Sustainable nutrition, with a focus on bio & organic products, is accelerating the adoption of alternative food sources and advanced production methods.
Far from a temporary trend, it represents a strategic transformation essential for securing long-term growth and resilience in the food sector.
A recent market research report by Meticulous Research forecasts substantial growth in the global organic food market. The sector is expected to reach a value of USD324.1bn by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period. Se
veral factors are driving this market expansion, including an increasing number of health-conscious consumers, rising demand for clean-label products, and support from both government and non-government organizations for organic farming. Additionally, changing lifestyles and growing disposable incomes are anticipated to create further opportunities for market growth.
The rapid growth in this category is attributed to rising health and wellness trends, increased demand for fresh organic products, and a growing variety of organic offerings across various sales channels. In terms of distribution channels, e-commerce is predicted to show the most rapid growth, with a CAGR of 15.3% during the forecast period.
This growth is driven by the convenience of online shopping, greater discounts compared to physical stores, increasing preference for personalization, and a wider product selection experience. Among process categories, unprocessed organic foods are expected to dominate the market. This leadership is attributed to an expanding vegetarian population, growing demand for minimally processed organic products, and consumer concerns about additives in processed foods.
Start-ups are joining the revolution
The interest towards start-ups and early-stage companies looking to inject new ideas for cleaner, more natural food ingredients is also rising.
One example comes from Celleste Bio, an early-stage cocoa-tech company, which recently announced the closing of a USD4.5m seed financing round led by Supply Change Capital, with participation from Mondelēz International’s SnackFutures Ventures, Consensus Business Group, The Trendlines Group, Barrel Ventures and Regba Agriculture. Celleste will use the funding to accelerate R&D, infrastructure, and technological capabilities needed to pilot and scale production of its cell-cultured cocoa ingredients.
Celleste was founded in 2022 to meet the world’s rising demand for chocolate in the face of supply chain challenges created by climate change and outdated, conventional farming practices. Celleste uses a combination of AgTech, BioTech and AI computational models to grow 100% natural cocoa from one or two beans in optimal, controlled conditions, year-round. “Climate change and conventional farming practices are depleting our rainforests – resulting in unprecedented environmental and financial challenges to grow enough cocoa to meet the needs of a USD100b – and growing – chocolate industry,” said Michal Beressi Golomb, CEO of Celleste Bio.
“This round provides us with the financial and strategic support we need to accelerate product development, scalability and commercial readiness.” Supply Change Capital, an early-stage firm investing in technology to transform the food system, led the round. “Climate change is significantly impacting cocoa supplies, with prices reaching four times their historic highs this year, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions,” said Shayna Harris, co-founder and managing partner at Supply Change Capital.
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