Cultured Meat Market: Industry Trends and Forecasted Estimates to 2050 - Distribution by Source of Meat, Type of Cultivation Technique, Form of Meat Produced, End Products Offered and Key Geographical Region

The global cultured meat market size is estimated to be worth USD 0.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to be worth USD 229 billion by 2050, growing at a CAGR of 30.8% during the forecast period, till 2050.

The new research study consists of industry trends, detailed market analysis, cultured meat providers landscape, partnerships and collaborations, funding and investments, patent analysis, market impact analysis, and market forecast and opportunity analysis. The growth in the market size over the next decade is likely to be the result of the anticipated increase in demand for protein alternatives.

In recent years, there has been a perpetual rise in the global population. According to recent estimates provided by United Nation’s, the world population is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. This demographic trend is accompanied by an increase in demand for food, particularly meat products. Meat is an important source of macronutrients and micronutrients, such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins that provide the ability to build and repair worn-out tissues as well as fulfill the energy requirements of the body. Given its several perquisites, the demand for meat is increasing extensively, which has led to a three-fold increase in industrial meat production. However, the increased demand for meat cannot be solely met by conventional animal farming methods, necessitating the requirement of alternative approaches. Consequently, cultured meat, also known as cultivated meat, has emerged as a potent protein alternative solution catering to the heightened demand for protein amid the rising population.
 
The conventional approach of livestock farming employed to meet the global meat demand poses significant challenges, contributing to adverse environmental consequences such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity and overburden on the land resources, thereby impeding sustainable resource management. It is worth highlighting that currently, approximately three quarters of agricultural land is estimated to be allocated for animal farming, thus leaving behind only a small portion of land for crop production. Additionally, almost 60% of greenhouse gas emissions from food production are attributed to meat production. Therefore, in order to mitigate these challenges, an increased interest towards cultured meat production has been observed. 

The production process involves growing stem cells (isolated from living animals) in a bioreactor with the use of cell culture media. As such, cultured meat is also known as cell based meat or lab grown meat. Cultured meat has emerged as a promising alternative, capitalizing on several benefits associated with its production and consumption over traditional meat, including reduced environmental impact, owing to its minimal land and water requirements. Moreover, there exists a discernible shift in consumer preferences towards alternative protein sources, driving the increasing acceptance and adoption of cultured meat products. Considering this shift, along with the surging demand for alternative proteins and positive environmental impact of cultured meat production, the global cultured meat market is poised to witness substantial market growth during the forecast period.

Overall artificial meat market, which comprises of cultivated meat as well as plant-based meats is gaining increased research interest; with significant rise in the patent activity in these areas.

One of the key objectives of this market report was to estimate the current market size, opportunity and the future growth potential for the cultured meat companies, over the forecast period. The cultured meat market analysis also features the likely distribution of the current and forecasted opportunity within this market across various segments, such as source of meat (beef, pork, poultry, seafood and others), type of cultivation technique (scaffold-based, suspension-based, tissue-based and others), form of meat produced (minced meat and whole-cut meat), end products offered (burger patties, filets / steaks, meatballs, nuggets and sausages), application (pet food industry and human food industry), end users (e-commerce, restaurants and retailers) and key geographical regions.

Cultured Meat Market Share Insights

Market Share by Source of Meat

Based on the source of meat, the global cultured / cultivated meat market is categorized into beef, pork, poultry, seafood and others. Poultry as a source of cultivated meat currently occupies the highest share and is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years.

Market Share by Type of Cultivation Technique

Based on the type of cultivation technique, the global cultured meat market is categorized into scaffold-based technique, suspension-based technique, tissue-based technique and others. The scaffold-based segment currently occupies the highest share in the overall market and this trend is expected to remain same during the forecast period. This can be primarily attributed to the fact that scaffold-based technique offers additional support to the growing tissue thus, contributing to its maturation in a defined and structured manner to produce cultured meat products.

Market Share by Form of Meat Produced

Based on the form of meat produced, the global cultured meat market is segmented into minced meat and whole-cut meat. With the potential of minced meat being formulated into different end products, this market segment is anticipated to occupy the largest market share in the overall cultivated meat market.

Market Share by End Products Offered

Based on the end products offered, the cultured meat industry is segmented into burger patties, filets / steaks, meatballs, nuggets and sausages. Presently, within the minced meat market, burger patties occupy the largest share, followed by nuggets. This trend is unlikely to change in the near future.

Market Share by Application

Based on application, the global cultured meat market is segmented across human food industry and pet food industry. Currently, the human food industry segment holds a greater market share, owing to the regulatory approvals being granted for cultured meat being developed for human consumption. However, the market for cultured meat across the pet food industry is anticipated to grow at a faster pace. This can be attributed to the fact that the regulatory approval process of cultured meat products for pet consumption is relaxed and the final cultivated meat product does not necessitate a three-dimensional structural quality and bio-fabrication as is required for human consumption.

