Global Ancient Grains Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Type Of Grain (Quinoa, Amaranth, Sorghum, Others), By End-User (Food And Beverages, Animal Feed), By Distribution Channel (Retail Stores, Online Retail), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2024 To 2029

Ancient grains are those types of grains that have been cultivated and unchanged over several hundred years. Several different types of ancient grains exist in the market including einkorn, emmer/farro, Kamut®, and spelt, which are from the wheat family. Other heirloom varieties such as black barley, red and black rice, blue corn can also be considered as ancient grains.  Some of the well-known ancient grains in the market in the present age include sorghum, te?, millet, quinoa, and amaranth. Ancient grains are said to contain several benefits when added to the human diet, which include:

• management of blood sugar levels and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels due to fibre content,
• reduction in risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke,
• prevention of chronic diseases and cancer due to phytonutrients and antioxidant content,
• contains more nutrient and mineral content compared to refined grains,
• management of weight from the consumption of ancient grain added to the diet, and
• lower healthcare costs.

Introduction:

The ancient grains market is expected to witness a significant increase during the forecasted period of 2024-2029 due to factors such as increasing demand for animal feed and rapid growth of urbanization affecting the market growth.

Market Drivers:

• Growing demand for animal feed: The use of ancient grains in animal feed is a common practice. Ancient grains such as red fife and einkorn are said to contain high levels of vitamins and minerals, which include iron, zinc, and B vitamins. Ancient grains are known to help improve digestion and are less processed compared to modern grains, which makes them easier for consumption by chickens and many other animals. As per the International Feed Industry Federation, the world's commercial feed manufacturing is expected to generate an estimated US$400 billion as annual turnover, with an annual feed production of over one billion tonnes annually. It is also expected that the demand for food will show an increase and will grow by 60% between the period 2010 and 2050.  This increase in global animal feed production can be expected to propel the ancient grains market growth as well, due to the benefits that ancient grains provide to animals.
• Rapid urbanization and incomes: Ancient grains are known to have more nutrients than modern refined grain products such as white flour and refined crackers. Several ancient grains are known to be cultivated without the excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation, making them a preferable choice to customers in the market for organic and natural grain products. As disposable income increases due to rapid urbanization and increase in population, the production and consumption of ancient grains will be expected to increase, since the increase in income will change the consumer preferences towards more organic and natural sourced products. As per the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the urban population displayed an increase from 52.5% in 2012 to an estimated 56.9% in 2022. The developed economies have a higher rate of development when compared to the developing economies, which are 79.7% and 52.3% in 2022 respectively. This increase in urbanization is affected by factors such as an increase in income of individuals, which further changes the spending behaviour of consumers towards more natural and organic sourced food products, which include products made from ancient grains. Therefore, an increase in the urban population will also be expected to provide the necessary boost to the ancient grains market during the forecast period.

Key Players:

• Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM): An American multinational company that is known for processing and commodities trading and provides several products, which include human and animal nutrition products, as well as manages and processes the agricultural supply chain.
• Ardent Mills: A well-known company that is known for their flour milling and ingredients production that can improve the world’s nourishment. They are known for providing innovative and nutritious grain-based solutions that help customers and communities thrive.

Regional Analysis:

The Asia Pacific Region is expected to show significant growth in the ancient grains market during the forecast period of 2024-2029. The reason Asia Pacific holds a large share of the market is because ancient grains have been known to be staple foods in China and India. The population of these two countries is also known to be the largest in the amount of people when compared to other countries and regions. Hence, as the population of these countries increases, the consumption of ancient grains such as sorghum, quinoa, and several others will also increase. As per the United Nations Population Fund, the Asia-Pacific region is home to 60% of the world's total population, which accounts for 4.3 billion people. China and India are considered to lead in the highest populations, due to factors such as rapid urbanization and increase in migration within and outside the region. As per the International Monetary Fund, the population of China and India accounts for 1.41 thousand million and 1.44 thousand million people, respectively, as of 2024. This increase in the region's population can increase the total ancient grains consumption, which will also be expected to increase the ancient grains market growth during the forecast period of 2024-2029.

Market Developments:

• June 2023: Ardent Mills announced the launch of their products, which are usable as ingredients for baking and an alternative to eggs, dubbed Ardent Mills Egg Replace™ and Ancient Grains Plus™ Baking Flour Blend. Ardent Mills is known for their premier flour milling and ingredient production. The products were designed as innovative, cost-effective solutions that enable customers to capitalize on new market growth and meet consumer preferences for quality ingredients and enhanced taste, which helps the company and the market alleviate supply chain challenges. The production of the Ardent Mills Egg Replace is driven by the rise of the reoccurring avian flu, inflation, and increasing interest in cage-free initiatives. Whereas the Ardent Mills Ancient Grains Baking Flour Blend was produced with factors such as increasing consumer interest in protein in their daily diet and enhanced taste driving the production.

Segmentation:

• By Type of Grain:
  • Quinoa
  • Amaranth
  • Sorghum
  • Others
• By End-User:
  • Food and Beverages
  • Animal Feed
• By Distribution Channel:
  • Retail Stores
  • Online Retail
• By Geography:
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • United Kingdom
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
    • Israel
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Indonesia
    • Thailand
    • Others