Meat Substitutes Market to See Massive Growth by 2030

Factors such as the increasing concerns about food nutrition, security, and sustainability and mounting investments in plant-based protein sources will drive the meat substitutes market growth during the forecast period (2021–2023). According to P&S Intelligence, the market generated ~$2 billion in revenue in 2020. At present, the surging consumer preference for vegan diets has become a prominent market trend, owing to the growing public awareness of healthy eating habits, hygienic food, and weight management. 

One of the key growth drivers of the market is the mounting concerns being raised over food security, nutrition, and sustainability. Food security refers to the state of having reliable access to a substantial quantity of nutritious and affordable food. As per the Climate Change and Land report of the United Nations (UN), food security may be compromised unless there is a transition away from red meat and animal protein sources, such as dairy products, eggs, and pigs to plant-based foods, such as legumes, fruits, and vegetables, which emit lower amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) than red meat over their lifetime.

In recent years, companies operating in the meat substitutes market have been introducing new products according to regional preferences. For instance, in June 2019, DuPont de Nemours Inc. launched a new egg white replacement system for plant-based meat alternatives. Similarly, in July 2020, the company introduced a new range of products under the Danisco Planit brand, which includes plant proteins, enzymes, cultures, hydrocolloids, fibers, probiotics, natural extracts, antioxidants, and emulsifiers. The company focused on nutrition, taste, sustainability, and texture when developing this portfolio.   

Whereas, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is expected to demonstrate the fastest growth in the meat substitutes market during the forecast period. This can be primarily attributed to the surging food consumption in the region, owing to the growing population and mounting awareness about healthy diets, such as vegetarian and vegan diets. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP), APAC is home to approximately 4.3 billion people and two of the most populous countries in the world— India and China.

Therefore, the rising concerns regarding food nutrition, sustainability, and security and increasing shift toward vegan diets will catalyze the market growth in the forthcoming years.