Market Share by End Users

Based on the end users, the cultured meat industry is categorised into e-commerce, restaurants and retailers. Presently, restaurants occupy the largest market share and is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years. This is followed by the cultured meat market share for retailers and e-commerce.

Market Share by Key Geographical Regions

This segment highlights the distribution of global cultured / cultivated meat market across various geographies, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and Rest of the World. According to our projections, Asia-Pacific is likely to capture the majority (38%) of the overall market. Owing to the growing demand for meat in Asia-Pacific region, this trend is unlikely to change in the future. It is worth highlighting that the market in Europe is expected to grow at a relatively higher CAGR (87%), till 2050.

Cultured Meat Market: Key Insights

The “Cultured Meat Market: Industry Trends and Forecasted Estimates to 2050” market report features an extensive study of the current market landscape, market size and future opportunities for the cultured meat companies, during the forecast period. Further, the market report highlights the efforts of several stakeholders engaged in this rapidly emerging industry. Key takeaways of the market report are briefly discussed below.

Overall Competitive Landscape of Cultured Meat Companies: Majority of the Cultured Meat Providers are Based in North America

The market landscape features the presence of over 105 large, mid-sized and small companies. Over 65% of the companies were established between the period 2018-2021, demonstrating the rising interest of industry stakeholders in the cultured meat domain. Examples of companies established pre-2015 include Charoen Pokphand Foods and Nissin Foods. Further, it is worth highlighting that 30% of the cultured meat providers are based in North America. Within Europe, the UK emerged as the hub of cultured meat companies. Furthermore, industry stakeholders are actively opting for emerging technologies to address challenges associated with scale-up, aiming to enhance efficiency and sustainability in the production process.

Key Drivers for Cultured Meat Market Growth: Surging Demand for Protein Alternatives

As the world population continues to grow, the demand for meat is also growing, surpassing what conventional method of animal farming can supply. In order to cater to this demand, transitioning to protein alternative like cultured meat is imperative. This shift is not only propelled by increased demand, but also by rise in the concerns over adverse environmental effects associated with traditional method of meat production. Additionally, as an outcome of rising ethical concerns among consumers, cultured meat presents a sustainable solution and a viable alternative that addresses concerns pertaining to both environmental impact and animal welfare. Consequently, the cultured meat industry is primed for significant growth.

Market Trend Analysis: Growing Interest in Cultured Meat Market is Evident from the Rise in Partnership and Collaboration Activity

Several stakeholders have been forging alliances with other industry / non-industry players in cultured meat industry for the development and manufacturing of cultured meat products. It is worth highlighting that, since 2022, more than 280 partnerships have been inked in the industry. Further, stakeholders are actively acquiring other companies specializing in the manufacturing of various cultured meat components, in order to expand their existing capabilities and consolidate their product portfolio. In this context, in May 2022, JBS acquired bio.Tech.Foods. in order to attain access to the company’s protein production technology for the product development purposes.

Market Trend Analysis: Upward Trend in Funding and Investments for Cultured Meat

Several stakeholders in the cultured meat domain have raised funds in order to fuel the growth of their operations. It is noteworthy that cultured meat companies have raised a cumulative sum of more than USD 2.4 billion, since 2020. Further, maximum number of funding instances were reported to be seed funding (33%), followed by venture capital funds (32%). It is worth highlighting that, in December 2021, Believer Meats(formerly known as Future Meat Technologies Ltd.) raised USD 347 million in a Series B round, led by ADM, S2G Ventures, and Menora Mivtachim pension and insurance fund, recording the largest investment in cultured meat industry.

Market Trend Analysis: Surge in the Number of Patent Applications Related to Cultured Meat

In the past five years, over 360 patents focused on cultured meat have been granted / filed, indicating the substantial efforts made by researchers in this market. It is worth highlighting that majority of the patents (88%) in this domain were patent applications (not having received approval yet), followed by granted patents (10%). Further, most of the patents have been filed by industry players in this industry.

Cultured Meat Market Size: Poultry and Pork to Hold the Largest Market Share

The global market for cultured meat is currently estimated to be worth $0.2 billion. Owing to the increase in the investments in cultured meat domain, the market growth is expected to increase at a CAGR of 50.2% during the forecast period, till 2050. It is worth highlighting that, in terms of source of meat, poultry and pork is expected to capture majority of the cultured meat market share during the forecast period. This can be attributed to the fact that these sources of meat are exceptionally rich in providing nutritional benefits, accounting for its popularity among consumers.

Regional Analysis: North America and Asia-Pacific as the Hub of Cultured Meat Providers; Europe to be the Fastest Growing Market

Presently, North America and Asia-Pacific capture more than 95% of the overall cultured meat market size. In fact, in recent years, preference of cultured meat in North America has witnessed a tremendous increase owing to the approvals from regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), attesting to the food safety standards of cultured meat products. It is worth highlighting that, in the coming years, owing to the anticipated increase in the establishment of cultured meat production facilities in Europe and various technological advancements for production of cultured meat products, the market in this region is expected to grow at a higher CAGR as compared to other regions.

