Sustainability is the most cutting-edge movement that has ever sparked advancements in food science and technology. More specifically, the urgent need to produce 60 per cent more food to feed a projected 9.3 billion people worldwide by 2050 is progressively driving the development of next-generation food production and processing technologies.

While it is undoubtedly an exciting time because there are chances for expansion in all the food and beverage sectors. In order to succeed, one must have a thorough awareness of the many components in operation.

And to aid you in your efforts to prepare for 2023, we’ve come up with this list of the food processing industry trends that demand your attention.

1. Alt-Protein Technologies

The rapidly expanding plant-based industry has, almost predictably, run into some obstacles, prompting a shift in attention to the demands of customers for high-quality, flavorful products. In 2023, green gastronomy is likely to emerge as a stand-alone industry rather than just a copy, providing a substantial opportunity for firms to diversify and grow.

Experts note that there is a pressing need for the quick development of a variety of sustainable alternative protein food technologies, including precision and biomass fermentation, 3-D printing, enzymatic and molecular biology techniques, and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. This is true regardless of whether the alternative protein is plant-based, mycoprotein, cultured meat and seafood, or edible insects.

2. Technologies for Digital Transformation

Over the years, some sectors of the food and beverage processing industries have been slower to adopt Industry 4.0, or digital transformation, but the COVID-19 epidemic and labour shortages are pushing adoption to new heights in production facilities. The four fundamental tenets of digital transformation—data collection and analysis, connection, continuous monitoring, and process optimization—present many opportunities for technological advancement, particularly in the form of machine and software automation.

3. Outer space

The next trend is that space will become a source of hope, creativity, and connectivity as Earth experiences increasing upheaval.

As a result of emerging technologies like resource-efficient agriculture and protein powder, food and beverage manufacturers will have access to a greater range of space-inspired themes. These innovations may also be valuable on Earth as astronauts need food and drink options that can support long-duration space journeys.

4. Technologies for Food Safety

Innovative food safety technologies may not appear to be directly tied to a food company's sustainability efforts at first, but their adoption can benefit a processor's environmental objectives while improving food protection systems.

Light-based disinfection technology is a fantastic illustration of how technology may improve food safety while minimising the environmental impact of food production. Moreover, it has been discovered that UV and LED disinfection methods utilise less water and fewer chemicals for food processing and environmental sanitation applications.

5. A Modern Drainage System

In all food and beverage manufacturing plants, new forms of drainage systems offer increased safety and sanitation.

The 10,000 Series Slot Drain system is temperature, corrosion, odour, and bacteria resistant thanks to its construction of extremely durable, food-grade stainless steel. With a Load Class E rating for heavy duty equipment, the system can endure high flow rates and high forklift usage.

The best part is that Slot Drain offers automated cleaning choices like Flush-Flo and clean-in-place considerations and is quick and simple to clean and maintain.

6. Forward Osmosis

The concentration process in food processing facilities helps keep food products fresh long enough to reach consumers.

A "gentler" method of food concentration that uses less energy and no heat is forward osmosis. Additionally, this encourages food to naturally retain more of its vitamins and proteins throughout processing. Comparing the final product to those created using conventional concentration techniques, it is of greater quality.

Final word

Every year brings with it new trends and developments in the field of food technology. No matter how insignificant a change may appear, it can nonetheless have a big and long-lasting effect on the market.