The producer of ingredients Frutafit inulin and Frutalose oligofructose, head quartered in the Netherlands, says its planned investments will be matched by increased acreage for chicory roots with its farmer base.
Consumer demand for plant-based, natural, better-for-you foods, especially those positively affecting gut and immune health, has received an extra boost during the global pandemic, according to the firm.
But even before COVID-19 came into play, food and beverage consultant Julian Mellentin predicted that 2020 would be 'the year of inulin'.
Business Research firm Graphical Research also reported earlier this year that the consumer buzz for boosting 'good' gut bacteria will see Europe's prebiotics market value exceed $3.5 Billion by 2026. It further predicted that the global prebiotics industry size may record a compound annual growth rate of 9.5% till 2026.
“Rising public awareness, particularly in the Europe region, regarding the significance of fiber and high-quality protein consumption, in order to maintain ideal nutritional levels is expected to spur the growth of the prebiotics industry," said Saloni Walimbe, Graphical Research content writer.
"In fact, according to estimates from credible sources, the Europe prebiotics market is anticipated to surpass a valuation of nearly $3.5 billion by 2026.”
The prebiotics ingredients in the European market are categorised into fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), mannan oligosaccharide (MOS), and inulin, most of which are naturally occurring substances in a variety of foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, etc.
Of these, inulin prebiotics, extracted from chicory root fibre, are gaining tremendous prominence across various applications, most notably food and nutrition, especially in Europe.
Because of its unique properties, chicory root fibre is also helpful for improving the taste and texture of plant-based products.