Tariffs, Trade & Disruption | Inside 2025’s Global Food Shake-Up + More...

As spring sets in, so too does a new season of change across the global food landscape. In this April edition of the Gulfood Digest, we’re cutting through the noise to bring you what truly matters, from AI-powered protein innovation to micro-influencer-driven localism and from lab-grown nuggets to GLP-1 market reshaping what we eat.

But it’s not just about the future, it’s also about the now. This month’s featured editorial zooms in on the escalating trade tensions and what they really mean for the F&B industry. Tariffs are back on the global agenda and their impact is no longer theoretical, it’s affecting menus, margins, and markets.

Read on for sharp insights, smart tech, and stories of resilience. Whether you're a manufacturer, investor, policymaker or visionary brand, this issue is designed to inform and provoke new thinking. Let’s dive in.

2025 Tariffs & Trade: What’s Next for the Global Food Industry?

Tariffs are rising. Markets are tightening. And food businesses worldwide are being forced to adapt. In this spotlight feature, we explore how escalating US-China tensions,  with tariffs surpassing 100%, are disrupting global supply chains, raising prices on core ingredients like rice, oils and spices, and threatening margins for producers and retailers alike.

From Thai rice exports dropping 30%, to small businesses in the US facing price hikes on Sichuan peppercorns, the impact is no longer distant, it’s on the plate.

But there’s also opportunity. The Middle East is responding swiftly, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt leading a pivot toward self-sufficiency and diversified regional trade. Meanwhile, consumers are embracing localism, demanding authenticity and transparency and rewarding brands that tell local stories.

This is more than just a trade tension. It’s a rebalancing. Dive in for expert analysis, future-forward strategies, and a call to action for food businesses: adapt, localise and innovate, or risk being left behind.👉 Read the full article 

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Explore the Pharma Giant Betting $76M on AI-Driven Plant-Based Meat

What happens when the maker of Ozempic dives headfirst into the future of food? Discover how AI is being used to craft non-ultra-processed alt-protein that could upend the meatless market. Read more

Take a First Look at Hollow Fiber Tech Making Lab-Grown Nuggets Possible

The future of chicken might not involve chickens at all. Peek into the cutting-edge bioreactor turning cultivated meat into a scalable, bite-sized reality. Read more

See How Nestlé Is Quietly Building a New Food Category for GLP-1 Users

Nestlé is pivoting big toward a new class of eaters - GLP-1 users. Learn what’s being cooked up to meet the needs of this billion-dollar appetite-suppressed market. Read more

Discover the Invention Turning Air Into Bottled Water in the UAE

Forget desalination. This local brand is literally bottling water out of thin air, transforming hydration with climate-smart tech seen at Gulfood 2025. Read more

Big Ideas & Future Trends

Dive Into the Market That Might Outgrow the iPhone - GLP-1 Is That Big

GLP-1 drugs are not just disrupting healthcare, they’re rewriting food market dynamics. See why analysts say it could be the biggest food trend of the decade. Read more

Explore How the Rules of Food Innovation Are Changing in the GLP-1 Era

New science. New behaviors. New playbook. Learn how food innovation is evolving to align with appetite-suppressing treatments and metabolic awareness. Read more

Step Into the Forecast That’s Redefining the Food & Beverage Sector for 2025

From AI and bio-tech to conscious consumption, here’s what industry leaders say will define food and drink in the year ahead and beyond. Read more

Unpack the Rise of Meat-Free Demand in the UAE - A Cultural Shift in Motion

From lab-grown to lentils, vegetarian and vegan products are gaining ground in the Middle East. Find out what’s driving a regional rethink of meat. Read more

Business & Trade Policy

Get the Inside Story on Why Gulf Sugar Refiners Are Cutting Output

A flood of very affordable sugar from India and Brazil is shaking the region’s refining sector. Learn how global price wars are impacting local supply chains. Read more

Understand the Trade War Fallout That’s Making Investors Rethink FoodTech

Tariffs. Tension. Investor hesitation. Discover how geopolitics is reshaping funding flows and startup growth in food innovation ecosystems. Read more

Stay Informed, Stay Ahead!

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