The US Department of Agriculture has released a report discussing the trends influencing the changes in the global food market.

The report emphasises a need to understand changing consumer preferences, the different preferences in different consumer markets and the efforts necessary to meet this demand on a global level. According to the report, some of the contributing factors to the changing dynamics in global food markets are demand for variety, food safety and quality in developed countries.

The major factors in changing developing country demands are an increase in population and per capita food demand, and increased sales of high-value foods. The report stresses that, in a global market where one manufacturer caters to many diverse consumers, there is need to reconcile the value-based demands of developing countries with the quality-based demands of developed markets.