Probiotics are live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. These benefits may include gut microbiota modulation, protection against diseases or even enhancement of immune responses in healthy individuals. Increasing exploration of the role of gut microbiota and recognition of gut microecology has sparked interest in probiotics, leading to their growth as functional foods.
Nevertheless, the term probiotic is used to describe products with many different characteristics. Consequently, the definition of probiotics needs to be clear and consistent. The FAO/WHO panel supports the use of the phrase ‘probiotic’ as long as it is clearly understood to mean ‘live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer s beneficial effect on the host, based on sufficient evidence (either from human studies or animal models).’
With a burgeoning market, companies are looking for ways to expand their product portfolios and reach new markets. One of the most promising avenues is the online business platform. By selling products directly to customers via an e-commerce site, a company can increase its revenue significantly.
The global probiotics market is growing at a rapid pace due to consumer demand for health-enhancing nutrients. The market is characterized by high growth potential in Asia and other developing regions. This is attributed to increased demand for functional food and better access to healthcare facilities in emerging countries.
In order to tap the untapped potential of the global probiotics market, a large number of manufacturers are investing in research and development of innovative products. In addition to this, they are also focusing on improving the efficacy of existing probiotics. This has resulted in the development of novel technologies, such as probiotics with nanocarriers. These nanocarriers have a high surface volume ratio, enabling them to deliver probiotics more efficiently to the target gut microbiota.
Another emerging area of probiotics is the use of vaccine-delivery vehicles, which use a genetically engineered strain of the bacteria Bacillus subtilis to display the vaccine antigen. This method allows for delivery of the vaccine in resource-limited areas where cold chains are unavailable. As a result, the ‘live vaccines’ segment of the probiotics industry is expected to grow in the coming years.
Another significant driver of the probiotics market is the growth in the livestock feed sector. Adding probiotics to livestock feed helps improve the intestinal health and zootechnical performance of the animals. This is especially true in countries such as China, where the meat demand is very high. The resulting high growth of the feed probiotics market is expected to continue in the future as well.