With the improvement of people's living standards and the enhancement of health awareness, the food industry is undergoing unprecedented changes. Among them, Plant-Based Diet have gradually become the new favorite of the food market with their healthy, environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics. This article will deeply analyze the overview, development background and advantages, future trends and innovation directions, future market prospects and forecasts of Plant-Based Diet, and explore how they can become an important force in the future food industry.
Definition, classification and overview of Plant-Based Diet
Plant-Based Diet, as the name suggests, are foods processed with plants as the main raw materials. Compared with traditional animal foods, Plant-Based Diet have rich nutritional value, low fat, low sugar, low salt, and are healthier. According to the definition of T/CIFST 002-2021 "Plant-based Food Group Standard": Plant-Based Diet are foods that use plant raw materials (including algae and fungi) or their products as sources of protein, fat, etc., with or without other ingredients, and are made through a certain process, with quality characteristics such as texture, flavor, and morphology similar to certain animal-derived foods. Plant-Based Diet include: plant-based meat products, plant-based dairy products, plant-based egg products, plant-based frozen drinks and ingredients, and other Plant-Based Diet.
Plant-Based Diet are rich and diverse. First of all, beans and bean products, including soybeans, tofu, soy milk, dried tofu, etc., are rich in high-quality plant protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and can adapt to a variety of cooking methods. Cereals and cereal products are also important categories, such as wheat, rice, corn, oats, etc., which are the main source of energy for the human body. They are rich in carbohydrates, protein, fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals. They can be used as staple food or made into pasta. Vegetables and fruits are indispensable, such as broccoli, carrots, apples, bananas, etc., which are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They can be eaten raw, made into salads or stir-fried. Nuts and seeds, such as walnuts, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc., are rich in healthy fats, protein, fiber and antioxidants. They can be used as snacks, ingredients or processed into nut butters. There are also integrated plant protein foods, such as tofu products, vegetarian meat, vegetarian fish, vegetarian shrimp, etc., which use plant protein as the main raw material and have a texture and taste similar to animal meat, making them an ideal choice for vegetarians.
Plant-Based Diet help reduce dependence on animals, reduce environmental pollution, and achieve sustainable development. In 2019, The Lancet published a report pointing out that unsustainable food systems are one of the main causes of environmental damage. With the advancement of the "dual carbon" strategy, the concept of green, low-carbon and sustainable development has deepened.
The development of Plant-Based Diet is not achieved overnight. In the early days, Plant-Based Diet were mainly to meet the needs of vegetarians and religious groups. With the changes in consumer demand and preferences, especially driven by the concepts of health, environmental protection, and fashion, its development has gradually accelerated.
2020 was hailed by the market as the "explosive year" for the development of Plant-Based Diet, and many companies have laid out related products. In recent years, the advancement of the "dual carbon" strategy and the deepening of the concept of sustainable development have made Plant-Based Diet receive more attention. For example, since entering the Chinese market in 2018, OATLY has quickly gained consumer recognition with its unique technology and product advantages. At the same time, some traditional food companies in China have also begun to get involved in the plant-based field and continue to launch innovative products. Plant-Based Diet have gradually moved from the initial niche choice to the mass consumer market.
The global plant protein market size is expected to grow from US$10.3 billion in 2020 to US$14.5 billion in 2025, and the global plant-based market value is expected to reach US$40.6 billion by 2025.
However, there are also some problems in the development of Plant-Based Diet, such as insufficient innovation, poor taste, high prices, and lack of standards. With the development of the industry, relevant companies should strengthen upstream and downstream cooperation and gradually develop industry standards and national standards to better regulate corporate behavior and solve problems such as prices.
Development background and advantages of Plant-Based Diet
With people's pursuit of healthy life and their concern for environmental protection and sustainable development, Plant-Based Diet have emerged. In addition, scientific and technological progress has also provided strong support for the development of Plant-Based Diet. For example, through genetic engineering and biotechnology, we can cultivate nutritious and pest-resistant genetically modified crops; through food processing technology, we can simulate the taste and flavor of various animal foods.
