A survey of over 200 nutrition professionals has identified nutrigenomics as a trend to follow over the coming year.

The respondents were asked to pick three of the most important trends for the future of the food and drinks industry.

A quarter (26 per cent) identified new personalised assessment technologies as a key long-term trend – more than the number choosing provenance and traceability (19 per cent), transparency (18 per cent), and sustainability (11 per cent).

The research also revealed a sharp increase in interest in nutrigenomics, the science that allows companies to offer consumers nutritional advice based on their DNA. Fourteen per cent of respondents said nutrigenomics would be a key trend over the coming year – up from 8 per cent a year ago.

The findings come from a survey of 218 industry professionals by the organisers of Vitafoods Europe, which takes place between May 15 and May 17 in Palexpo, Geneva. Industry trends will lead the Education Programme at this year’s event, and the opportunities for personalised dietary advice created by nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics will be key topics of the interactive personalised nutrition workshop.

Commenting on the survey findings, Monica Feldman, President of Consumer Health Strategy Inc., said: “Personalised assessments are already driving the next stage of growth for the industry. For example, quick blood panels can reveal nutritional deficiencies, some of them in a few hours. Major advances have been made in nutrigenomic technology, and nutrition companies are increasingly responding to the opportunities. However, there is a lot more to learn to fully provide a reliable picture of nutrition and the role of genetics.”

Meanwhile, the survey suggests there will be a shift in attitudes to gender-targeted marketing of nutrition products. Nearly half (46 per cent) of the industry professionals surveyed said their companies would adopt more gender-neutral marketing over the next ten years, while 11 per cent said there would be more marketing aimed at women, and 5 per cent said there would be more marketing aimed at men.