Synthetic Food Market Report 2025

The synthetic food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $17.57 billion in 2024 to $18.71 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to population growth, increasing urbanization, changing dietary habits, rising health consciousness, globalization of food supply chains.

The synthetic food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $23.54 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing population, increasing demand for sustainable food sources, rising awareness of personalized nutrition, expansion of alternative protein sources, government initiatives supporting synthetic food. Major trends in the forecast period include development of plant-based and lab-grown alternatives, personalized nutrition trends, focus on sustainability in food production, increased use of precision fermentation, rising popularity of 3D-printed food.

The anticipated surge in demand for alternative protein sources is poised to drive the growth of the synthetic food market. These alternative protein sources can be derived from plants, animals, or fermentation-produced cells, showcasing innovations in categories such as lab-grown meat, plant-based meat, single-cell proteins from yeast or algae, and edible insects. This trend aligns with broader efforts within the food industry to develop sustainable and health-conscious diets. For example, the National Research Council Canada reported in August 2022 that the need for alternative proteins in Canada, including plant-based proteins, was projected to grow by 14% annually by 2024. By 2054, the overall protein demand is expected to double, reaching 943.5 million metric tons. Hence, the rising demand for alternative protein sources is a significant driver of the synthetic food market.

The rise in health-conscious choices is anticipated to drive the growth of the synthetic food market in the future. Health-conscious choices refer to decisions made with an emphasis on promoting well-being and sustaining a healthy lifestyle. The use of synthetic food provides alternatives that meet healthy nutritional needs and support sustainable practices. For example, in May 2022, a survey conducted by the International Food Information Council, a US-based non-profit organization, among 1,005 American adults aged 18-80 and adult Gen Z consumers aged 18-24 revealed that approximately 52% of participants adhered to a specific diet or eating pattern, an increase from 39% in 2021. The most popular choices included clean eating (16%), mindful eating (14%), and calorie counting (13%). Thus, the increase in health-conscious choices is fueling the growth of the synthetic food market.

Major companies in the synthetic food market are concentrating on investing in synthetic food to innovate and scale production methods, improve the nutritional profile of food products, fulfill the rising demand for sustainable and alternative protein sources, lessen environmental impact, and tackle food security challenges. There has been a surge in seed funding from notable investors in the biotech and foodtech sectors, aimed at transforming the alternative meat industry with innovative solutions. For example, in April 2024, Cultimate Foods, a Berlin-based food manufacturer, secured USD 2.48 million (€2.3 million) in seed funding to boost its production capabilities and broaden its operations within the alternative meat sector. The startup highlights that its technology not only enhances flavor but also helps reduce dependence on intensive animal farming and addresses climate change by decreasing CO2 emissions.

In January 2022, Oterra, a Denmark-based food and beverage manufacturing company, successfully acquired Food Ingredient Solutions for an undisclosed amount. This strategic move positions Oterra as a player with over two decades of experience in natural colors and a comprehensive portfolio encompassing synthetic colors and natural antioxidants. The acquisition also establishes Oterra's presence in the significant U.S. market, where consumer demand for foods and drinks with natural hues continues to grow. Food Ingredient Solutions, based in the U.S., specializes in providing synthetic colors, natural pigments, and other food ingredients.

Major companies operating in the synthetic food market include BASF SE, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Royal DSM N.V, Symrise AG, Döhler Group SE., Chr. Hansen A/S, Beyond Meat, Naturex S.A., Believer Meats, Impossible Foods, Flavorchem Corporation, UPSIDE Foods Inc., Mosa Meat, Aarkay Food Products Ltd., Meatable, Aleph Farms Ltd., Motif FoodWorks Inc., GOOD Meat, SuperMeat, IntegriCulture Inc., Fiorio Colori S.R.L, Multus Biotechnology Ltd., BioBetter Ltd., Frutarom Industries Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the synthetic food market in 2024. The regions covered in the synthetic food market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the synthetic food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The synthetic food market consists of sales of vegan cheese, lab-grown ricotta, and mozzarella. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

Synthetic food pertains to food items or products created artificially in controlled laboratory settings, serving as alternatives to naturally farmed foods to mitigate their environmental impact.

The primary components of synthetic food include synthetic color, enzymes, hydrocolloids, antioxidants, flavor and fragrances, fats, and oils. Synthetic color specifically denotes any organic color produced through chemical synthesis not naturally occurring. These colors impart appealing hues to food and beverages, enhancing their visual allure. Distribution channels encompass supermarkets, traditional stores, and online platforms, catering to various applications such as beverages, dairy and frozen products, bakery and confectionery items, meat, poultry and seafood, processed foods, convenience foods and beverages, as well as sauces and dressings.

The synthetic food market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides synthetic food market statistics, including synthetic food industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a synthetic food market share, detailed synthetic food market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the synthetic food industry. This synthetic food market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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