As part of Nutraceuticals World’s 2026 State of the Industry review, Len Monheit, Executive Director of the Global Prebiotic Association and CEO of Industry Transparency Center, reflects on how geopolitical shifts, regulatory uncertainty, and AI disruption are reshaping the global supplement landscape. He highlights emerging opportunities in healthspan, microbiome science, and women’s health—areas poised to define innovation and growth in 2026 and beyond.

As we examine the past 12 months, we need to consider several factors. These include the administration and its priorities, the global geopolitical landscape, and long-term implications of AI. From an industry standpoint, it’s also important to look at the next evolution of the industry’s role in supporting weight loss regimens (such as GLP-1). Additionally, we should consider macro trends like active aging and healthspan, women’s health, and microbiome-related developments.

From an administration perspective, major news items that deserve current and future attention include: agency downsizing; MAHA developments (and non-developments), including a devaluing of science with across the board cuts to government-funded research (and researchers); the proposed ban on artificial ingredients (and perhaps others); the intent to close the self-affirmed GRAS pathway; and trade policies that include extensive tariffs on raw material suppliers such as India.

As we head into 2026, the reverberations of these issues will continue to be felt and are creating a lack of certainty not only in the United States but also abroad. I personally don’t expect much advancement on the GRAS issue in 2026, but while this pathway remains in the current form, I anticipate more companies using it with urgency. The effect of agency downsizing (FDA especially) will ultimately be a continued lack of enforcement resources, and so transparency and self-policing support should be the 2026 priority and response.

Given recent shifts in trade policy and the global geopolitical landscape, the industry has already begun to pivot, for those able, to explore opportunities in Europe, ASEAN (Southeast Asia), and LATAM (Latin America) in the nearer term. Several significant capital investments are on hold, and so for 2026, investing in supply chain and rethinking how to get more efficiency out of existing or similar resources will be the practical way forward.

AI Disruption

Turning to AI, we see a parallel to the evolution of the Internet as a disruptor 25 years ago. The tools emerging today, focused on formulation/product development and market intelligence for instance, will become a basic entry level essential, often developed in house, much like websites and newsletters were back then.

Then we will see tools developed on top, true differentiators, just as e-commerce was 20 years ago. Starting in 2026, we will see solutions saving time and money primarily in the services area. ROI will be in compliance, customer service, preclinical and clinical research — we will be watching in 2026 for that development.

Market Opportunities

From a market-opportunity perspective, the term healthspan is not yet common, but there is enough substance and practicality for it not to be ignored. This means that tools, including diagnostics (and how to interpret them), will be areas to watch. These tools will also offer an element of proof and accountability that will validate the best in our industry. That means repeat sales and high lifetime value customers.

As far as the microbiome is concerned, familiarity and perceived effectiveness of prebiotics continues to grow, and this past year’s digestive soda “wars” were only the beginning of massive shelf and behavior displacement. “Beyond” the gut represents much of the future of prebiotics and “biotics” as a whole including mental wellness and skin health. In the gut though, the potential for prebiotics to be a difference maker in post GLP-1 regimens is huge.

Closing on women’s health, new population-specific clinical and consumer research has identified needs and opportunities for the female only sector. Again, this features high lifetime value customers to be captured and retained. There is also intersection with the previous two points: Healthspan and Microbiome interventions.

We’re bullish for 2026 and beyond in these exciting areas.