Food companies are focusing on launching 'Low-spec food' products at the beginning of the year.

Low-spec food aims to reduce calories, sugar, alcohol, chemical additives, and more, while maintaining taste as similar as possible to the original. With the rising 'Healthy Pleasure' trend and the government’s comprehensive plan to reduce sodium and sugar, an increase in sales is expected.

According to the food industry on the 20th, products in the highly competitive low-sodium (low-salt) category are dominated by 'ham', the epitome of salty flavors. Among them, the low-sodium competition in processed meat products such as Spam, which are popular as side dishes for rice, is intense. As the low-spec food trend becomes the mainstream, more companies are launching separate low-sodium processed meat product lines.

Following last year, global investors have shown continued strong interest in Europe’s foodtech industry this year. For foodtech startups with solid technological capabilities, investments of several hundred billion Korean won are the baseline, and companies that have also optimized their operations are receiving investments in the range of one trillion Korean won, even in their Series A rounds.

According to industry sources on the 17th, “Formo,” a German company developing alternative protein products, secured a $35.8 million (approximately 52.5 billion KRW) venture loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). This comes just four months after raising a $61 million (approximately 88.8 billion KRW) Series B investment from leading global investors.

The main reasons global investors are focusing on Europe’s foodtech industry include:

• The growth potential of the foodtech sector
• Europe’s strong foodtech ecosystem
• The strong commitment of European companies towards sustainability, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), and combating climate change
• Increasing consumer demand for alternative foods in Europe.

Chungbuk National University’s Department of Animal Science announced on the 22nd that it successfully hosted a seminar titled 'The Future of Cultured Foods: Cell Cultivation Technology and Biotechnology Innovation' on the 13th.

The seminar, organized by the Department of Animal Science and supported by the 4th Phase BK21 project, was attended by about 20 participants. The event aimed to share the latest research trends in cultured meat technology and biotechnology innovations, as well as discuss the development directions and challenges facing the related industry.

Professor Choi Jeong-seok of the Department of Animal Science at Chungbuk National University emphasized, "Through this seminar, we were able to demonstrate how cell cultivation technology could become a key technology in future food systems by merging the two goals of biotechnology and sustainable food production." He added, "It served as an opportunity to re-evaluate the potential of cultured meat.

기후 변화로 인한 식량난에 대한 걱정이 커지면서 미래 식재료에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 반려동물도 식량난을 피할 수 없다. 최근 펫푸드도 환경 보호와 반려동물의 건강을 고려해 곤충과 식물성 단백질이 대체 단백질 트렌드로 부상하고 있다.

전통적으로 소, 돼지, 닭 등 가축에서 추출한 동물성 단백질이 반려동물 사료의 주원료로 사용돼 왔다. 그러나 축산업은 막대한 에너지와 자원을 소모하며 이 과정에서 발생하는 온실가스는 주요 환경오염 요인으로 지적됐다. 반면 곤충은 적은 양의 물과 자원으로 대량 생산이 가능하고 온실가스 배출량이 낮다는 장점이 있다.

영양학적 장점도 주목할 만하다. 곤충은 단백질, 필수 아미노산, 무기질을 풍부하게 함유하고 있어 성장기와 노령기의 반려동물에게 적합하다. 특히 반려동물이 기존 사료에 알레르기 반응을 보인다면 새로운 단백질원인 비노출 단백질이 다량 함유돼 알레르기를 예방하고 치료하는 데 도움이 될 수 있다.

As concerns over food shortages due to climate change grow, there is increasing interest in alternative food sources for both humans and pets. Recently, insect and plant-based proteins have emerged as trending alternatives in the pet food industry, focusing on environmental protection and pet health.

Traditionally, animal-based proteins derived from livestock such as cows, pigs, and chickens have been the primary ingredients in pet food. However, the livestock industry is resource-intensive, consuming vast amounts of energy and water while emitting significant greenhouse gases, a major contributor to environmental pollution.

In contrast, insects offer numerous advantages: they require minimal water and resources for mass production and emit far fewer greenhouse gases.

From a nutritional perspective, insects are rich in protein, essential amino acids, and minerals, making them suitable for pets at various life stages, including growth and old age. Additionally, for pets with allergies to conventional pet food, insect protein—classified as a novel protein—can help prevent and manage allergic reactions.