Edible Grasshoppers

Global Edible Grasshoppers Market to Reach US$201.8 Million by 2030

The global market for Edible Grasshoppers estimated at US$57.8 Million in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$201.8 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 23.2% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Dried Form, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 24.0% CAGR and reach US$108.9 Million by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Powdered Form segment is estimated at 24.3% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$15.2 Million While China is Forecast to Grow at 21.9% CAGR

The Edible Grasshoppers market in the U.S. is estimated at US$15.2 Million in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$30.7 Million by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 21.9% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% and 20.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 17.0% CAGR.

Global Edible Grasshoppers Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

What Is Fueling the Shift Toward Grasshoppers as a Mainstream Edible Protein Source?

Once regarded as a novelty or cultural staple confined to traditional cuisines in parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, edible grasshoppers are now entering mainstream consumer consciousness as viable alternative proteins. With global protein demand escalating due to rising populations and the growing need for sustainable food production, grasshoppers are gaining traction as a high-protein, low-footprint insect-based food solution. Their protein content, which ranges from 60% to 70% by dry weight, positions them as a competitor to conventional animal proteins like beef and poultry—particularly in high-performance food and supplement formulations.

Western consumers, once reluctant to accept insects as food, are gradually opening up to grasshopper-based snacks, powders, and protein blends due to increased awareness of sustainability, fitness trends, and exotic culinary experiences. As product developers introduce familiar food formats—such as energy bars, roasted snack pouches, and flavored crisps—grasshoppers are becoming more accessible to non-traditional markets. Innovations in flavor masking, processing methods, and branding strategies have also played a vital role in removing cultural barriers and repositioning grasshoppers as gourmet or premium wellness food rather than an ethnographic curiosity.

How Are Innovations in Farming and Processing Redefining Grasshopper Commercialization?

Scalability and hygiene in insect farming are critical challenges that manufacturers are addressing through technological interventions in vertical farming, biosecure rearing systems, and automated harvesting. Grasshoppers, unlike crickets or mealworms, require controlled environments that mimic natural light-dark cycles and temperature variations to maintain optimal breeding and maturation rates. This has led to the development of programmable light systems and environment-controlled chambers that ensure year-round production in urban vertical farms or modular units.

On the processing side, companies are investing in technologies that improve decontamination, dehydration, and powder milling processes to ensure microbial safety and shelf stability. Advanced freeze-drying and spray-drying methods are being used to retain nutritional integrity while minimizing oxidation and off-flavors. Some firms have also patented enzymatic hydrolysis processes to produce grasshopper protein isolates with improved solubility and digestibility for functional food and nutraceutical applications. Further, quality certifications such as HACCP, ISO 22000, and novel food approvals under EFSA and FDA are now increasingly applied to grasshopper-based foods, ensuring compliance with international standards.

Which End-Use Segments and Consumer Niches Are Powering Demand Growth for Edible Grasshoppers?

The food and beverage sector remains the largest consumer of edible grasshoppers, with demand rising across health-conscious segments such as fitness enthusiasts, ketogenic dieters, and eco-aware millennials. Snack manufacturers are leading in volume uptake by integrating grasshoppers into protein bars, chips, and trail mixes, often marketing them as high-protein, gluten-free, and environmentally friendly. Grasshopper powders are also finding application in bakery mixes, smoothies, and pasta where nutritional enrichment is prioritized without dramatic alterations to flavor or texture.

Beyond human consumption, the pet food and aquafeed sectors are emerging as high-potential application areas. Grasshoppers offer a hypoallergenic, high-protein alternative for premium pet food blends, especially for sensitive breeds or those on limited-ingredient diets. In aquaculture, grasshopper meal is being explored as a replacement for fishmeal and soybean meal due to its high amino acid profile and faster digestibility. The cosmetic and nutraceutical sectors are also showing growing interest, with grasshopper extracts being evaluated for topical applications and dietary supplements due to their antioxidant and collagen-boosting properties. Regional adoption in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific is being aided by a combination of regulatory backing, culinary innovation, and consumer education.

What Is Driving Market Expansion and Strategic Investment in Edible Grasshoppers?

The growth in the edible grasshoppers market is driven by several factors including climate-resilient protein demand, functional food trends, and supportive regulatory environments. As climate change and land degradation exert pressure on conventional livestock production, grasshoppers offer a highly efficient protein source that requires significantly less water, feed, and space. Their feed conversion ratio and greenhouse gas emissions are substantially lower than those of traditional livestock, making them attractive in the context of carbon-conscious food systems.

Strategic investments are flowing into startup ecosystems focused on insect protein innovation, with several grasshopper farming and processing ventures securing funding from sustainability-focused investors and agri-food accelerators. Government agencies and food safety authorities are also beginning to include grasshoppers under regulatory frameworks for novel foods, which has opened the door to broader commercialization in regions like the EU, North America, and Southeast Asia. Consumer education campaigns, chef-led culinary promotions, and influencer marketing have accelerated awareness and acceptance, further expanding the addressable market.

Additionally, geopolitical disruptions, inflationary pressures on meat prices, and pandemic-induced interest in resilient local food systems have reinforced the urgency of diversifying protein sources. Grasshoppers are being strategically positioned not only as a food of the future but as a key component of today’s circular and sustainable food economy. Their ability to address multiple food system challenges—nutrition, sustainability, and food security—ensures their long-term relevance and commercial potential. As technological maturation and consumer trust converge, edible grasshoppers are poised to scale from niche superfoods to mainstream protein alternatives across global markets.

SCOPE OF STUDY:

The report analyzes the Edible Grasshoppers market in terms of units by the following Segments, and Geographic Regions/Countries:

Segments:
Form (Dried Form, Powdered Form, Frozen Form, Other Form); Distribution Channel (Offline Distribution Channel, Online Distribution Channel); End-Use (Human Nutrition End-Use, Animal Nutrition End-Use)

Geographic Regions/Countries:
World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World.

Select Competitors (Total 36 Featured) -

• All Things Bugs LLC
• Aspire Food Group
• Beta Hatch Inc.
• Bitty Foods
• Bugsolutely
• Chapul LLC
• Crickstart Food Co.
• Eat Grub
• Entomo Farms
• Entosense Inc.
• Essento Food AG
• Global Bugs Asia Co., Ltd.
• Hargol FoodTech
• InnovaFeed
• JR Unique Foods Ltd.
• Kreca Ento-Feed BV
• Micronutris
• Protifarm
• Protix B.V.
• Thailand Unique

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