June 2025
The global single cell protein products market size was valued at USD 10.80 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow steadily from USD 11.89 billion in 2025 to reach nearly USD 28.17 billion by 2034, with a CAGR of 10.06% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The global market is attributed to the increasing demand for protein consumption across the globe.
Study Coverage | Details |
Growth Rate from 2025 to 2034 | CAGR of 10.06% |
Market Size in 2025 | USD 11.89 Billion |
Market Size in 2026 | USD 13.08 Billion |
Market Size by 2034 | USD 28.17 Billion |
Largest Market | North America |
Base Year | 2024 |
Forecast Period | 2025 to 2034 |
Regions Covered | North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa |
The single cell protein products market deals with editable, processed, and raw protein products that are derived from pure microbial cultures, dried cell biomass, and dead and microbial cell cultures. They are appropriate for both animal and human feeds as a protein supplement. The growth of the market is witnessing rapid growth due to factors such as the increasing presence of nucleic acids, rising research and development expenditure for the development of new products, rising technological innovations for the advancements of cost-effective products, and increasing demand for protein across the globe.
Some of the major benefits may drive the global market across the globe, such as increasing environmental concerns and sustainability and increasing food demand. Due to the high demand for protein and food sources, the population is growing rapidly across the globe. In addition, as compared to conventional livestock farming, single-cell protein production has majorly reduced environmental impact. It needs less feed resources, water, and land which further generates less waste. The demand for alternative protein sources such as single cell protein products is expected to increase, as sustainability becomes a more crucial concern, which is expected to drive the growth of the single cell protein products market.
The rising technological advancements in single cell protein products may create major growth opportunities. The rising innovations such as synthetic biology and precision fermentation enable the genetic engineering of microbes to improve digestibility, enhance nutritional content, and increase protein yields. Companies are creating proteins with less environmental impact, by integrating carbon capture and renewable energy in single cell protein product production. In addition, improved downstream processing techniques, such as filtration and spray drying, can expand single cell protein products used in pharmaceuticals, animal feed, and food and enhance product shelf life, taste, and purity. These innovative factors are expected to revolutionize the growth of the single cell protein products market in the coming years.
The high-cost manufacturing value related to raw substances, bioreactors, and fermentation are the major hindering factors that may restrain market growth. Single cell protein product manufacturing needs huge energy inputs, controlled environments, and specialized gadgets which are very expensive and may impact high-scale commercialization. In addition, as many single cell protein product techniques are based on microbial cultivation, scalability problems prevent mass adoption, which can be sensitive to yield fluctuations and commercialization. Furthermore, the increasing need for client attractiveness and regulatory approvals may provide complexity, which is further expected to restrain the growth of the single cell protein products market across the globe.
North America dominated the single cell protein products market in 2024.
The market growth is owing to the increasing number of consumers seeking health-conscious and sustainable food alternatives, increasing consumer preference towards plant-based diets, rising technological advancements in pharmaceutical and biotechnology, increasing trends towards flexitarian and veganism, and rising sustainability.
The U.S. dominated the market share in 2024, which contributed to the increasing popularity of plant-based diets, increasing government regulatory support, and growing the animal feed industry. Single cell protein products help consumers with weight loss, muscle-building, and overall health in the U.S. Plant-based and whey options are widely used products in the U.S. Consumers can maintain energy levels, support muscle growth, and ensure overall nutritional balance. In addition, single cell protein products in the U.S. also support consumer health and fitness goals such as immune support, hormone regulation, enzyme production, hair and skin health, bone health, brain function and mental clarity, appetite control, calorie burn and weight loss and muscle repair and growth, which further expected to drive the global single cell protein products market growth in the U.S.
How Asia Pacific is revolutionizing market growth?
Asia Pacific is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period. The market growth in the region is attributed to factors such as the increasing demand for alternative and sustainable protein sources, rising innovations in biotechnology and fermentation, the growing food and beverage industry, and increasing focus on nutrition and health. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are the fastest growing countries that contributed to driving the market growth. India is the fastest and most significant country propelling global market growth. There is a high local consumer preference to buy protein-based products in India. Indian diets include almost 60% of protein from protein-based products with low quality and digestibility, which is expected to enhance the market in India.
How do the yeast segment dominate the market in 2024?
The yeast segment dominated the single cell protein products market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is driven by factors such as the increasing consumer demand for alternative proteins, rising technological advancement, increasing awareness toward environment and sustainability, and rapid scalability and production. Yeast is a gluten-free and dairy-free product that can be added with a nutty flavor and savory to dishes. It offers proteins, minerals, and vitamins to the diet. Various people consume a significant quantity of nutritional yeast across the globe, which offers additional health benefits. Manufacturers can grow nutritional yeast from a variety of sources, such as sugar beets, whey, and molasses. Fortified nutritional yeast offers various benefits and is the most common type.
The bacteria segment is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period.
The bacteria segment growth in the single cell protein products market is driven by various benefits such as prevention from harmful bacteria, protection from pathogens, help to enhance the immune system and digestive health. Most bacteria play an important role in immune defense, nutrient production, and digestion, which increases market demand.
How animal feed segment dominated the market in 2024?
The animal feed segment led the market in 2024. The segment growth in the single cell protein products market is expected to lead to the growing aquaculture and livestock industry, increasing consumer awareness towards animal health and well-being. Animals are especially vulnerable to issues caused by insufficient and unbalanced nutrition. To maintain animals' productivity and overall health, they are heavily dependent on the feed. Animals get high energy from carbohydrates which are present in grain, hay, and grass.
Protein products play an important role in the growth of animals. Soy, milk, beef, and others are rich sources of protein for animals. In addition, there are various benefits of balanced nutrition in animal feed, such as high reproduction, increased milk production, improved immune system of animals, prevent weakness and disease, increased productivity, fertility improvement, support sustainability, saves money and resources, and promotion health and well-being of animals, which further expected to drive the segment demand.
The human food segment is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period.
Human feed plays an important role in human nutrition which provides nutrient-dense, affordable, and safe foodstuffs that support human well-being and health. Livestock production is crucial in the social and economic sustainability of developing and developed countries. Millions of individuals work across the food supply chain ranging from poultry workers, meat, truck drivers, grocery store employees, restaurant workers, agricultural workers, and many others, which further drives the demand for human feed.
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