As we move into 2025, food innovations across global sectors are putting "functionality" at the core. Beyond traditional supplements, there's a surge in "beverages + functionality","snacks + functionality" and "dairy + functionality." How can functional trends and ingredients penetrate a broader market? On the verge of a breakthrough, get inspired and stay ahead of the curve!

2024 is hailed as the "The Foundation Year of of Weight Management," with a growing demand for healthy weight among consumers worldwide, especially in China, Japan, and South Korea. In the weight loss arena, probiotics remain the frontrunner. However, this year, it's all about version 3.0!

With the arrival of "Probiotics + Prebiotics + Postbiotics," everything from strain combinations and dosage form innovations to taste and texture must be top-notch to create a premium product!

In weight loss forums, you're bound to see terms like "easy-to-slim body type," referring to those with a genetic advantage who don't gain weight no matter what they eat. Now, for those who aren't naturally blessed in this regard, there's a solution—black ginger extract. As a top-ranking weight-loss functional food in Japan, the fat-reducing power of black ginger speaks for itself. Since 2023, this niche, weight-loss ingredient has started gaining attention. While products containing black ginger extract have yet to appear in China, they are already popular throughout Japan. Can black ginger replicate its success in the Chinese market?

The 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games included esports as an official competition category for the first time, and in 2024, Black Myth: Wukong has dominated overseas social media, capturing a large base of domestic and international users. As of 2024, China's esports user base has reached 490 million people. A functional hydration drink that enhances cognition, relaxes mood, and boosts athletic performance would be the perfect choice to have on the gaming desk.

According to GBNData, the CAGR of pea protein market exceeds 25%, far outpacing the CAGR of soy protein market, which is below 10%. As a novel alternative protein extracted from peas, pea protein already has a wide range of end products in the plant-based market. Examples include Mengniu's Maisheng protein bar, which incorporates some pea protein, Nestlé's "Oats + Pea" plant-based drink, and Mondelēz Pacific's milk wafers with added pea protein. What are the specific advantages of pea protein, and in which categories can it be combined to further unlock the potential of plant-based protein?

Getting vaccinated is like a "rehearsal" against a specific pathogen, preparing a battle plan in advance. However, boosting immunity can also be achieved in a more everyday way—by "training" the immune system. Yeast β-glucan, known as the "king of immunity," can "stimulate" innate immune cells, enabling the immune system to respond effectively to threats. Today, this small ingredient has become the "new favorite" in the field of immune support. Let's explore the potential of yeast β-glucan in functional food development.

Mushrooms are becoming a key ingredient in food innovation across North America. From ice cream to beverages, there's hardly a product that mushrooms can't be added to. Data shows that in 2021, the global functional mushroom market reached $26.7 billion, and sales of products containing mushroom ingredients in the functional food and beverage category grew by 17.6%. This trend is driven not only by mushrooms' meaty texture and rich umami flavor but also by their health benefits, which have propelled mushrooms to a strong position in the superfood world. Eating mushrooms can lead to better health—how can we draw inspiration from North America's mushroom craze?

Ergothioneine is well-known in the beauty industry, but it's still a relatively new player in the healthy aging field. Though new, it's powerful—products containing ergothioneine have seen a sales increase of over 700% on JD Health, with its antioxidant and anti-aging benefits gaining recognition from a growing number of consumers. Last year, we saw the anti-aging power of AKG, and this year, a new contender, ergothioneine, has entered the scene!

With the announcement of delayed retirement, Chinese professionals are voicing the need to start health maintenance early to work until age 65. Traditional medicinal herbs, such as ginseng, amla, and astragalus, along with popular functional ingredients like GABA, are gaining attention. How can herbal combination products overcome challenges like poor taste and unclear efficacy to become the go-to "lifesaver" for professionals?

The benefits of postbiotics for fat reduction, immunity, and gut health are already well-known, and combined postbiotic formulations offer an even more "comprehensive" solution. Now, the sleep and nutricosmetics markets are finally welcoming postbiotics as well. Postbiotics derived from kimchi strains can significantly improve sleep and rejuvenate the skin!

There are over 200 types of HMOs, but only a handful have actually been commercialized. In 2023, two types of HMOs were approved as food nutritional fortifiers in China, allowing HMOs to finally move beyond the use of substitutes (such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and galactooligosaccharides (GOS)) to mimic breast milk. Additionally, combinations like "HMOs + Electrolytes" and "HMOs + Probiotics" are trending. Beyond their use in infant formula and gut health, what other functional areas could HMOs expand into?

Before getting old, we start to experience "youth dementia."More and more young people are self-checking for symptoms of 'youth dementia' on the internet: poor memory, unclear expression, poor sleep... 'Youth dementia' is not a medically defined term, but it is named for the similarity between the cognitive decline observed in young people and that of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). So, could PQQ, which is said to enhance cognition and improve memory, be a lifeline for young people?

The night before an exam, working early shifts, rotating schedules, and dealing with jet lag... workers and students face numerous situations where they struggle to get up or have trouble sleeping. Research shows that up to 70% of adults report difficulties waking up, with many consumers struggling because their biological clocks are misaligned with their daily lives. Most products on the market aim to help consumers sleep better for improved sleep quality. However, there's another often-overlooked sleep issue: sleep inertia, a state of reduced physical and mental energy after waking up. Today, a patented delayed-release caffeine formula in small capsules can help you effectively manage your biological clock, transforming you from someone who struggles to wake up or is a night owl into someone who feels alert and ready to tackle the day!

Natural sweeteners have taken a step forward. China has the world's largest market for stevia cultivation and processing, accounting for 80% of global production. Steviol glycosides are naturally the top choice for reducing sugar in China. However, traditional steviol glycosides commonly have flavor defects such as a metallic taste and bitterness. Currently, Reb M may be the highest-scoring solution for reducing sugar. By enzymatically modifying Reb M, the taste challenges of natural sweeteners have been overcome. How will Reb M shine in the food and beverage industry?

In just three months, Shiru, founded in 2019, was able to use its patented AI platform Flourish™ to screen 10,000 formulations and launch the commercialized OleoPro™ (a new plant-based protein fat ingredient), costing only a few hundred thousand dollars. The traditionally expensive and time-consuming process of developing and commercializing protein ingredients has been drastically compressed, significantly increasing the speed of new product launches. Japanese food giant Ajinomoto's Health and Nutrition North America has also officially partnered with Shiru to utilize Shiru's AI platform Flourish and Ajinomoto's fermentation capabilities to produce sweet proteins. How is this new collaboration model between AI and the food ingredient industry shortening the costs and time cycles of food innovation?

FBIF specializes in turning "imagination" into "reality."Here, we will invite well-known domestic and international raw material companies to share laboratory samples of their latest ingredients over the course of two days, transforming these raw materials into products and ensuring that innovation goes beyond mere ideas and theories.

As an audience, you have the opportunity to taste, review, and share your impressions. Genuine exchanges within the industry are the driving force behind the continuous advancement of functional ingredients.