Opinion Piece
Agility and ‘scaling the plant-based revolution’ Experts predict 2026 shift in food and beverage manufacturing strategies
Food and beverage engineering experts have predicted that manufacturing agility and increasingly scalable plant-based protein manufacturing will be key trends shaping the sector in 2026.
Alongside consumer demand, startups and pioneers are expected to take the lead, according to Jolmer: “There are so many innovative plant-based startups moving products towards pilot and factory scale. The key challenge facing them all is accessing the funding and technical insights to enable them to turn their ideas into safe, scalable and profitable operations and compete with more established players.
Global engineering consultancy NIRAS has called for manufacturers to turn towards more adaptable and efficient factories that can respond quickly to market forces.
Jolmer also emphasised the rise of hybrid protein-products. He said: “There is more focus on hybrid approaches within the protein transition. Plant-based is truly different from animal-based; both the process and the product are distinct since pure plant proteins behave differently. Yet, you can still reduce hybrid content while maintaining the desired product characteristics and ensuring the process remains suitable.
Jonas B. Borrit, Vice President for Process Industries at NIRAS is looking back to look ahead. He said: “Manufacturers across Europe have faced hugely challenging market forces over recent years. In 2025 alone, we’ve seen ever-changing tariffs, stagnant economic growth and rising labour costs, on top of the constant challenge of constantly shifting consumer demands.” Jonas added that these obstacles show no signs of disappearing and manufacturers will need to be adaptive and innovative in their approaches. “For example, at NIRAS we’ve been discussing the rising demand for capital avoidance - a focus on optimising existing operations fully before looking at capital expenditure - and the scrutiny on costs and budgets means this approach will be just as important next year.”
Pictured Above: Jonas B. Borrit, Vice President for Process Industries at NIRAS Pictured Below Left: Nick Hickman, Vice President for Business Development Pictured Below Right: Jolmer Nieuwkerk, Engineering Expertise Manager
Jonas, alongside NIRAS colleagues Nick Hickman, vice president for business development, and Jolmer Nieuwkerk, engineering expertise manager, shared wider predictions for the year ahead.
1. Plant-based proteins will achieve scale Jolmer is experienced in the dairy sector, but is increasingly involved in alternative protein production. He foresees the following next year: “2026 could be the year that the plant-based protein revolution grows at scale. Consumer demand for alternative protein sources has never been higher, driven both by huge improvements to the taste and texture of products and a rising awareness about the impact of animal proteins on the environment.”
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“Manufacturers have the opportunity to reshape perceptions around plant-based products but will need to overcome a range of practical considerations, including hygienic and scalable plant design.”
2. The energy transition will continue to evolve “The fundamentals of sustainable manufacturing are arguably even more important given the pressure on costs.