Fifth trend report: 'Disruptive innovations and policy responses: self-production, insects as food, flying sensors, graphene & others’

Read the full Fifth trend report (1 MB) or its Summary (62 kB). The main messages are:

• Collaborative production: disruption in the roles of companies as producers and individuals as consumers. Internet-based technology connects people for better use of their resources. It enables them to fund, design, produce, market and distribute their own goods.
• Insects and algae as food: according to the UN, our planet will need to feed 10 billion people by 2050. Currently, animal proteins account for about 40% of global protein consumption. The increasing population requires more efficient and sustainable protein sources. Insects and algae are one of these sources.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): the spectrum of possible civilian uses for UAVs is broad (navigation, aviation materials, robotics and ICT). They include monitoring and surveillance of environmental, agricultural and fishery operations. They also include security tasks, such as search and rescue support, disaster response, border control, and more. Therefore, civil UAVs have potential in several sectors and can help in job creation and in addressing societal challenges.