Global agriculture has been undergoing significant changes in recent years. The increasing influence of environmental factors, the rapid development of digital technologies and the growing demand for healthy food create new opportunities and challenges at the same time. In this context, FoodNet: Trends and Barriers to Development reveals what key trends and obstacles the agricultural sector is facing.
Medium and long-term trends show how organic and biodynamic agriculture is developing. Organic products occupy an increasing share of the shelves in developed countries, and digital solutions are already reducing the costs of standard operations by 20-40%. But at the same time, new barriers are emerging. The lack of technologies to control nutrient release and the non-recognition of Russian organics at the international level create serious barriers to sustainable development.
On the other hand, smart and highly productive agriculture is also showing impressive progress. Agricultural production is set to grow by 60-70% by 2050, but achieving this requires the introduction of high-yielding varieties, genetic technologies and active robotisation. However, the sector also faces challenges: lack of skilled labour, outdated regulatory constraints and poor infrastructure are hampering growth.
In addition, the agricultural sector is shifting towards alternative sources of raw materials and food. It is predicted that protein consumption will increase by 50% by 2050, and agriculture accounts for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. However, technological dependency on imports and the lack of regulations for new products remain major challenges.
Another interesting trend is the growing popularity of personalised and specialised nutrition. It is expected that by 2040, functional therapeutic foods will account for up to 30% of sales in developed countries, and the availability of genomic tests will increase significantly. But even here, barriers arise due to an outdated regulatory framework and a shortage of specialists.
Finally, smart supply chains are becoming an integral part of the modern food industry. Food waste reduction and active robotisation are key goals for the coming years. However, the lack of low-cost automation technologies and weak business interest in recycling remain significant barriers.
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