Food encapsulation market set for major growth due to increasing demand for functional and fortified foods
The food encapsulation market is estimated to be valued at USD 18.77 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 33.23 Billion by 2031, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.5% over the forecast period. The market is witnessing high growth owing to increasing demand for functional and fortified foods. Furthermore, food encapsulation helps protect ingredients from oxidation, moisture, and other degradation factors during the processing, distribution, and storage of food products.
The growth of the food encapsulation market is driven by increasing demand for functional and fortified foods. Food encapsulation helps improve the solubility, stability, and shelf life of functional ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics when added to food products. This increases their effectiveness and bioavailability. Furthermore, advancements in microencapsulation technology have enabled the development of more efficient wall materials that can better protect core ingredients. This has expanded the applications of food encapsulation in bakery, confectionery, snacks, and other industries. Another major driver is rising awareness about the role of certain ingredients in disease prevention and treatment. This is spurring the demand for foods with added health benefits. Advancements in encapsulation techniques allow the stable and targeted release of such ingredients.
Rising Demand for Functional and Fortified Foods is Driving the Food Encapsulation Market
Consumer demand for functional and fortified foods is increasing significantly. These foods provide added health benefits such as improved nutrient absorption, probiotic effects, and prevention of food-borne illnesses. Food encapsulation helps create these functional and fortified foods by protecting active ingredients from harsh manufacturing and storage conditions. It allows for the targeted release of nutrients, probiotics, enzymes, flavors, and other active ingredients in specific parts of the digestive system. With the growing health consciousness among consumers, food companies are focusing more on developing functional and fortified foods using encapsulation techniques which is driving the market growth.
Increasing Demand for Taste Masking and Improving Shelf Life is Augmenting Market Growth
Food encapsulation is widely used for the taste masking of bitter or unpleasant tasting active ingredients in functional foods. It helps improve the palatability of fortified foods. Encapsulation also helps protect active ingredients like probiotics, vitamins, and minerals from degradation during processing and storage. This increases the shelf life of foods. The need for taste masking and longer shelf life is increasing with growing demand for convenient nutrition-rich packaged foods. This is propelling the use of encapsulation technologies by food manufacturers to retain the nutritional value of foods for a longer duration which is fueling market expansion.
Stringent Regulations on Use of Encapsulating Agents Pose a Challenge
Food encapsulation uses various synthetic and natural polymers as encapsulating agents. However, stringent regulations on the permitted levels of various synthetic polymers in foods pose a challenge for encapsulation for product developers and manufacturers. Regulations limit the types and quantities of encapsulating agents that can be used based on their potential toxicity. This complicates the formulation process and increases production costs. Complying with evolving global food safety regulations requires extensive research and testing which restrains the market growth to some extent.
High Capital Requirements for Setting up Encapsulation Facilities Hampers Market Growth
Setting up food encapsulation facilities involves high initial capital investments for acquiring technology, equipment, and machinery. The requirements for process and product development, quality control labs, and scaling up production also demand significant capital investments. This deters many small and medium food manufacturers from adopting encapsulation technologies. The ongoing need for equipment upgrades and technology advancements further increases operational costs. The high capital requirements pose a major challenge, especially for new market entrants which limits the expansion of the food encapsulation market.
Growing Demand for Convenience Foods Present Lucrative Opportunities
The fast-paced consumer lifestyles and increasing number of working women have boosted the demand for convenient packaged and ready-to-eat foods. However, the nutritional quality of convenience foods needs to be improved. Food encapsulation provides an effective solution for developing convenient yet nutrition-rich foods. Encapsulation helps fortify convenience foods with essential nutrients, probiotics, prebiotics, and omega-3s without changing the taste or texture. It also allows probiotic bacteria and other live cultures to remain viable for longer in convenient snack and meal replacement products. This expanding market for convenience foods presents significant opportunities for the growth of the food encapsulation industry.
Emerging Markets Offer Huge Growth Potential
Developed markets have nearly reached saturation, making emerging Asian, African, and Latin American countries the new hotspots for future market growth. The rising disposable incomes, growing health awareness, and increasing demand for packaged foods in developing nations offer extensive opportunities for food encapsulation technology providers and product manufacturers. As living standards rise in emerging countries, the focus on health, nutrition, and quality of foods will increase rapidly over the coming years. This provides a platform for the wider adoption of functional and fortified food products using encapsulation which can propel future market expansion.
Link: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/food-encapsulation-market-3673
Key Developments
- In June 2022, Balchem Corporation, a company specializing in food encapsulation, announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Kappa Bioscience AS. Kappa Bioscience, based in Oslo, Norway, is a prominent manufacturer of specialty vitamin K2, focusing on the human nutrition sector.
- In April 2022, Balchem Corporation published its 2021 Sustainability Report, highlighting the company's dedication to managing its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance.
Key Players
Givaudan, Cargill, Incorporated, BASF SE, Kerry, DSM, Ingredion, Symrise, Sensient, Balchem, International Flavors & Fragrances INC., Firmenich SA, FrieslandCampina, TasteTech, LycoRed Corp, Ronald T Dodge Company, Blue California, AnaBio Technologies, Sphera Encapsulation, Reed Pacific, and Aveka
