June 2025
The global plant-based meat market size was valued at USD 8.57 billion in 2024, is expected to expand from USD 10.24 billion in 2025 to USD 50.89 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 19.50% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The growing awareness about nutritious diets and the increased importance of food safety contribute to the major expansion of plant-based food alternatives and protein-rich food products.
The plant-based meat market has been transformed by revolutionary approaches towards agriculture, food systems, and food safety. The extensive use of different types of ingredients such as soy, legumes, wheat protein, and plant proteins in the production of these plant-based products presents versatility and improved functionality. These plant-based food products cause 30%-90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional ones. These products reshape the food industry, encourage innovation, and promote sustainable practices.
The ISO 22000 Certification Process aims to understand the standards, develop a food safety management system, conduct internal audits, take corrective actions, and maintain compliance. It results in enhanced food safety, quality assurance, increased market access, and improved consumer trust. It delivers regulatory compliance along with risk reduction, operational efficiency, and cost savings.
Exploring new sources of plant-based proteins helps to expand a product range by boosting the taste and texture of those products. The use of plant-based proteins for mass production allows protein purification and their conversion into protein concentrate. Moreover, plant-based oils or nuts can offer good alternatives to natural animal fat. However, the good sources for plant-based carbohydrates are legumes, starchy vegetables, and whole grains. To achieve control over production and evaluate the production of plant-based products, streamlined manufacturing systems, real-time monitoring, and diagnostic tools play important roles. The supply of plant-based food products allows opportunities to meet the growing consumer demands.
The growing concerns about the environmental impact of health benefits, animal agriculture, and ethical concerns regarding animal welfare raise the popularity of plant-based meat products. It is challenging to maintain the taste, texture, and appearance of conventional animal-based meat by developing innovative food products. The industries meet challenges regarding the implementation of advanced technologies like fermentation and extrusion to produce meat-like textures. They also face challenges in meeting the exact sensory attributes of meat.
North America dominated the plant-based meat market in 2024.
The various government initiatives are actively supporting the development of plant-based meat through research and funding assistance in countries like the U.S. and Canada. The major authorities contributing to promoting and conducting research on plant-based meat are the Good Food Institute and the Plant-Based Foods Association (PBFA). Other government organizations include the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and the Canadian Government. The government provides funding for research and supports research and development of plant-based meat products. The public-private partnerships and strategic collaborations within industries drive the expansion of biomanufacturing facilities.
Policies and Legislation on Food Products Boost the Market in the United States
The United States leads the market by introducing policies and cultivated meat products. Strong legislation on cultivated products drives the growth of the agricultural sector at both state and federal levels. The U.S. government has introduced various state-level policies and legislation to promote healthy diets, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure greater productivity. One of the government's measures focused on providing fortified soy milk to children in schools.
Europe is expected to witness the fastest rate of growth in the plant-based meat market during the predicted timeframe. The Good Food Institute (GFI) in Europe took several initiatives to fulfill the growing demand for meat production, and it aims to meet consumer needs by 2050. The increasing demand for animal protein and the newest industrial methods of meat production fulfill the expanding population needs for nutritious food products. According to the United Nations (UN) and the GFI, alternative proteins are the solutions to food security. The GFI accelerates the innovations in alternative proteins.
Initiatives of Europe for a Sustainable Food System
The United Kingdom stands as the prominent European country in innovating sustainable protein solutions. The UK is renowned for the £12-million Sustainable Protein Hub that focuses on research and innovations in the food industry. The country has made efforts to scale up cultivated meat production for many years. Innovate UK is the national innovation agency of the United Kingdom and maintains a competition for the investments of up to £6.5 million for innovation projects. These projects support the development of the plant-based protein sector. They aim to fulfill the global consumer demands for alternative proteins. These efforts create opportunities for the launch of new services, technologies, and products in the market.
Asia Pacific is seen to grow at the fastest rate in the plant-based meat market during the forecast period. Several government measures promote plant-based meat alternatives in Asia. Several international companies focus on expanding their sales of plant-based meat alternatives in Asian markets. The increased consumer preference for products related to dairy, meat, and eggs drives the market’s growth in this region. The rising prevalence of milk allergies and lactose intolerance cases raises the need for plant-based proteins and related alternatives. The adoption of advanced technologies for product innovations and strategic collaborations between national and international companies allows market exposure to many opportunities.
