The 2023 Chia Harvest: The Importance Of An Evolving Market

Chia seeds are a superfood known for their nutrient-rich profile and versatile use in a diverse range of products. And the world’s chia craze has helped to establish the chia seed market as one of the strongest in the world, growing even more rapidly as new uses and benefits are embraced at every turn.

But will the supply meet demand be balanced this year as the harvest comes in? And does the sustainability of the farming community live up to the growing chia market’s expectations?

The growth of the chia market and the rise of novel opportunities

Global News Wire estimated the global chia seed market at US$2 Billion in 2022, with a market forecast that predicts that it will reach a value of US$6.9 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.5% over an eight-year period. In that same period, the US market alone was estimated at US$551.2 Million.

One of the reasons why the chia seed market is growing so steadily is the increasing adoption of chia seed use in skincare and other pharmaceutical products.

Thanks to chia seed’s nutrition, they have become a staple in healthy diets, as a gluten-free alternative and ingredient high in dietary fibers and other minerals. But due to its rich nutritional profile, chia seeds have also found a home in the skincare world thanks to the following attributes:

• Battles free radical damage caused by UV exposure, minimizing wrinkles and lines thanks to its high antioxidant levels.

• Soothes inflammation and calms irritations due to its cooling properties.

• Omega-3 fatty acid content protects the skin against impurities and UV damage.

• Chia’s high water retention helps to moisturize and keep skin hydrated naturally.

• The high volume of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and potassium helps to boost skin elasticity and natural glow.

In hair products, the ingredient has proven just as beneficial:

• Chia seeds’ rich in protein (l-lysine) and phosphorus profile helps to strengthen hair fibers, reducing breakage and shedding.

• The essential amino acids found in chia seeds improve scalp health and promote hair growth.

• Because chia seeds are high in zinc, they help improve hair strands, enabling them to protect themselves against environmental damage like UV exposure.

• The abundance of copper in chia seeds also helps to arrest hair thinning by boosting blood circulation.

You can see why the chia seed market is bound to grow as more industries start to embrace the uses of this superfood.

But all of this makes little difference if the source of the ingredient is unable to meet demand.

The Paraguay chia harvest and the influences on a healthy crop

The rippling effects of COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war are continuing to cast a shadow over supply chains and material price systems across the world. But the biggest concern for the 2023 chia harvest is much closer to home, right at the source in Paraguay.

Salvia hispanica, the plant from which chia seeds are cultivated, is used as a rotational crop in Paraguay, planted and harvested in the winter months between soybean crops.

In 2021, the late soybean harvest that resulted from the 2020 drought caused a delay in the planting of chia and shortened the harvest window. The severity of that year’s winter increased the impact the brief planting window had on the final harvest yield and on pricing.

While there are no warnings as yet that indicate another freezing winter, 2021’s harvest perfectly illustrates how quickly the chia harvest can be affected by external factors.

That’s why it’s so important to place bulk and wholesale orders early in the season to ensure that your supply of chia seeds is part of the first orders filled as the harvest comes in.

Finding sustainability for humans and the environment

In the continuing battle for human rights in the Paraguayan food industry, Ingredient Brothers has partnered with farmers and plantations that put people first.

It’s our responsibility as an importer and supply partner to ensure not only the best quality prices and most competitive pricing, but also the well-being of the industry as a whole. And that journey begins with the ethical treatment of the people working on the farms each day.

It’s that commitment to being involved with our vendors and the farming communities we buy from that also helps us handle challenges in the supply chain far more efficiently than many other importers. Because we’re not some distanced business partner, we’re an active part of the journey every step of the way.

When working with wholesale chia seed orders, we know it’s not simply a job we’re completing. We’re helping to find new ways of improving the industry for both our buyers and the farming communities we support.

Chia seeds have taken the world by storm, and Ingredient Brothers will help you take full advantage of the craze and make you a part of the industry’s future.