WattAgNet: 5 things global consumers want to know about food03-02-2017
Trends that originated in Europe and the US are going global, and food producers should take notice or risk being left behind. Consumers around the world are demanding to know more, and feel better about, the origin of their foods. In November 2016, Alejandro Romero, general director of Mexican agricultural consulting group Zoo Inc., spoke about how emerging consumer trends will shape the future of the Latin American poultry industry. Romero spoke as part of the XXIV Poultry Farming Summit of Central America and the Caribbean in La Antigua, Guatemala. Trends that originated with consumers in Europe and the United States are now spreading to around the world. Romero said poultry companies must be aware of the changing trends and adjust their behavior to ensure long term relevance with the consumer of the future. Worldwide poultry producers are being challenged by growing demand for reduced use of antibiotics and better animal welfare. At the same time, they are tasked with playing a key role in feeding the ever-growing global population’s demand for animal protein. Romero identified five key traits consumers want to see in their food that poultry companies need to know about to stay relevant in the future. In their general purchasing habits, consumers value the best quality and a product that reflects commitment to the environment's health. They are worried about the authenticity of their food; its origin and how it’s processed; its environmental sustainability; and its effects on their health. |