Plant-Based Diet have many advantages, such as low calories, rich dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, low carbon and environmental protection. Plant-Based Diet are not only good for health, but also help control weight, prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Plant-Based Diet are also environmentally friendly, can reduce the area of animal husbandry industry, and avoid excessive deforestation. Plant-Based Diet are also a better choice for people with lactose intolerance, animal protein allergies, etc.
Plant-Based Diet have significant advantages in environmental protection. Compared with traditional animal food production, the production process of Plant-Based Diet can greatly reduce carbon emissions and water consumption. For example, the land and water resources required to produce plant meat are far less than those of farmed animal meat. The production of Plant-Based Diet does not involve the breeding and reproduction of animals, thereby reducing the occupation of land and damage to the ecological environment. In addition, the greenhouse gas emissions generated during the production of Plant-Based Diet are low, which helps to alleviate global climate change. Taking plant-based dairy products as an example, the carbon footprint of its production process is significantly smaller than that of traditional dairy products. An Austrian study found that replacing 50% of pork, beef, chicken and milk consumption with plant-based products could reduce global agricultural and land use greenhouse gas emissions by 31% in 2050 compared to 2020, and global net destruction of forests and natural lands could be completely stopped.
In-depth study of the nutritional value of Plant-Based Diet
The nutritional value of Plant-Based Diet is unique. The total amount of amino acids in plant proteins is similar to that in animal proteins, but there are differences in the amino acid composition of the two. Most plant proteins have low lysine content and high arginine, threonine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Some plant proteins have low levels of methionine, tryptophan and branched-chain amino acids, which limits the digestibility and biological value of proteins.
However, the digestibility and biological value of plant proteins can be improved through processing techniques, such as germination, soaking, fermentation, etc. The content of unsaturated fatty acids in plant fats is higher than that in animal fats, and the content of saturated fatty acids is lower, but its content of polyunsaturated fatty acids is higher, making it prone to oxidation and deterioration, but it can be improved by selecting appropriate processing techniques and adding antioxidants.
Plant-Based Diet are rich in dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, and are generally lower in fat and cholesterol than animal products. However, some Plant-Based Diet may lack certain key nutrients, such as vitamin B12 and iron, and therefore need to be fortified or eaten with other food sources.
Future trends and innovation directions of Plant-Based Diet
- The market size continues to expand: As people's awareness of health and environmental protection deepens, the market size of Plant-Based Diet will continue to expand. It is predicted that Plant-Based Diet will become a consumption trend worldwide in the next few years.
- Increasingly rich product variety: With the advancement of technology and the diversification of consumer demand, the product variety of Plant-Based Diet will become increasingly rich. In addition to traditional soy products and grain products, more products that imitate animal foods, such as plant meat and plant milk, will appear.
- More complete scientific and technological support: Technology plays a vital role in the development of Plant-Based Diet. In the future, genetic engineering, biotechnology, nanotechnology, etc. will be further applied to the research and development and production of Plant-Based Diet, providing them with stronger technical support.
- Coordinated development of the industrial chain: The development of Plant-Based Diet will promote the coordinated development of industrial chains such as agriculture, food processing, and catering. Agriculture will pay more attention to the quality and nutritional value of crops; food processing companies will increase investment in the research and development and production of Plant-Based Diet; the catering industry will also launch more dishes based on Plant-Based Diet.
- Increased policy support: With the popularization of concepts such as environmental protection and health, governments will increase policy support for Plant-Based Diet, such as providing financial support and tax incentives, to promote its rapid development.
With its healthy, environmentally friendly and sustainable characteristics, Plant-Based Diet will become an important force in the future food industry. Its development is not only beneficial to human health, but also to environmental protection and sustainable development. Therefore, we should pay attention to and support the development of Plant-Based Diet and jointly promote the progress of the food industry.
The direction of new product development of Plant-Based Diet in the future will show a diversified trend
In terms of raw materials, new plant species and ingredients, such as mushrooms and seaweed, will continue to be expanded to bring more unique taste and nutrition to the products.
