Alternative Protein Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Rising Health Consciousness
- Ronak Shah
- U.S.A
- January 17, 2025

The Alternative Protein Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 16.44 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.2% over the forecast period 2024- 2031, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.
The Alternative Protein Market is driven by rising health consciousness among consumers and growing demand for plant-based and clean label foods. Consumers are increasingly adopting flexitarian or vegetarian diets and reducing their meat consumption due to various health and environmental benefits associated with plant-based diets. This increasing preference for vegan and vegetarian lifestyles is favoring the demand for alternative sources of protein. Furthermore, alternative proteins help address issues of food security and sustainability as their production requires less land and water compared to animal proteins.
Key Market Trends: Global trends towards sustainable eating and reducing environmental footprint of food consumption are propelling the demand for alternative proteins. Food companies are launching various plant-based meat and dairy products to cater to the growing needs of health-conscious consumers. For instance, in 2021, Beyond Meat launched plant-based fried “chicken” tenders and nuggets at grocery stores and fast-food chains such as KFC and Pizza Hut. Similarly, Impossible Foods introduced plant-based pork products at various restaurants. Furthermore, developing economies are also witnessing increasing adoption of plant-based meat products due to growing health awareness and expanding vegan demography in these regions.
Alternative Protein Market Opportunities: With rising health awareness, consumers are increasingly becoming conscious about the nutritional contents of the food they consume. There is a growing demand for plant-based and other alternative proteins as they are considered healthier than animal-based proteins. The alternative protein sources like soy, pea, wheat etc. are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibers and antioxidants. They are also low in saturated fat and cholesterol. The health benefits of alternative proteins are attracting more people towards these healthier options.
The production of animal-based proteins puts a lot of pressure on the environment and contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. As people become more aware about the role of food choices in sustainability, there is rising demand for alternative proteins that require less land and water usage for production. Products derived from plant-based sources like soy, pea etc. have lower carbon footprint compared to meat and dairy. The environmental benefits of alternative proteins are influencing consumer purchase decisions in their favor.
Key Market Takeaways: Soy protein segment is expected to hold the major share owing to wide availability and established infrastructure for production of soy proteins.
Isolates segment is anticipated to be the leading segment driven by high protein content and easy integration into various food products.
North America is dominating the global alternative protein market currently due to strong demand for plant-based diets and proteins. Growing health awareness is supporting market growth in the region.
Competitor Insights: Some of the major players operating in the global alternative protein market include ADM, Cargill Inc., DuPont, Kerry Group, Ingredion, and Roquette Frères. Strategic collaborations and new product launches are amongst the key strategies adopted by these players to strengthen their market position.
Recent Developments: While plant-based meat enjoys mass-market availability today, cultured meat is poised to achieve a similar milestone in 2023 or 2024. Also known as clean meat or cell-based meat, cultured meat is produced by cultivating animal cells in a controlled production system rather than from livestock. Upside Foods, Aleph Farms, and other pioneering startups have overcome key technical challenges. They are now working through the regulatory process with products very likely to launch within the next year or two. More information in full report.