Taking on Mother Nature by modifying animals for convenience
Implications - 2008's culture of customization manifested in more extreme ways in 2009, including the personalization of farm animals and comestibles. This "have it your way" culture takes a slightly more tech-savvy turn with genetic modifications for food sources that are more efficient, easier to raise and that eliminate contamination.
Trend Themes
1. Genetically Modified Animals - Consumers are seeking more efficient and cost-effective food sources through genetic modifications, leading to opportunities for businesses to create new, customized animal breeds.
2. Creative Animal Hybrid Advertising - Companies are using surreal and unconventional animal mash-ups to enhance brand recognition, opening up opportunities for businesses to use creative imagery in their advertising.
3. Miniaturization in Animal Farming - Farmers are downsizing their animal breeds to reduce costs and increase profitability, offering potential for businesses to create new, smaller breeds with unique benefits.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Agriculture - The food and agriculture industry has an opportunity to create new animal breeds with specific consumer demands in mind, such as cross-bred chickens for warm climates or miniature cows for cost-effective farming.
2. Advertising and Marketing - Businesses in the advertising and marketing industry can capitalize on consumer interest in unconventional animal mash-ups and surreal imagery to create memorable brand ads and campaigns that enhance brand recognition.
3. Animal Husbandry - The animal husbandry industry has an opportunity to develop and market new breeds of animals that have unique benefits or are more cost-efficient, such as featherless chickens or miniature cows that require less feed and resources.
