Changing consumer demands in non-food products – What are the implications for the agro-industrial businesses and their product development?

Abstract

Changing consumer demands always significantly impact product design and manufacturing methods, and this is increasingly true in the case of non-food products. This article looks at some of the challenges and opportunities for the supply of agricultural-based products into this market sector. The interest in green chemistry has been revitalised into a new renaissance with the ever growing consumer search for natural, sustainable lifestyles and products to match these expectations. When this is combined with a changing regulatory situation, raw material supply issues and considerably greater concern for the environment, a new picture emerges. This trend follows the path of food ingredient development, with the deliberate change to products manufactured with identified environmental care and utilising demonstrably natural components. For industries such as starch and sugar, exploration of these areas of development present real opportunities.