Fermented Plant Protein Market Size, Share, Trends, and Growth Forecast 2034

Fermented Plant Protein Market Size, Share and Dynamics

The global fermented plant protein market size stood at USD 3.55 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to expand from USD 3.92 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 9.46 billion by 2034, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.30% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The global fermented plant protein market is attributed to the increasing demand for sustainable food sources.

Key Highlights

• North America dominated the global fermented plant protein market by holding a market share in 2024, due to the increasing demand for plant-based diets.
• Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a notable CAGR from 2025 to 2034, during the forecast period which is driven by the rising innovation of food technologies.
• By source of protein, the nuts and seeds segment held a major market share in 2024, driven by increasing health and nutrition awareness.
• By source of protein, the grains segment is projected to grow at a CAGR between 2025 and 2034, driven by the increasing trend towards clean label products.
• By form of protein, the powder segment contributed to the biggest market share in 2024, due to the increasing consumer preference towards healthier alternatives.
• By form of protein, the ready-to-drink beverages segment is expanding at a significant CAGR between 2025 and 2034, due to the growing beverage industry.
• By end user, the vegetarians and vegans segment contributed to the biggest market share in 2024, due to the increasing demand for clean-label products.
• By end user, the sports nutrition segment is expanding at a significant CAGR between 2025 and 2034, due to the increasing demand for protein shakes.
• By distribution channel, the supermarkets and hypermarkets segment held a major market share in 2024, driven by the increasing number of offline stores.
• By distribution channel, the online retail segment is projected to grow at a CAGR between 2025 and 2034, driven by the growing e-commerce platforms.
• By application, the food and beverages segment contributed to the biggest market share in 2024, due to the growing food and beverage industry.
• By end user, the nutritional supplements segment is expanding at a significant CAGR between 2025 and 2034, due to the increasing consumer preference towards health and wellness.

Industry Coverage

How Fermented Plant Protein Fuel the Global Market in 2025?

The fermented plant protein market is driven by various factors such as increasing consumer preference towards sustainable and healthier food options, rising advancements in fermentation technologies, increasing awareness about probiotics and gut health connected to fermented foods, and increasing consumer trend towards plant-based diets due to environmental and health concerns. In addition, fermented plant proteins also have benefits, including the ability to be rendered vegan and gluten-free, for an increasing number of vegetarian and vegan consumers. Fermented plant protein helps consumers to enhance their nutritional profile and digestibility, which is further expected to increase the market demand.

One of the major driving factors contributed to fueling the fermented plant protein market is the increasing consumer preference towards plant-based diets. Due to the increased environmental and health concerns, there is an increasing consumer trend towards plant-based diets, which have highly enhanced dietary choices. Plant-based diets are evolving as a preferred alternative, as more consumers become aware of the meat consumption on the plant and health, which is further expected to drive the global market during the forecast period.

Fermented Plant Protein Market Trends

• Rising fermented functional foods: The growing consumer preference for functional food is increasing demand for fermented plant proteins and further promotes immunity, gut health, and overall wellness, which contributed to propel the market growth.
• Rising technological advancements: The rising technological advancements, such as bioengineering and precision fermentation are used to enhance the texture, taste, and amino acid profile of plant proteins, which increases the demand for the fermented plant protein market.
• Rising growth in personalized nutrition: Fermented plant proteins are gaining popularity, with personalized nutrition and health platforms on the rise, which is further expected to enhance the global market.

Market Opportunity

Rising Growth in Performance and Sports Nutrition 

Fermented plant proteins are highly used in sports nutrition, with the boom in clean eating and fitness culture. Their fermented plant-based proteins are easy to provide and absorb improved amino acids which is very useful for post-workout recovery and muscle building, which increases the market demand. In addition, increasing consumer shift towards easily digestible, clean-label, and sustainable protein sources, gives consumers nutritional support. Furthermore, growing innovative opportunities in developing markets and increasing demand for gut-friendly and digestible proteins, are further expected to revolutionize the growth of the fermented plant protein market in the coming years.

Market Challenge

High Production Costs 

One of the major challenges restraining market growth is the increasing high production costs. Fermentation is a resource-intensive procedure that may need longer production timelines, controlled environments, and advanced biotechnology which are very expensive and can create market challenges. As compared to conventional protein sources, manufacturing and operational costs are very high, which makes fermented plant proteins more expensive. These restraining factors are expected to hinder the growth of the fermented plant protein market.

Regional Insights

How North America Dominated the Market Revenue in 2024? 

North America dominated the fermented plant protein market share in 2024. The market growth in the region is driven by the rising technological advancements in fermentation, the growing number of flexitarians and veganism, and the increasing demand for natural and clean-label products. The U.S. and Canada are dominating countries driving the market growth.

Asia Pacific Fermented Plant Protein Market Trends

Asia Pacific is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period. The market growth in the region is attributed to the rising innovation of food technologies, increasing consumer preference towards plant-based alternatives, increasing consumer awareness of sustainability, immunity and environmental concerns, and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are the fastest growing countries in the Asia Pacific.

India and China are the largest and biggest countries in the food and beverage industry. The plant-based sector has been growing fastest in India in recent years. There is 20% of dairy consumed, eggs, and meat are plant-based across the globe. For instance, by 2025, the Indian HoReCa industry is expected to reach a global market potential of 280 billion. In India, over 500 hotels and restaurants have launched high protein plant-based dishes and menus By 2025, the Indian HoReCa industry is expected to reach a global market potential of 280 billion. In India, over 500 hotels and restaurants launched high-protein dishes or menus across several food service platforms. (Source: gfi- Good Food Institute India)

Segment Insights

Source of Protein Insights 

How Nuts and Seeds Segment Dominated the Market Revenue in 2024?

