Disruptive technologies are set to revolutionize the consumer goods value chain from automated farms to robot-run shops over the next 10 years. As precision agriculture, plant-based proteins, and AI-driven retail evolve, industries will undergo profound transformations. These innovations, driven by the need for efficiency and sustainability, promise to reshape how we produce, consume, and interact with goods, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData Thematic Intelligence’s latest report, “The Future of Consumer,” identifies several innovations that will completely transform the consumer goods industry. By 2035, the market for precision agriculture will dramatically expand, and the market for meat substitutes will climb from under $10 billion in 2023 to more than $22 billion.
Revenue from service robots will exceed $170 billion by 2030 – more than three times the 2020 figure. As exciting startups materialize and new leaders emerge across the sector, GlobalData highlights the importance of hyper-personalization, robotic automation, and ecological sustainability.
Aoife McGurk, Associate Thematic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As agricultural land and labor levels fall, farming must become more efficient to keep up with population pressures. Vertical farming will provide these efficiency gains in 2035 – especially when enabled by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
“Other less conventional approaches to precision agriculture will also become mainstream. As Bird Control Group’s laser scarecrow has demonstrated, lasers can be used to manage pests without harmful agrochemicals. Lower-tech innovations, like using bees to safely deliver agrochemicals directly to crops, will make precision agriculture accessible to smallholder farmers, supporting food security worldwide.”
At the next stage of the value chain, GlobalData notes that increased climate awareness is driving major changes in food preferences. The shift towards meat-free protein is already accelerating and will not stop any time soon. This has been met with a wave of firms developing these products, like The Better Meat Co. and Redefine Meat, via a combination of technologies like 3D printing and older methods like the fermentation of mycoproteins. AI will also support the reduction of food wastage.
Holly Anness-Bradshaw, Associate Thematic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “People will begin shifting towards non-meat alternatives to reduce carbon emissions. Less water and land are used in the production of proteins, as illustrated by The Better Meat Co. fermenting pea proteins to mimic the protein makeup of chicken and pork. Moreover, alternative protein sources frequently offer healthier options. With a variety of groundbreaking solutions emerging, consumers can now explore unique choices—from proteins created out of thin air to experiencing the taste of a woolly mammoth.”
Regarding retail and ecommerce, GlobalData identifies the super-app as a key innovation. Super-apps combine multiple services in a single platform, either within a single industry or across multiple. The impact of super-apps will be particularly impactful in emerging markets.
Hugo Shapero, Associate Thematic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Super-apps and their AI-powered potential will be transformative for ecommerce and mobile computing. The Middle East and Africa region presents the greatest growth opportunities for super-apps.”
In-store retail and hospitality will incorporate mass automation into their operations, with robots to run stores and restaurants and AI to respond to consumer demand for hyper-personalized products and experiences.
Anness-Bradshaw concludes: “Physical retail and hospitality sectors are poised to embrace robotics and AI. In the US, Caper Carts equipped with weighing sensors and tablets are undergoing trials. These smart carts allow customers to upload shopping lists, receive optimized store routes, and suggest alternatives for out-of-stock items. As customers shop, the cart calculates the total and facilitates payment directly from the cart.”
