TRENOS SiGINT – 2050 Diet Forecast : HelloFresh x Oxford Predict Climate Crops & AI Meals

JC – Analyst12th May, 20252 min read

Summary: HelloFresh UK has collaborated with Oxford climate researcher Dr Joseph Poore and food futurologist Dr Morgaine Gaye to explore what UK diets might look like by 2050. Their diet forecast draws on climate modelling, crop migration trends, and technological shifts in food production and delivery. Outcomes point to a protein pivot, AI meal planning, and climate-resilient crops reshaping Western diets.

Key Drivers:

• Shifting Agricultural Zones: Climate change is pushing traditional growing regions northwards, enabling cultivation of crops like soy, aubergine, and chickpeas in the UK and Northern Europe.

• AI-Driven Consumption: Artificial intelligence is expected to customise nutrition, reduce food waste, and optimise meal kit logistics.

• Ancestral and Novel Foods: Drought-tolerant grains, seaweed, and food waste reformatting (e.g. 3D printing) are positioned as staples.

• Personal Farming & Wearables: Forecast includes growable clothing for herbs and microgreens—"wear your food" becomes literal.

Signal Sources:

• FoodManufacture.co.uk – What Will Be on the British Plate in 2050?

• Vegconomist – Seaweed Noodles & Food-Grown Clothing

TRENOS Metrics Snapshot:

Metric	Value	Note
Climate-Adaptive Crop Demand	Up 60% YoY	Reflects consumer interest in future-resilient ingredients
AI Nutrition Platform Usage	12 million+	Growing traction for AI-personalised food tech
Edible Packaging Investment	$470M (global)	Sustainability drives interest in non-waste food delivery formats
UK Plant-Based Adoption Rate	9% (and rising)	Sign of a shifting palate in response to eco-anxiety and innovation
Functional Grains Market Growth	CAGR 7.5%	Sorghum, buckwheat, millet driving the trend

Link to PFN News Story