The nuts and seeds segment dominated the fermented plant protein market in 2024. Nuts and seeds are a major part of a plant-based diet, especially incorporated as unsaturated fats and non-animal sources of proteins. It helps to reduce the mortality and prevalence of chronic diseases and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is expected to increase the demand for nuts and seeds. 

The Grains Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

Fermented grain has innovative functional characteristics and nutritional value, which play an important role in developing dietary culture across the globe. In addition, there are various health benefits of fermented grains such as support weight loss, immune function, heart health, improved behavior and mood, improved availability of nutrients, and rich sources of beneficial bacteria.

Form of Protein Insights

Why do the Powder Segment Dominated the Market Revenue in 2024?

The powder segment dominated the fermented plant protein market in 2024. The powder segment is widely used in various plant-based food. The segment provides ease of storage and longer shelf life makes them appropriate for a huge range of food and beverage products, which increases the segment's growth. In addition, the powder segment is highly contributed to market growth, because they are used in nutritional products and dietary supplements. The segment remains a major player in the market, as consumers continue to look for fermented plant-based choices in several food and beverage industries, which is further expected to drive the segment growth.

The Ready-to-Drink Beverages Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the fermented plant protein market is attributed to various benefits such as ease of incorporation and versatility, increasing busy and modern lifestyles, and increasing working women population. Due to the perception and convenience, consumers are rapidly adopting clean-label ingredients in liquid form. In addition, increasing consumer preference towards plant-based and clean labels and increasing demand for minimally processed and natural ingredients are further expected to drive the segment growth.

End User Insights

How Vegetarians and Vegans Segment Dominated the Market Revenue in 2024?

The vegetarians and vegans segment dominated the fermented plant protein market in 2024. Nowadays, both vegetarianism and vegans are gaining popularity. The segment growth in the market is driven by various benefits such as reduced oxidative inflammation and stress, a lower reversal and risk of atherosclerosis, better blood sugar control, improved blood flow, and blood pressure, and reduced cholesterol levels, which further increase segment growth.

The Sports Nutrition Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the fermented plant protein market is attributed to the various health benefits such as the reduced potential of injury, improved recovery, enhanced performance, maintaining a healthy immune system, improved body composition, and enabling athletics to train harder and longer.

• For instance, in January 2025, the sports nutrition company elevating the game in wellness and health, Cizzle Brands Corporation announced the launch of Spoken Nutrition, a premium NSF Certified for Sport nutraceutical line of products. (Source: businesswire)

Distribution Channel Insights

What Factors Help Supermarkets/Hypermarkets to Grow in 2024?

The supermarkets and hypermarkets segment dominated the fermented plant protein market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is attributed to the increasing consumer trend towards offline stores, rising personalized experiences, and social interaction. The supermarket segment offers instant satisfaction of buying a product without waiting for delivery, which enhances the consumer experience. The segments also offer a wide range of products, and consumers can buy all of their products under one roof, which further increases the demand for hypermarkets and supermarkets in the global market.

The Online Retail Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

The segment growth in the fermented plant protein market is attributed to the increasing consumer trend towards online shopping, the growing e-commerce industry, and increasing busy and modern lifestyles. Online retailing enables consumers to avoid chaos and crowds to enhance their online shopping experience. For instance, with an anticipated increase of 23% by 2027, it is predicted that 20.1% of all retail purchases will happen online in 2025.

Application Insights

How Food & Beverages Segment Hold the Largest Market Revenue in 2024?

The food and beverages segment dominated the fermented plant protein market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is driven by various benefits such as sustainable alternatives, rising demand for natural and clean-label products, improving texture and taste, supporting gut health, and better nutrition. Fermentation in food and beverages allows a huge range of functional and tasty products such as protein bar, sauces, probiotic drinks, meat alternatives, and others.

The Nutritional Supplements Segment is Expected to Grow Fastest During the Forecast Period. 

Nutritional supplements may help consumers to reduce the risk of various health-related conditions and improve overall health. Maximum women can use nutritional supplements more than men. During pregnancy, nutritional supplements are highly used in addressing the need for nutrients and further ensure that both the mother’s and baby’s needs are met, which is further expected to increase the demand for nutritional supplements. 

Recent Developments in the Fermented Plant Protein Market

• In June 2025, Freddy Hunziker and Alice Fauconnet, the cofounders of Valley partner New Roots launched a new plant-based brand integrating fermented functional proteins. These proteins are based on versatile lupin. (Source: Swiss Food Nutrition & Valley)
• In March 2025, the Dutch ingredients startup, Vivici launched ViviteinTM BLG in the US market. To launch differentiated and disruptive products to consumers in the US market, enabling B2B consumers. (Source: Vivici)

Fermented Plant Protein Market Leading Companies

• Ajinomoto
• DuPont
• FIT-BioCeuticals
• BASF
• Cargill
• Genuine Health
• Body Ecology
• Jarrow Formulas
• Sotru
• Ingredion
• PlantFusion

Segments Covered in the Report

By Source of Protein

• Legumes
• Grains
• Nuts and Seeds
• Vegetables
• Fermented Algae
• Form of Protein Outlook
• Powder
• Granules
• Ready-to-drink Beverages
• Bars
• Capsules

By End User Outlook

• Fitness Enthusiasts
• Vegetarians and Vegans
• Health-Conscious Consumers
• Sports Nutrition
• General Population

By Distribution Channel

• Online Retail
• Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
• Health Food Stores
• Specialty Stores
• Direct Sales

By Application

• Food & Beverages
• Nutritional Supplements
• Animal Feed
• Cosmetic Products
• Pharmaceuticals

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
• Latin America