hard to imagine them being seen more broadly as a sustainable solution.
An Eye on the Future
At PacMoore, we’re at the cutting edge of new ingredients and techniques. With our emphasis on specialty foods, we’re already well positioned to embrace any innovations that come our way. From rooftops to seafloors, we’re eager to enter the next stages in food manufacturing.
What are your thoughts on the future of food? We’d love to team up to take on the challenges facing the food manufacturing industry. To learn more about what we bring to the table and how we can partner, contact PacMoore today. Our services currently include dry blending, extrusion, spray drying, re-packaging, and consumer packaging.
For Further Reading:
https://gro-intelligence.com/insights/farming-seaweed-alternative-food
https://japantoday.com/category/features/food/green-grub-bugs-and-algae-set-the-stage-for-alternative-foods
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/jan/22/future-of-food-john-vidal
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