North America Alternative Proteins Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034

The market size for North America alternative proteins reached more than 3.24 MMT in 2024. The North America alternative proteins market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.70% in the forecast period of 2025-2034, reaching 16.53 MMT by 2034.

Key Trends in the Market

Alternative proteins are a sustainable and nutritious food ingredient obtained from plants or fungi or insects as a substitute for animal-based protein ingredients. Three major protein alternative include beans and legumes, soy, and nuts and nut butter. Benefit of alternative proteins is that less energy is used by plant based proteins to produce them in comparison to animal based protein.

• Soy proteins are a growing a trend in the North America alternative proteins market as they are widely used for animal feed products for animals including calves, pigs. Soy protein is preferred because it provides advantages such as treatment of metabolic disorders, prevention of urinary tract infections, and weight control.
• Many people, especially athletes, youth, and celebrities are changing their habits and adopting to meat-free diets which is bringing a positive shift in the market. Also, an increase in acceptance of vegan lifestyles is another reason and a growing trend that is affecting the market positively, contributing to the growth of the North America alternative proteins market.
• Edible insects have a high nutritional value containing Vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fibre, and antioxidants, minimal requirements for space and adding them to the diet has a minimal environmental impact. Insects are used an alternative protein for the fish and as an ingredient.

Market Opportunities and Challenges

• The increase in health-conscious population in North America, particularly the United States, who are adapting their diets is a key opportunity for the market. People are interested in leading healthy and active lifestyles, vegan diets or are lactose intolerant resulting in a rise in consumers for healthy food products including alternative proteins.
• Low-cost food products that provide facilitate healthy diets are preferred in the market and meat-based proteins tend to be expensive. Alternative proteins are affordable and provide proteins equivalent to meat. They also have an additional advantage of being produced using less energy, thus lowering their costs.

Market Segmentation

The EMR’s report titled “North America Alternative Proteins Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Source

• Plant Based
• Fermentation
• Cellular Agriculture
• Others

Market Breakup by Ingredient

• Bulk Ingredients
• Specialty Ingredients

Market Breakup by End Use

• Food and Beverage
• Aquaculture
• Animal Feed
• Others

Market Breakup by Distribution Channel

• B2B
• B2C

Market Breakup by Region

• United States
• Canada

Market Share by Source

Plant based alternative proteins are an alternative for animal meat, but the colour, texture and flavours are given such that they appear to be animal meat. The sources of protein in these plant-based products vary from potatoes to soy to mung beans. Sometimes alternative proteins are fermented using microbes or are cultured straight from the animal cells in a process termed as fermentation. Cellular agriculture is similar to fermentation except that it produces animal products from cell cultures instead of animals directly. All these factors play a major role in the growth of the North America alternative proteins market.

Competitive Landscape

The comprehensive EMR report provides an in-depth assessment of the market based on the Porter's five forces model along with giving a SWOT analysis. The report gives a detailed analysis of the following key players in the North America alternative proteins market, covering their competitive landscape and latest developments like mergers, acquisitions, investments and expansion plans.

Kerry Group

Kerry Group is a leading international group that provides nutritious and sustainable solutions. It was founded in 1972 in Listowel, Ireland. It partners with food and beverage and pharmaceutical markets.

Calysta

Calysta, founded in 2012, conducts research and development from Teessida, United Kingdom and believes in delivering the best protein products including alternative protein products via its patented fermentation platform.

Darling Ingredients

Darling Ingredients founded in 1882 is a Chicago based company and has its headquarters in United States. It is an agri-food company that is known to reduce food waste from animal-based co-products and natural materials.

Other market players include E.I. Dupont De Nemours and Company, Greenleaf Foods SPC, Archer Daniels Midland Company, and Cargill Incorporated, among others.
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