Superfood: a trend of innovation and awareness

On November 9th and 10th we were protagonists at B-Open Trade , a trade fair for certified organic operators . In addition to being a great experience that allowed us to meet shopkeepers, associations and colleagues from other product categories, we were also able to talk about our favorite topic – superfood – at two conferences, together with the Italian Organic Association .

THE superfoods, in fact, are a real trend today but this should not be understood only as a "fashion". It is a market trend, which denotes the great attention and awareness of consumers.

The Evolved Consumer in the Post-Pandemic Scenario

Also thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led us to rediscover home-cooked food and the value of nutrition as a support for good health, we are all more careful about what we put in our shopping cart and on our plate.

These data clearly emerge from many researches, for example from a study by Astra Research (September 2021), according to which Italians are increasing their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables , and decreasing the presence of meat, dairy products, processed foods and alcohol on their tables.

Not only that, according to Nielsen surveys at the end of 2020, consumers are increasingly attentive to sustainability and the environment: a good 78% of Italians say they are willing to pay a little more for a food product if they are sure that it is more ecological and respectful of the Planet.

Superfood as Food Innovation and the Future of the Planet

Our beloved superfoods, both those in our range and many others that we do not yet have among our products – but that we are studying for you! – are a great resource for humanity. No, we are not exaggerating, and scientific research proves it more and more.

An example? Many of these super vegetables are capable of absorb CO2 : spirulina algae, for example, used in Valdelsa to reclaim entire industrial areas, or marine wheat, recently discovered by a Spanish chef.

Another peculiar characteristic of superfoods is their adaptability and strength. Being ancient and robust plants, native to their regions, They are able to grow luxuriantly even in extreme climates , as demonstrated for example by the Biosaline Agriculture Centre in Dubai in a recent study on the cultivation of salicornia in the desert.

This means that, even if our beautiful Planet were to continue on its path of overheating – and we must ALL commit ourselves to ensure that this does not happen and the trend is reversed! – probably this type of resistant vegetables will be of help to us for our diet.

Finally, a truly “space” note: the world's space agencies are studying in particular the spirulina , why This superalgam is capable of growing even in the absence of gravity , and could therefore be a fundamental resource for space exploration and our approach to Mars!