In this tech-driven society, it’s unsurprising that tech has been making waves in the food industry. We’ve seen advancements such as delivery apps for restaurants and supermarkets, digital menus in restaurants, and even purely online food businesses that don’t have physical locations. But what other, more obscure, yet innovative tech developments are occurring in the F&B industry?
- Personalised Nutrition
In the future, there will be more services offering nutrition that accounts for both genetic and environmental factors to maximize the nutritional value of certain diets for consumers. Companies like Sun Genomics test tailor probiotics by sequencing the human gut and analyzing the distribution of the different types of microbes. An increase in food allergies and intolerances worldwide will also give a boost to this trend. Meal plans such as Platejoy offers solutions by providing meal plans tailored to specific diets and cooking habits, in addition to integrating nutritional data with health tracking devices. - Self-service Kiosks or Vending Machines
People are mobile and constantly on the go. As time becomes more of a luxury than a commodity, the mobile snacking trend continues to rise. Self-service kiosks and vending machines that are accessible 24/7 are becoming the new norm. Japan pioneered this trend and caught the attention of the global market with their vending machines across its cities, which provided consumers with both convenience and quality. Restaurants are implementing more self-service Kiosks, as seen in many McDonald’s outlets, while vending machines are being innovated to produce more complex food orders. - 3D Printed Food
While 3D food printing is still an expensive and time-intensive method of food production, many have begun investing in this method due to the increasing demand for plant-based meat products. This is due to its efficacy and ability to replicate the texture of meat. As such, it is predicted that innovations in 3D food printing technology will see a surge in 2020. - Vertical Farming
Current agricultural practices are proving unsustainable for the growing population. In hopes of reinventing traditional farming to meet rising demands for food, vertical farming, an umbrella term for crops grown in urban areas, was invented. Being able to grow and harvest crops in indoor urban spaces would lessen the dependence of food import for cities that lack land, use less water, and produce a 200-400% higher yield. While it is still a fairly new concept that requires large amounts of energy, the concept is growing in popularity in urban areas.