Studies & Numbers

New research by MycoTechnology shows that many mainstream consumers purchase plant-based protein powders.

© MycoTechnology

MycoTechnology Research: Widespread Adoption of Plant-Based Protein Powder Among Non-Vegan Consumers

New research commissioned by MycoTechnology, a company specializing in mycelial fermentation to make protein powders, shows that a significant number of mainstream consumers, not only vegans and athletes, purchase plant-based protein powder.  According to the research conducted by Brightfield Group in Q1 2023, out of 725 users of plant protein powder, only 17% identified as vegans. Meanwhile, the survey found that 46% of participants identified as athletes, although 77% claimed to engage in physical activity at least three times per week.  With about a third of the plant-based protein powder consumers identifying as ‘early adopters’ and ‘early majority’ shoppers, the data suggests that using plant protein powder is becoming popular among the general population rather than just a niche market, says the company. Jonas Feliciano, Marketing Director at …

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Flave's plant-based burger

© Flave

32.2% of Australians Have Reduced Their Meat Consumption in the Past 12 Months

A study by Australia’s Griffith University has found that 32.2% of respondents have reduced their meat consumption over the past year. Health was the most commonly cited reason, amid rising concerns about the link between animal products and chronic disease. This was followed by environmental and animal welfare issues. However, a small percentage of respondents (3.3%) had actually increased their meat consumption. Most participants who had cut down on meat said they aimed to follow a plant-forward diet, but a minority (14.3%) said they were just trying new products and did not necessarily plan on a long-term diet change. Overall, findings indicated widespread interest in and openness to plant-based foods. Some respondents reported barriers to eating a plant-based diet, such as other household members not …

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A banner promoting Eat Just (GOOd Meat) cultivated chicken

© Eat Just

Study Finds Singaporean Meat Consumers Prefer the Term ‘Cultivated Meat’

Researchers from Singapore Management University (SMU) conducted a study to determine what nomenclature used to describe cultivated meat would appeal to meat eaters, including consumers who have eaten cultivated meat in Singapore — the first country to approve the commercialization of a cultivated meat product (GOOD Meat’s cultivated chicken). According to the findings, among the terms ‘lab-grown meat’, ‘animal-free meat’, ‘cultured meat’, ‘clean meat’ or ‘cell-based meat’, ‘cultivated meat’ emerged as the preferred name and was strongly associated with positive attitudes toward this novel food.  “That ‘cultivated meat‘ was the preferred terminology is insightful. Having a single, universally accepted term to describe this novel food technology not only helps to foster greater consumer understanding and acceptance but also reduces confusion about this new food source,” says Professor Mark Chong, …

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Alt proteins could help to sustainably scale up the seafood industry

© Bluu Seafood

Report: Alternative Proteins Could Be Key in Sustainably Scaling the Seafood Industry

A new report by McKinsey has found that plant-based, cultivated, and fermented fish alternatives could play an important role in scaling up the seafood industry. Despite the fact that more than 85% of global fish stocks are fully exploited or overexploited, demand for seafood continues to rise worldwide. While aquaculture has increased seafood production, it has not been able to keep up with demand, meaning other solutions are needed. Alternative seafood does not have to contend with some of the challenges faced by conventional seafood producers; for example, a limited number of licenses are issued for fishing and aquaculture due to sustainability issues, whereas this does not apply to alt seafood. Additionally, conventional seafood can contain unsafe levels of mercury, and may need to be …

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cellrev report

© CellRev

New White Paper Discusses The Future of Commercial-Scale Cell Manufacturing

UK bioprocessing company CellRev has published a white paper titled The Future of Commercial-Scale Cell Manufacturing, highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced by the cellular agriculture industry. The paper gives the opinions of experts from across the industry, finding that innovation is needed in all areas. Increased scale will be necessary to make cultivated products mainstream and commercially viable; this will require facilities that can produce huge quantities of cells, which will only be possible with considerable investment. However, livestock farmers currently receive far more public funding than cultivated meat companies. More investment into large-scale facilities would allow for the automation of cultivated meat production, reducing the need for skilled labor. Furthermore, current processes and equipment are mostly designed for other biologic products, and are …

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A study finds that cats on plant-based diet tend to be healthier than cats fed a meat-based diet

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Study Concludes Plant-Based Diet Promotes Better Health in Cats

A study conducted by research teams from the UK and Germany, supported by the NGO ProVeg International, concludes that ​​plant-based diets are healthier for cats. The study surveyed a total of 1,369 cat owners. 91% fed their cats a meat diet, while 9% fed a plant-based diet over at least a year. After examining seven general indicators of illness and factors, such as age, sex, neutering status, and location, the authors found that cats fed a plant-based diet experience the following risk reductions: A 7% reduction in increased veterinary visits (consistent with illness) 15% less medication use A 55% reduction in progression onto a therapeutic diet A 4% reduction in cats reportedly being assessed as unwell by veterinarians  An 8% reduction in veterinary assessments of more severe …

