New research based on ADM's far-reaching global network highlights trending focus areas for consumers around the world

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CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– ADM (ADM:NYSE), a global leader in human and animal nutrition, unveiled today its third annual outlook on the global consumer trends that will shape the food, beverage, and animal nutrition industries and drive market growth in the years ahead.

Dissecting the intersection of health and well-being, sustainability, and food security, ADM has identified eight spaces that detail consumers’ evolving behaviors, attitudes, and aspirations. The eight areas serve as anchor points to inspire innovation, ushering in a new wave of products and services for 2023.

“Often interconnected, these key themes are permeating throughout consumers’ choices, demands, and expectations of brands,” said Brad Schwan, vice president of marketing for ADM. “The desire for a healthy mind, body, and soul, as well as the global community and planet, is manifesting in proactive and decisive conscientious consumption across categories. As consumers look to prioritize what is most important to them, they want nutrition brands to do the same. Companies that can nimbly evolve alongside consumers are poised for success in the coming year and beyond.”

Below are the eight global consumer trends identified by ADM that are powering purposeful design and ingenuity for the human, animal, and pet nutrition and throughout supply chains.

Expanded Protein Choices

More than half (52%) of global consumers now consider themselves flexitarians, incorporating both animal-based and plant-based or other alternative proteins into their diet¹. Within that 52 percent, nearly two-thirds are defining their eating style as “trying to use more plant-based foods,” leading to more demand for expanded protein options¹. As technology natives Gen Z and Gen Alpha grow up, acceptance of applying scientific advancements to make our food will continue to become more commonplace, and practices like cellular agriculture, precision fermentation, hybrid products, and those with insect-based protein, are likely to flourish.

Consumers increasingly see balanced wellness, with emotional, mental, physical, and even spiritual health, as being intertwined and as important as each other. Consumers are adopting a synergistic approach and making intentional and mindful choices about how they eat and spend their time to address energy levels, disease prevention, and overall mood and feeling. Globally, 79 percent of consumers believe that supporting their mental health positively affects their overall health and wellness¹. Plus, 48 percent of global consumers plan to address their mental well-being over the next year, making the issue among their top concerns after immune function, digestive, and heart health².

Proactive Personalization

What works for one person’s wellness may not be ideal for another’s. A “one size fits all” strategy for health and eating has fallen away in favor of tailored, “better for me” approaches. In fact, 63 percent of global consumers say they are interested in food and drink products customized to meet their individual nutritional needs³.

On top of that, 55 percent of global consumers say they are willing to spend more on functional foods that can support their health goals¹. Additionally, these personalized solutions would ideally integrate into one’s lifestyle and consider taste and cultural preferences.

Trust and Traceability

From soil to table, consumers want to know where their food comes from, who made it, and precisely what ingredients are included. They want to know how the product was produced and if the conditions of its production were humane. Some headway has been made in garnering consumer trust, with research showing that 42 percent of global consumers have become more trusting of environmental claims made by products and brands in the last two years⁴.

This need for transparency is borne not only from food safety concerns but also from a desire for connection with the food and the communities that grow or make it. As such, consumers are looking to support companies they perceive as honest and authentic, and that utilize technology like QR codes or blockchain to allow the traceability of products and ingredients to their origins.

Earth-Friendly Production

Globally, 49 percent of consumers claim to have changed their diet in the last two years to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle⁴. They’re also demanding a higher standard from the companies they purchase from regarding their environmentally conscious practices. Consumers are greatly focusing on reducing their own food waste⁴, and they will expect the same from the brands they support. Consumers want proof of environmental rebuilding and restoration, as well.

Using their voices and purchasing power, consumers demand that companies practice fair and humane treatment of the people and animals involved in every aspect of production.

Almost 30 percent of global consumers have actively boycotted a product or brand because of its ethical credentials, and 40 percent seek out brands that guarantee farmers have been treated in an ethical manner⁴.

Ensuring workers’ and farmers’ livelihoods, employing inclusivity and diversity methods throughout the organization, and keeping products affordable and accessible to the end user are all critical considerations for modern consumers when purchasing decisions.

Experiential Eating

Increasingly, global consumers are getting more adventurous with their food, as 74% express a desire to try new flavors from around the world, and 63 percent report they like to be experimental when cooking⁶. While seeking out new and interesting flavor profiles, eaters also want to engage with fun and playful brands as part of the experience. If those brands can encourage participation through co-creation and virtual experiences, loyalty can be won with the sense of community it creates and the entertainment it provides.

From health and wellness for both people and their pets to environmental considerations and elevated consumption occasions, these eight trend spaces present opportunities for innovative, forward-thinking companies to meet the evolving needs of consumers today. ADM is at the forefront of each of these areas, supporting brands in creating novel offerings as a leading full-service supplier coupled with a deep pantry of ingredients and solutions, a global team of trendspotters, technical experts, scientists, and more.

About ADM

ADM unlocks the power of nature to enrich the quality of life. We’re a premier global human and animal nutrition company, delivering solutions today with an eye to the future. We’re blazing new trails in health and well-being as our scientists develop groundbreaking products to support healthier living.

We’re a cutting-edge innovator leading the way to a new future of plant-based consumer and industrial solutions to replace petroleum-based products. We’re an unmatched agricultural supply chain manager and processor, providing food security by connecting local needs with global capabilities. And we’re a leader in sustainability, scaling across entire value chains to help decarbonize our industry and safeguard our planet. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional and sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. Learn more at www.adm.com.