Hi Europe: Demand Increases for Protein Alternatives, Source of Ingredients and Superfoods

06 Nov 2014 --- Today's consumers are seeking beneficial and functional foods that will provide solutions to their nutritional challenges and their overall health and wellness. They also demand that these ingredients are sustainably sourced. This is resulting in a growing demand for alternative sources of protein and for ingredient suppliers to increase their production of such ingredients and formulation solutions to include the "new" superfoods.

These are just some of the alternative ingredients and nutritional solutions showcased at the forthcoming Health ingredients Europe 2014 in Amsterdam.

Will traditional protein sources be replaced by a cheaper and more sustainable source such as insects? Insects are nutrient-rich and a great source of protein, and around two billion people worldwide already include insects as part of their diet. With the world population predicted to grow to around 9 billion by 2050, it is essential to develop different protein sources. Over 1,000 species of edible insects currently exist, including water beetles, wasps and larvae. Ana Christina Day, Founder & CEO of 4ento, and exhibitor at Hi Europe 2014, shares, "It only takes 1 litre of water to produce 1 kilo of crickets, in comparison to 22,000 litres of water to produce 1 kilo of beef, making insects not only a great source of protein and minerals, but highly sustainable."

Superfoods are often exotic and offer the consumer a number of advantages, such as nutrient density or cardiovascular benefits. Not all superfoods are new; some have undergone further development. For example, Hi Europe exhibitor DSM, has developed a chocolate bar containing magnesium, L-tryptophan, GABA and L-Theanine. These ingredients reduce stress, elevate mood and help support brain function. A chocolate bar has now become a superfood!

Georgina Smith, Marketing Director for the Food ingredients Portfolio states, "Today's consumers no longer find the '5 fruit and veg a day' message relevant. Consumers now want to know where their food is sourced, how it is prepared and if the food provides them with an added extra and a super-boost of health, energy and the vitamins they need to help them perform and feel better. It is also evident through market research that these consumers will pay more for such food and those food manufacturers that meet these requirements will be highly successful. Hi Europe provides a unique and innovative platform for food manufacturers to find the key ingredients to enhance their current product offerings and to help drive innovation in this imminently booming market."

To capture these market trends, Hi Europe and Ni will provide a global meeting place and platform for buyers and sellers in the health and wellness ingredients industry. The show will take place on 2-4 December 2014, at Amsterdam RAI, The Netherlands. It will highlight ingredients and solutions for food and drink formulation and reformulation, dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, organics, and packaging and processing. The show attracts a global audience of over 8,000 attendees from the health and natural ingredients industries.