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a forest with green trees looked from above

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Study: Replacing Half of Animal Foods With Alternatives Could Almost Halt Deforestation

A new study published in Nature Communications has found that replacing half of the animal foods consumed worldwide with plant-based meat and dairy alternatives could have significant environmental benefits. The research suggests that net forest loss could be “almost fully halted” if this change is made, with greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and land use declining by 31% in 2050 compared to 2020. In this scenario, around 653 Mha of agricultural land could be spared and restored to forest, doubling climate benefits. Furthermore, water use could be reduced by 10%. Replacing 50% of animal foods with plants could also reduce the rate of biodiversity loss from 2.1% to 0.9% by 2050. If 90% of animal foods were replaced, biodiversity loss would actually reverse between 2030 …

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Animal-free milk products by Bon Vivant

© Bon Vivant

Study: Animal-Free Milk Generates 96% Fewer Emissions Than Dairy

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) has concluded that Bon Vivant‘s animal-free milk uses significantly fewer natural resources than cow’s milk and has a much smaller environmental footprint. The milk is made with animal-free whey and casein, which are produced using precision fermentation. The LCA, performed by an independent third party, compared one liter of animal-free milk made with Bon Vivant’s whey to an equivalent amount of dairy milk that had the same amount of protein. Huge environmental benefits The results show that Bon Vivant’s milk generates 96% fewer emissions than cow’s milk, while using 99% less water, 92% less land, and 50% less energy. According to Bon Vivant, the dairy sector is responsible for 2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions — more than aviation. Consequently, a …

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Rebellyous Foods nugget

© Rebellyous Foods

Time to Challenge the Price Barrier Concept: Analysis Finds Vegan Diet Saves $500 Per Year

A recent analysis conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, published in JAMA Network Open, sheds light on the economic benefits of adopting a low-fat vegan diet. Vegan diets have been central to poorer communities and indigenous peoples around the world for centuries; items such as tofu, seitan, TVP, beans, and tempeh, are highly affordable and more so than animal proteins. Furthermore, a recent Gallup Consumption Habits poll highlighted that the largest population of Americans opting for plant-based diets are those in low-income families. Contrary to the widely-held notion that vegan diets are more expensive, and the subsequently perceived obstacle of a price barrier cited by a majority of non-vegans, the new PCRM paper found that those living a plant-based lifestyle can save 16% …

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Alternative Protein Shopper/ Consumer with Basket

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USA: Non-GMO Project Finds Absence of GM Ingredients Vital to Plant-Based Shoppers

According to non-profit organization the Non-GMO Project, as the plant-based food market matures, buyer preferences are becoming more nuanced and apparent. The Non-GMO Project states that shopper behavior indicates that not all plant-based foods are perceived equally by consumers. The organization says there is a growing awareness that some plant-based foods have no real health advantages over traditional, conventional products such as meat, eggs and dairy. For example, most shoppers want to avoid GMOs – and this is especially true when it comes to plant-based products. This means that a GMO ingredient can negate the supposed benefits of a plant-based product. Shoppers’ continued preference for non-GMO ingredients is an important part of the plant-based food conversation. Consumers are signaling their aversion to genetic engineering through …

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A tray with vegan steak skewers

© Chunk Foods

Report: US Purchasers of Plant-Based Meat Spend $400 More and Visit Restaurants 30X More Than Average Consumer

Among several key highlights, a new GFI report on the performance of plant-based proteins in US foodservice in 2022 shows that consumers who purchase plant-based meat spend approximately $400 more than the average consumer and make over 30 more visits to cafes and restaurants.  According to the report, these engaged foodservice customers are vegans, vegetarians, flexitarians, and meat-eaters looking to replicate the animal-meat experience with sustainable options. The report says that younger (18-24) male and Black, Hispanic, and Asian consumers are more likely to purchase plant-based meat in restaurants than the average consumer, mirroring customer segmentation trends in retail. Besides plant-based meat; plant-based chicken, pork, and seafood sales have experienced significant growth since 2019 and continue to capture larger shares of the overall plant-based protein …

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US vegan demographics

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Gallup Poll Reveals Surprising Insights into Demographics of US Vegans

The American diet is notoriously meat-heavy, but with US plant-based food sales hitting $8 billion last year, clearly the demand is there. Veganism and vegetarianism are making their presence felt, though not in the ways you might expect. While the perceived cost of going vegan remains one of the main barriers to embracing the lifestyle, the data shows that the majority of vegans in the US are those with the lowest incomes.  Gallup’s Consumption Habits poll conducted in July of this year provides insightful data on the prevalence of vegetarian and vegan diets in the country. According to the poll, 4% of Americans identify as vegetarian, while 1% follow a vegan diet. Decoding the trend data These figures are consistent with previous measurements conducted by …

