Dec 18 2023
Vegetales' Insights: Mapping Spain's Plant-Based Industry
Vegetales, the Spanish Association of Plant-Based Food and Beverage Producers, unveiled its inaugural report on the state of the plant-based industry in Spain during its annual event in Madrid. The report emphasizes the urgent need for tailored regulations to support the continued growth of plant-based consumption.
Drawing insights from experts across the industry's value chain, the report covers raw materials, research and development, nutritional components, and distribution.
The report is structured into three key sections. The introduction places the Spanish context within the European framework and reviews existing regulations. The product-focused section analyzes the sourcing of raw materials, their transformation through research and development, and their nutritional components. The industry section delves into distribution, innovation, and internationalization. The final section explores consumer profiles and their motivations for choosing plant-based products.
While there is a growing emphasis on health and sustainability among consumers, the report notes a recent reversal in the trend, with a decrease in the number of vegetarians in Spain between 2021 and 2023.
Vegetales aims to collaborate with governmental bodies, particularly the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food, and Consumption, to address the challenges outlined in the report. These challenges include the need for increased research and development support and enhanced agricultural resources to ensure a robust supply of raw materials in Spain.
