Trends

Digital transformation is the key to the future of food and agriculture. New partnerships like one between Bayer and Microsoft can help enable advancement of digital transformation in agriculture. This strategic partnership will work to build a new cloud-based set of digital tools and data science solutions for use across the food and agriculture industry.

By 2050, the world’s population will reach 9.6 billion with 65% of us living in urban areas. Our land, water, soil, and environment are all under siege and the USDA says that climate change is going to create challenges for farmers. Add on the shortage of farm labor and truckers and it’s easy to see why indoor farming is a necessity.

Summer is here and your customers will be on the lookout for easy recipes that keep them out of the kitchen and enjoying the outdoors. From road trips, to camping to grilling, make your store the destination spot for simple, nourishing summer meal ideas.

While on a recent vacation in Ireland, of course I had to check out the local grocery stores. I am sure many of you do the same thing while vacationing! Click through the slideshow above to gain an understanding of how Irish grocery stores are bringing healthy living to their shoppers, based on my visits to SuperValu stores, of which there are more than 200 in Ireland.

In Marana, AZ, Bayer’s newest seven-acre greenhouse facility is a smart site aimed at driving tailored solutions for the future of agriculture. At Marana, the focus is on corn – supporting precision breeding initiatives and the production of new varieties. This site leverages the latest in automation to optimize plant density and workflow. With technological innovation, plant breeding is data driven with sustainability at its heart.

In March of this year, JAMA Pediatrics reported that nearly 30% of adolescents, teens in the U.S. have prediabetes. This alarming rise signals that many of them will be on the path to full-blown diabetes as they reach adulthood. This study includes just over 40% of young people who are obese and indicates that the prevalence for prediabetes has more than doubled since 1999 for adolescents who live in poverty. These striking statistics may provide an opportunity for retail dietitians to partner with communities to offer solutions. Here are some potential strategies for intervention:

The metaverse is a lot more than just the latest fad or a way for tech companies to earn huge dollars from retailers and brands to experiment with the latest cool idea (that may or may not become a reality). The metaverse has been around for a couple decades and was born in the gaming world, evolved back in 2003 into Second Life and then took a set back a bit when Google introduced Google Glass in 2013. Perhaps shoppers were not ready for the technology, or it was too clunky, unstable or expensive. Now, that’s all changed.

Gut health has received a lot of attention over the past several years as new research connects the microbiome to immune support and overall health. Recently there has been a new addition to the dialog around gut health: Postbiotics. This article reviews what postbiotics are, potential health benefits and ways to promote them to customers.

Have you been hearing more about “carbon” lately, or perhaps even “decarbonization”?  Along the food value chain, more emphasis is being placed on creating more sustainable practices, which can include decarbonization.

Regenerative agriculture is a hot topic in professional circles. Read on to learn five things you need to know about it.