Key Players in Cultured Meat Market

Examples of key cultured meat providers (which have also been profiled in this market report; the complete list of companies is available in the full report) include Aleph Farms, Esco Aster, GOOD Meat, Mosa Meat, UPSIDE Foods, Vow, Ants Innovate, Blue Ridge Bantham, BLUU, Finless Foods, Meatiply, MIRAI FOODS, Newform Foods, Ohayo Valley, Steakholder Foods and The Better Butchers. (Full list of 109 companies captured is available in the market landscape analysis of the report). This market report includes an easily searchable excel database of all the cultured meat providers.

Cultured Meat Market Report Coverage

The market report presents an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various stakeholders engaged in this industry, across different geographies. Amongst other elements, the market research report includes:

• A preface providing an introduction to the full report, Cultured Meat Market: Industry Trends and Forecasted Estimates to 2050.
• An outline of the systematic research methodology adopted to conduct the study on cultured meat industry, providing insights on various assumptions, methodologies, and quality control measures employed to ensure accuracy and reliability of our findings.
• An overview of economic factors that impact the overall cultured meat market outlook, including historical trends, currency fluctuation, foreign exchange impact, recession, and inflation measurement.
• An executive summary of the key insights captured during our research, offering a high-level view of the current landscape of cultured meat industry trends and its likely evolution in the short to mid and long term.
• A general overview of cultured meat, encompassing its necessity, applications, and a comparative analysis with conventional meat. Additionally, it provides insights into the historical development of the cultured meat industry, explaining the processes and techniques employed in its production and bio-fabrication. Further, the chapter emphasizes the advantages and limitations of cultured meat production, alongside insights into future prospects.
• A detailed assessment of the overall market landscape of cultured meat providers, based on several relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size (based on the employee count), location of their headquarters (region and country), source of meat (beef, pork, poultry, seafood and other sources), end products offered (burger patties, filets / steaks, meatballs, nuggets, sausages and others), form of meat produced (minced meat and whole cut meat), production approach (pure cultured meat and hybrid cultured meat), type of cultivation technique (scaffold-based, suspension-based, tissue-based and others), type of bio-fabrication technique (3-D bioprinting, extrusion and molding), public tasting availability and end users (restaurants, retailers and other users). 
• Elaborate profiles of prominent players (that have received regulatory approval for their cultured meat products) in the cultured meat market. Each profile provides a brief overview of the company along with information on its product portfolio, technology portfolio and an insightful recent development and future outlook.
• An analysis of the partnerships inked between various cultured meat providers, since 2020, based on several parameters, such as year of partnership, type of partnership (acquisitions, commercialization agreements, construction agreements, distribution agreements, joint ventures, licensing agreements, manufacturing agreements, manufacturing and commercialization agreements, manufacturing and distribution agreements, process development agreements, product development agreements, product development and commercialization agreements, product evaluation agreements,  research and development agreements, supply agreements and others), purpose of partnership and most active players (in terms of number of partnerships). Further, the chapter highlights the regional distribution of partnership activity in this domain. 
• The chapter features detailed analysis of funding and investments made in the cultured meat domain, based on relevant parameters such as year of funding, type of funding, amount invested (USD million), focus area, geography, most active players (in terms of number of funding instances), most active players (in terms of amount invested) and leading investors (in terms of number of funding instances).
• An in-depth analysis of patents related to cultured meat, filed / granted, since 2019, based on patent publication year, patent application year, patent jurisdiction, CPC symbols, type of applicant, patent age, geography, leading industry players (in terms of the number of patents filed / granted). Additionally, the chapter includes patent benchmarking analysis and an insightful patent valuation analysis, highlighting the leading patents (in terms of number of citations). 
• An in-depth analysis of the factors that can impact the growth of cultured meat market. It also features identification of key drivers, potential restraints, emerging opportunities, and existing challenges.
• A detailed estimate of the current market size and future market growth potential of the cultured meat market over the next 11 years. Based on multiple parameters, likely adoption trends and through primary validations, we have provided an informed estimate on the market size during the forecast period, till 2050. 
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured / cultivated meat market across sources of meat, such as beef, pork, poultry, seafood and others.
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured meat industry across different types of cultivation techniques such as scaffold-based, suspension-based, tissue-based and others.
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured meat market across different forms of meat produced such as minced meat and whole-cut meat.
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured meat industry across different end products offered such as burger patties, filets / steaks, meatballs, nuggets and sausages.
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured / cultivated meat market across different applications such as human food industry and pet food industry.
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured meat market across different end users such as e-commerce, restaurants and retailers.
• Detailed projections of the current and future opportunity within the cultured meat industry across key geographical regions including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America and Rest of the World.