The trend of healthier diets is likely to positively impact the demand for spices such as curcuma longa. The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom remain the main markets for Curcuma longa in Europe. However, the UK has lost its leading position in the European curcuma trade. It used to be the hub for trade, processing and distribution of this spice to other European countries, but since Brexit in 2020 this has changed considerably.

Digitalisation is already a part of our normal daily lives, not only in Europe but worldwide. It is also becoming increasingly important in the sourcing of spices and herbs. New trends include the use of sensors, digital tools and online activities to make the whole supply chain more transparent and sustainable.

For most European tourism providers today, embedding sustainability into all aspects of their business has become common practice. Before COVID-19, sustainable tourism was becoming increasingly important to the travelling public. Climate change leading to soaring temperatures, wildfires, floods, and other extreme weather events is now widely accepted to be a direct result of human behaviour. Countries, governments and citizens are urgently seeking to reduce carbon emissions, which impacts every industry in the world, including tourism.

Since the first industrial revolution machines, electronics and digital computers have made apparel production ever more efficient. Now we are in the middle of the ‘4th industrial revolution’. This means self-monitoring and self-learning software and machines exchange data to integrate the production process and match supply to market demand. The aim is a value chain that is more transparent, efficient, flexible and cost-effective than ever.

Digitalisation is increasingly present in the supply chain of food and food additives. The COVID-19 pandemic sped up this digital change, as players, from farmers to exporters, began to use digital solutions in their work in response to pandemic-related challenges. Digitalisation offers many benefits for suppliers, such as expanding markets, improving process efficiency and crop productivity, and creating better relationships with buyers.

The  popularity of South Asian, North African and Middle Eastern cuisines contributes to the increasing demand for cumin seeds in Europe. The United Kingdom is the largest cumin seed importer in Europe, providing specific opportunities for suppliers of the curry industry. Other opportunities for new suppliers from developing countries can be found in other large or growing markets, such as Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Poland.