Meat alternatives are plant-based or cell-based products that mimic animal meat's sensory and nutritional qualities. They offer a range of benefits for human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.  

 

Global Demand for Meat Alternatives 

The global meat alternatives market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing consumer demand for healthier, more ethical, and environmentally friendly food options. According to Future Market Insights, the global meat alternatives market is expected to reach a valuation of $13.9 billion by 2023 and around $230 billion by 2033, accelerating at a CAGR of 28.8% in that span. 

The major players in the meat alternatives market include Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Gardein, Morningstar Farms, and Lightlife Foods. These companies offer various products made from plant-based ingredients such as soy, wheat, pea, and other legumes.  

Another emerging segment in the meat alternatives market is cell-based or cultured meat, produced by growing animal cells in bioreactors without slaughtering animals. Although still in the research and development stage, this technology has the potential to produce meat with the same taste, texture, and nutritional profile as conventional meat with minimal environmental impact and animal suffering. 

Sustainable Solutions for Growing Meat Market 

The global demand for animal meat is projected to increase by 70% by 2050 due to population growth and rising incomes in developing countries. However, the current animal agriculture system cannot meet this demand as it faces efficiency, sustainability, and ethical challenges. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions, land use change, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and antibiotic resistance, posing serious risks to animal welfare and human health. The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as a carcinogen, red meat as a probable carcinogen, and health risks posed by foodborne illnesses derived from contaminated animal meat. 

Meat alternatives offer a viable solution to address the challenges of the meat market. They can provide consumers with similar sensory experiences as animal meat but with a lower environmental footprint and higher ethical standards. Further, they provide significant health benefits.  

Meat alternatives can offer consumers more diverse and balanced sources of protein that are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories than animal meat, while also preventing zoonotic diseases and antibiotic resistance by reducing the contact between humans and animals. 

Given the likelihood of improved economies of scale, given expected technological improvements and increased demand, meat alternatives should continue to grab a larger share of the global meat market as the price gap continues to shrink, with cell-based meat expected to reach $593 million by 2032, and GFI predicting that plant-based meat will account for 10% of the global meat market by 2030. It is imperative for food-focused companies to prioritize investment in meat alternatives, as macroeconomic and consumer benefits point towards this segment seeing a continued upward trajectory, becoming a cornerstone of consumer diets.

 

This article was contributed by our expert Robert Hyams

 

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Robert Hyams

 

1. What are some of the major brands, restaurants, and retailers that offer meat alternatives?

Major brands offering plant-based meat alternatives include: 

Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Quorn Foods, Gardein, Morningstar Farms, Tofurky, and Lightlife Foods.  

Some of the major brands that are developing cell-based meat alternatives include: 

Memphis Meats, Mosa Meat, Aleph Farms, and Eat Just. 

Some of the major restaurants that offer plant-based meat alternatives include: 

Burger King, McDonald's, KFC, Subway, Dunkin', Starbucks, and Taco Bell. Some of the major restaurants that have partnered with cell-based meat companies include Just Salad, Shake Shack, and White Castle. 

Some of the major retailers that offer plant-based meat alternatives include: 

Walmart, Target, Costco, Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, and Kroger. Some of the major retailers that have expressed interest in selling cell-based meat include: 

Albertsons Companies, Safeway, and Wegmans. 

 

2. What are some anticipated future challenges for the traditional animal meat market? 

Some of the anticipated future challenges for the traditional animal meat market include the following: 

Increasing consumer awareness and concern about the health, environmental, and ethical issues associated with animal agriculture 

Increasing competition from plant-based and cell-based meat alternatives that offer similar or better sensory and nutritional qualities as animal meat 

Increasing regulatory pressure and public policy interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, land use change, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and antibiotic resistance caused by animal agriculture 

Increasing risk of zoonotic diseases and foodborne illnesses due to intensive animal farming practices 

According to The Good Food Institute (GFI), animal agriculture accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, uses 70% of global agricultural land, consumes 27% of global freshwater, and contributes to antibiotic resistance, zoonotic diseases, and animal suffering. Further, it takes about 15 times more water to produce one kilogram of beef than one kilogram of soybeans.  

Animal agriculture is not only a major contributor to climate change but also a victim of it. Climate change will affect animal productivity, health, and welfare by altering temperature patterns, precipitation levels, disease vectors, and feed availability. 

 

3. What are some expected impacts of pricing for meat alternatives and traditional animal meat? 

The price gap between plant-based and animal meat will narrow over time as plant-based meat production costs decrease due to economies of scale and technological advancements.  

The price elasticity of demand for plant-based or cell-based meat will increase as consumers become more familiar and satisfied with their sensory and nutritional qualities. The price elasticity of demand for animal meat will decrease over time as consumers become more aware and concerned about its health, environmental, and ethical implications. The price gap between cell-based and animal meat will also narrow over time as cell-based meat production costs decrease due to innovation and optimization in biotechnology and bioprocessing. 

 

4. What are some of the expected nutritional improvements for meat alternatives? 

Some of the expected nutritional improvements for meat alternatives include: 

Plant-based meat alternatives can provide more diverse and balanced sources of protein that are lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories than animal meat. They can also be fortified with essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids often lacking in plant-based diets. 

Cell-based meat alternatives can provide similar or better sensory and nutritional qualities as conventional meat without contamination from pathogens such as Salmonella, E.coli, and Campylobacter. They can also be customized to optimize their fat content, type, and composition according to consumer preferences and needs.