Global almond supply is ramping up, production is forecast to hit 1.8 million tonnes (shelled), the highest since 2020-21, underpinned by favourable yields in the US, EU and Australia. At the same time, shifting consumer demand toward plant-based and flexitarian diets has elevated almonds as a credible protein source, offering about 21–22g protein per 100g, comparable to many animal proteins.

FSANZ’s acceptance of Aussie, Eden Brew’s BCPP1 submission marks the first time milk protein via precision-fermentation has entered the ANZ regulatory system. This is an exciting moment not only for Eden Brew but for the broader ecosystem of novel-protein developers who now have a concrete pathway to follow.

The Top 20 food-tech companies identified here demonstrate a global move away from “alternative protein” novelty and toward industrial-grade food architecture. This is the beginning of a new supply-chain model.

The rise of herbal tea reflects the collision of ancient wellness culture with modern consumer anxiety. The category has evolved from “grandma’s remedy” to a high-margin, health-driven beverage sector, powered by natural ingredient claims, caffeine-free positioning, and regionally dominant players in Asia-Pacific. Chamomile leads due to bioactive compounds and marketing-friendly health narratives, while packaging innovation and sustainability demands reshape distribution.

A next-generation mycoprotein platform has emerged via CRISPR-engineered Fusarium venenatum, enabling 88% faster biomass production, 44% lower sugar input, and up to 60% lower emissions. This materially shifts cost curves, potentially enabling broader retail penetration and finally addressing alt-protein’s affordability ceiling. The consumer effect is simple: better texture, cheaper protein, and less “processing guilt” compared with traditional isolates.

Korean Temple Food signals a subtle but powerful shift: cultural cuisines rooted in discipline, gratitude, and seasonal plant ingredients are starting to influence the global future-food landscape more than tech-first products. Its rise is being driven by wellness-seeking consumers, sustainability interest among younger demographics, and the “cultural food as lifestyle” wave that’s now spilling across Asia, Europe, and North America. This draws a clean line between plant-base

Brevel’s entry into the chlorella market backed by illuminated-fermentation and full-system control, signals a major shift toward precision-grown microalgae. Purallis is positioned as “pure, stable and customisable,” offering brands unprecedented control over nutritional profiles, contamination risks, and supply reliability.

Global plant-based yogurt demand is expanding at a steady 9.2% annual growth, led by gut-health trends and the normalisation of dairy-free products in mainstream retail. Coconut yogurt remains one of the strongest textural performers, but ANZ brands like Raglan (NZ), COYO (AU), and Coco Bella (AU) operate with a strategic disadvantage: total reliance on imported coconut cream and milk from Thailand and Sri Lanka.

The latest Innova top food trends Insights data cements 2026 as the year when protein innovation must intersect with lifestyle relevance.

The global blueberry demand has officially crossed from “premium fruit” into “everyday health staple.” Consumption is surging in the US, EU, China, and early-stage Asian markets because blueberries slot neatly into the healthy-snacking trend, simple, nutritious, and perceived as “clean.” On the supply side, Peru and Morocco continue reshaping the global export map,

Recent work from the University of Canterbury and the New Zealand Institute of Bioeconomy Science demonstrates a viable methane-to-protein pathway using microalgae–methanotroph cocultures. Yes turning methane into protein.

A hypothetical, Zespri-managed second tier could convert unmanaged volume into structured value while keeping SunGold untouched.

Air India has a new global menu marking a meaningful operational shift: a full integration of vegan, allergen-conscious, and gut-friendly plant-based dishes across cabins. The airline isn’t dabbling, it’s standardising. With a new chef (Sandeep Kalra), refreshed aircraft, and a transformation programme underway, the menu reflects India’s domestic habits and global palate rather than Western plant-based marketing tropes.

Recent data from the Radar consumer panel (n ≈ 20,638) shows overwhelming clarity around plant-based naming conventions: 96% of Dutch consumers instantly recognise “vegaworst” is a vegetarian sausage and 74% prefer terms like “veganburger” over the proposed generic descriptors such as “plant-based patty.”

Norway’s Katapult Ocean has officially invested in Atlantic Fish Co, adding financial weight and strategic validation to a cultivated-fish player developing whole-cut whitefish fillets using fish-cell lines and structured scaffolding. This is a notable signal: a major seafood nation, not just a VC group, is beginning to position itself inside the cell-based seafood ecosystem. The investment also gives Atlantic Fish Co access to Nordic research capability, aquaculture expertis

If successful, the tech could deliver a self-contained food loop for deep-space missions and simultaneously push an Earth-facing agenda of decoupling protein from land/farming. Does this give a whole new meaning to pee protein?

Savoury veggie tea is shaping into a clear micro-category, anchored by real brands already in-market. Millie’s Sipping Broth has made dehydrated vegetable “tea bags” a mainstream, vegan-friendly ritual. GOBBi has built a new lane entirely: caffeinated savoury tea blends designed to replace coffee with tomato, mushroom, miso and green-veg profiles.

Murni signals a structural pivot in Australia’s plant-based landscape: a return to whole-food proteins that can scale without the emissions, cost structures, and cold-chain fragility that sank the last wave of over-processed plant-based brands. Shelf-stable tempeh is a category unlock — low-energy, low-waste, culturally grounded, and immediately viable for retail, meal-kits, canteens, aged care, and regional stores that previously couldn’t handle chilled alt-protein.

Consumer health consciousness + premium snacking is pushing global pistachio demand from commodity to functional demand category. Growth is driven by clean-label preferences, protein-rich options, and Asia-Pacific’s shift toward plant-forward diets. With global value set to hit US$16.1bn, pistachios now signal a broader movement toward natural functional ingredients with cultural crossover appeal.

Crafty Counter’s Protein Buns mark a clear shift in the plant-based category toward functional-first innovation, where products compete on nutritional performance rather than imitation. The move to a hemp-protein scramble with higher protein density than eggs aligns with a broader consumer pivot toward protein-forward, convenient, nutrient-dense formats  slotting easily into real daily routines.