Backcasting

Backcasting is a strategic planning and research methodology that involves defining a desirable future state or analyzing projected long-term megatrends, and then working backward to identify the policies, investments, and research themes required in the present to connect the future to the current reality.

In the beverage industry, this methodology is notably utilized by asahi-quality-and-innovations-aqi, the independent R&D subsidiary of asahi-group-holdings. AQI analyzes projected global megatrends for the year 2050 to dictate its current research themes across alcohol innovation, health and wellness, and sustainability. This approach ensures that long-term R&D investments—such as the development of proprietary biotics like lactobacillus-gasseri-cp2305—are aligned with future consumer need states rather than just reacting to short-term market fluctuations.