In terms of product form, in addition to common plant meat and plant milk, there will be more innovative products such as plant-based seafood and plant-based eggs. For example, Beyond Meat launched plant-based crab cakes for the first time in the Chinese market, marking its entry into the plant-based seafood category.
In terms of function, we focus on meeting consumers' health needs, such as developing products with low sugar, low fat, high fiber, and rich in specific nutrients.
Combined with the expansion of consumption scenarios, we develop convenient and personalized products suitable for different scenarios, such as easy-to-carry plant-based snacks and plant-based pre-prepared dishes suitable for the catering industry.
Continuously innovate in taste and texture, and make Plant-Based Diet closer to the taste and flavor of animal products by adding natural spices and improving texture to attract more consumers.
Future market prospects and forecasts for Plant-Based Diet
As a hot trend in the current food field, Plant-Based Diet are showing broad development prospects. With the increase in the number of sub-healthy people around the world, people are paying more and more attention to healthy diets, and Plant-Based Diet have attracted much attention due to their unique advantages.
The increase in the number of sub-healthy people around the world and people's attention to healthy diets have made the plant-based food market show a booming development trend. According to relevant data and reports, the scale of the global plant-based food market continues to expand. In 2019, the global plant-based market value reached US$18.5 billion, and it is expected that the global plant-based scale will exceed US$35.5 billion by 2024. In China, the plant-based food market is also growing rapidly. The average annual growth rate of China's plant milk industry is expected to remain above 20% in the next few years, and the plant milk market is expected to exceed 300 billion yuan in 2025.
The global plant meat market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 15%, and is expected to reach 27.9 billion US dollars in 2025. By 2023, the size of China's plant meat market is expected to reach 13 billion US dollars. The plant-based snack market continues to expand, and it is expected to reach 50 billion US dollars in 2024. With consumers' pursuit of health and sustainable development, Plant-Based Diet are becoming more and more popular, and their market size is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the future.
In terms of product categories, Plant-Based Diet are becoming increasingly diverse. There are not only common categories such as plant meat and plant milk, but also plant-based egg products, plant-based frozen products, plant-based snacks, etc. Among them, the plant-based snack market continues to expand, and it is expected to reach 50 billion US dollars in 2024. In addition, there are also plant-based products in the field of infant food. The younger generation who are accustomed to plant-based diets will create conditions for the growth of Plant-Based Diet in the next few decades and achieve sustainable development.
However, the development of the plant-based food market also faces some challenges. On the one hand, there are still some deficiencies and misunderstandings in consumers' understanding of Plant-Based Diet. To solve this problem, it is necessary to strengthen publicity and education first. Through various channels such as media, social platforms, and popular science activities, consumers can be informed of the nutritional value, health benefits, and environmental advantages of Plant-Based Diet. For example, cooking demonstrations of Plant-Based Diet can be held to show their rich flavors and diverse cooking methods. At the same time, food manufacturers should pay attention to the clarity and accuracy of product labels, clearly mark the ingredients, nutritional value, and production process, so that consumers can intuitively understand the products. In addition, consumer experience activities can also be carried out to allow consumers to taste and feel the deliciousness and advantages of Plant-Based Diet in person. Through these methods, consumers' awareness and acceptance of Plant-Based Diet can be gradually improved. On the other hand, the price of Plant-Based Diet is relatively high, which limits its market popularity to a certain extent. However, with the continuous advancement of technology and the gradual maturity of the market, these problems are expected to be gradually resolved.
As a food category with broad development prospects, Plant-Based Diet have development trends that are worth paying attention to and looking forward to in terms of future market size, consumer awareness, environmental advantages, nutritional value, price, and new product development. With the continuous advancement of technology and the gradual maturity of the market, Plant-Based Diet are expected to bring more innovation and changes to the food industry while meeting people's needs for health, environmental protection, and deliciousness.
This article was independently created and published by Herbfields.net.