Based on our 3rd annual State of the Industry survey—results for which can be found here—it’s clear that our audience believes the nutraceuticals market is strongly positioned to meet increased consumer demand for preventive health and wellness products. Facing the reality of COVID-19, immune health has no doubt become a prime motivator for people buying into the dietary supplement market, but there are still many other needs to be met, including energy, attention/focus, sleep, and more. And like the novel coronavirus itself, consumer desire to maintain optimal health through nutrition has shown no sign of slowing down.  
 
The COVID-19 death toll continues to rise. The human suffering and economic pain is truly astounding. The clouds may be starting to move, slowly, in this pandemic though. Early reports about vaccine efficacy are encouraging, but the data needs further review. At the same time, it’s unclear how quickly the world will be able to enact what will undoubtedly be the largest global vaccination effort in modern history. And how many people will actually be willing to be inoculated? Trust is in short supply these days. 
 
I’ve often held that, fundamentally, people have more in common with each other than politicians would have them believe. But the way information is disseminated and consumed (or dismissed)—the way conspiracies go viral—is a canyon between common ground. From my seat on this wild ride, it feels like there are alternate universes existing side-by-side, just a few clicks away from each other on the Internet. 
 
Despite real and perceived differences, ultimately, I still maintain that when communities can bridge their divides in pursuit of shared goals, even when competing for resources, they can make substantial progress. I think the nutraceuticals industry has been an example of that over the years. 
 
At the end of the day, 2020 has seen unprecedented change. Our last issue for this year looks a little bit different (in print) than our other publications. In an effort to present a more robust reference point for potential partnerships, we’ve combined our Company Capabilities Directory with our International Buyers’ Guide.
 
While this combined format is new for Nutraceuticals World, our goals remain unchanged. We strive to offer market information and analysis companies can leverage into action. At the same time, we encourage strong partnerships and collaboration to pursue innovation and develop products that ultimately benefit consumers. I hope you find this issue to be a substantive resource as you turn the page on 2020, and head into next year with renewed commitment to your mission and values.