Europe has become the world’s largest importing region of quinoa. With quinoa becoming a more common product, its growth now lies in product development and the increasing demand for healthier foods. You can find opportunities in early adopters in Western Europe and the geographic expansion towards the eastern European countries.
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Sesame seeds are a common food product in many European countries. Greece consumes the most sesame per capita, using it in traditional products like tahini and halva. Germany is another major importer, offering opportunities in the bakery industry and for organic sesame for health-oriented consumers. It is a difficult and expensive crop to grow in Europe. The demand creates an ideal opportunity for sustainable and smallholder farmers in tropical and semi-tropical countries.
Our strategy is linked closely to the production chain. Sesame is a crop that requires a lot of manual steps. We work closely together with small producers to make an export-worthy product.
Mijail Loredo, general manager of AgroExport
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Quinoa has caught the attention of many food specialists and its popularity is a direct result of increasing consumer awareness of healthier diets. The novelty of quinoa and the ‘consumption boom’ are now over, but the ancient grain has left a permanent mark on the habits of European consumers. Future opportunities in Europe can be found in product development and the increasing use of quinoa as an ingredient.
Chickpeas have good market potential in Europe beyond traditional consumption in Mediterranean and ethnic South Asian cuisine. The demand for health food and plant protein is driving significant demand for chickpeas in Europe, both for direct consumption and as a food ingredient. At the same time, shifts in global demand for chickpeas have been quite disruptive. This requires some careful navigation, particularly for inexperienced exporters.
Sesame seeds have been used in cooking for centuries. Demand for sesame has grown recently because of increased interest in healthy and vegan diets. This trend is expected to continue. Europe imports almost all of its sesame, which makes it an interesting market for foreign suppliers. However, it is not an easy market to supply. Careful control of salmonella and chemical residues separates successful suppliers from less successful ones.
Teff is a relatively niche product in the European market, but it has serious potential in special bakery and health food segments. Its nutritional and gluten-free value make teff very suitable as an ingredient for the increasing demand in health food, sport nutrition and dietary food. Among the potential markets are the German bakery sector, the gluten-free sector in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands as trade hub in specialty grains.
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Dried Moringa oleifera powder is mainly used in food supplements in the European health products sector. Demand for such products is forecast to grow in the coming years. The main drivers are growing demand for immune-boosting food supplements, plant-based protein, natural energy products and weight management.
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Teff is one of the smallest-sized grains and a staple food in Ethiopia. Teff was initially exported to supply Ethiopians living abroad, but it has caught the interest of many other consumers in Europe. The grain has much potential in the health-focused food segments in Europe, although further promotion of this ancient grain is needed. Becoming a supplier will take the necessary experience in cultivation and processing.
Oleoresins are used in the food industry as alternatives to spices, other flavouring agents and colourants. Europe is a potential market for oleoresins from developing countries because of its strong food processing sector. Western European countries are the most interesting export markets for suppliers of oleoresins, especially as a potential alternative to synthetic additives.
There are many export openings for gums, such as gum arabic and guar gum in the European market. One of the main advantages of gums is their versatility, as they have a wide range of functional properties. Gums are used in many types of food products, including beverages, meats, dairy products, confectionery and bakery products. To enter the European gums market, you must meet the European Union’s mandatory requirements. There use of gums is growing in the European food industry because of the rising demand for weight-loss and gluten-free products.