Impacting Factors for the Growth of Singapore
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) approved the use of a bite-sized chicken product made with cultivated meat. The SFA leads as the first regulatory authority in the world to approve cultivated meat products that are commercially available all across the world. Singapore was the first country to introduce cultivated meat to the market by accelerating innovation and encouraging the growth of sustainable protein sources.
2024 Retail Sales of Plant-based Foods of the Good Food Institute by Region
Plant-based Foods:
Name of the Region | Europe | Asia Pacific | North America | Latin America | Middle East and Africa |
Retail Sales | $9.7 billion | $8.9 billion | $7.3 billion | $1.7 billion | $1.0 billion |
The soy segment dominated the plant-based meat market in 2024.
Soy is good for health due to its nutritious contents, like protein, healthy fats, fiber, potassium, iron, and phytochemicals. The convenience of incorporating soybean and foods made from them into snacks and meals makes them a good choice for a healthy and plant-based diet. A variety of soy foods such as edamame, tofu, tempeh, and soy milk allow people to add them to healthy diets.
The pea segment is expected to witness the fastest rate of growth in the plant-based meat market during the predicted timeframe.
The pea is in high demand because it is a good source of plant-based protein and a useful source of vegan iron. The presence of antioxidant plant compounds in peas makes it a preferred choice for healthy diets. Peas contribute to improving blood sugar control and support digestive health and heart health. It helps to balance cholesterol and serves as a cancer-protective food. Pea also protects vision at the time of aging and supports the immune system.
The burgers segment dominated the plant-based meat market in 2024.
The burgers serve as powerhouse of proteins that are essential for muscle repair and in the creation of enzymes and hormones. The protein-enriched burgers help in the maintenance of a healthy immune system. The preference for lean meat and plant-based burger alternatives allows consumers to experience an entire protein-rich meal without excessive saturated fat.
The sausages segment is observed to be the fastest-growing in the plant-based meat market during the forecast period.
Sausages are good for health because they are high in protein, help keep the body healthy, keep the blood healthy, and keep consumers looking healthy. The sausages provide consumers with high levels of vitamin B12 and iron, which are essential for healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin production. Vitamin-B12- enriched sausages help to metabolize both proteins and fats in the human body.
The chicken segment dominated the plant-based meat market in 2024.
The consumption of chicken, which is a great source of protein, contributes to making stronger bones and muscles. It helps in weight management and keeping the heart healthy, which also reduces the risk of heart diseases. In addition to high-quality proteins, chicken also contains tryptophan(amino acid), choline, zinc, iron, vitamin B12, and copper, which serve a great amount of nutrition.
The fish segment is seen to grow at the fastest rate in the plant-based meat market in the upcoming years.
Fish enriched with omega-3 fatty acids help to maintain a healthy heart, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart attack, sudden death, strokes, and abnormal heart rhythms. There is a cultural importance of fish in Washington State as an important cultural icon due to its spiritual and recreational way of life in the Pacific Northwest. The fish serves as a symbol of culture, heritage, and prosperity. The intake of fish can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, diabetes, depression, and ADHD.
The HORECA (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) segment dominated the plant-based meat market in 2024.
The growing importance of food safety and increasing efforts to maintain taste and convenience drive the growth of the HORECA industry. The rising popularity of ready-to-cook food products due to their various health benefits increases the expansion of the HORECA industry. The implementation of strict quality control measures in ensuring food safety and maintaining the highest standards raised the importance of the HORECA market.
The retail segment is expected to witness the fastest rate of growth in the plant-based meat market during the predicted timeframe.
The benefits of the retail sector include an easy shopping experience, customer engagement, personalization, and instant gratification, which drive the growth of the retail sector. The retail industry allows greater inventory options, targeted discounts, and price matching. The customers can enjoy an online buying experience along with some loyalty rewards, credit cards, and facility amenities.
The frozen plant-based meat segment dominated the plant-based meat market in 2024.
Frozen plant-based meat is convenient for people with busy lifestyles due to its longer shelf-life and more sustainability than traditional meat. It offers various nutritional benefits, such as less saturated fat, no cholesterol, and more fiber than animal-based meat. According to the Good Food Institute, it is more affordable than fresh animal-based meat or plant-based meat.
The refrigerated plant-based meat segment is observed to be the fastest-growing in the market during the predicted period.
The refrigerated plant-based meat helps in weight management and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. It is a good source of protein, fiber, and nutrients and helps in achieving environmental sustainability. It plays a major role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and land consumption.
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June 2025
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