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Quorn Fried Vegan Chicken Nuggets

©Quorn

UK Alt Protein Industry Could Be Worth £6.8Bn & Create 25,000 Jobs

Environmental group Green Alliance has claimed that the UK alt protein industry has the potential to be worth over £6.8 billion per year and create 25,000 jobs by 2035. In an analysis, Green Alliance said the UK could be a world leader in alternative proteins with the right support from the government. According to the group, the country has several competitive advantages, including significant customer demand for alt protein products, a well-established industry, and high food quality and safety standards. Furthermore, the UK already has clusters of alt protein production, most notably in Teesside, Cambridge, Oxford, and London. Green Alliance names British brand Quorn as a success story, as it is one of the largest producers of fermented proteins worldwide. The UK is also a …

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Simpliigood unveils high quality chicken analog made with spirulina

© Nimrod Genisher

43% of German Consumers Have Reduced Their Meat Consumption in the Past Year

A new Mintel consumer study, Global Outlook on Sustainability, has provided some encouraging insights into the habits and attitudes of German consumers regarding meat consumption. Just 22% of Germans said they ate meat at almost every meal, compared to 47% of French consumers and 51% of Brits. 43% said they had reduced their meat consumption in the past year, compared to an international average of 28%. Furthermore, 37% of Germans believed that eating less meat was the most effective personal measure they could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the highest proportion worldwide to hold this viewpoint (the international average was 21%). However, the number of consumers avoiding meat altogether remains low, with 2% identifying as vegan, 4% as vegetarian, and 18% as flexitarian. This …

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Wholly-Veggie-cauliflower

© Wholly Veggie

Scientific Review Urges Switch to Plant-Based Diets as Preparation for Climate Change Emergencies

The nonprofit organization Center for Biological Diversity has released a new scientific review showing that switching to plant-based diets can help address the public health challenges that arise from climate change-related emergencies. Healthy plant-based diets are crucial in preventing and controlling chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and hypertension, associated with poor dietary choices. A healthy population reduces the demand for a stressed healthcare system, enhancing individual and public resilience in climate and public health crises, argues the report. “Most people in the United States have at least one diet-related chronic disease, and that makes them extremely vulnerable in a disaster,” said Mark Rifkin, senior food and agriculture policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity and author of the review. Preparing for …

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cows animal agriculture

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How Meat and Dairy Industry Lobbying is Stifling Alt Protein Production

An analysis by Stanford University has examined how meat and dairy industry lobbying is stifling the alt protein sector. Published in the journal One Earth, the study reviews agricultural policies from 2014 to 2020, finding that most agricultural funding is consistently devoted to livestock and feed production systems. In the U.S., about 800 times more public funding and 190 times more lobbying money goes to animal products than to plant-based or cultivated alternatives, while the meat and dairy industries are actively attempting to suppress environmental issues and regulations. The situation in the EU is similar, with about 1,200 times more public funding and three times more lobbying money going to animal products than alternatives. Furthermore, EU cattle producers rely on subsidies for at least 50% …

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Oshi plant-based whole cut salmon

Oshi © Noam Preisman

PBFA Publishes State of the Marketplace Retail Report Demonstrating “Solid Resilience” of Plant-Based Categories

The most recent US retail sales data by the Plant-Based Foods Association (PBFA) shows that the plant-based food industry is primarily driven by the increasing demand for plant-based meat and milk products. However, other categories make up 47% of the total plant-based sales, indicating that consumer interest extends beyond just alternatives for meat and milk and is actively contributing to the industry’s overall growth. According to the PBFA, plant-based food dollar sales increased by 6.6% to reach $8 billion in 2022, while animal-based and total food and beverage sales decreased by 3%. These figures show that the plant-based industry has remained strong even during the latest economic crisis. Moreover, the PBFA highlights that over the past three years, plant-based foods have experienced rapid expansion, with a compound …

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Evolved Meats

© Evolved Meats

​​Canadian Consumers Show Growing Interest in Cultivated Meat, Report Finds

Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) and Fiddlehead Technologies have collaborated on a new report that offers insights into the potential acceptance of cultivated meat in Canada. The study compares the progress of the cultivated meat industry in Canada to its US counterpart and shares findings on consumers’ interests.  Canadian consumers show growing interest The report has revealed that Canadian consumers’ interest in cultivated meat has jumped dramatically since 2000. According to the report, Canadian consumers increasingly searched for “lab-grown meat”, including its production process and availability for purchase. In contrast, US consumers primarily searched for information about its safety and the FDA’s approval approvals for cultivated chicken. The report highlights that curiosity does not mean adoption and explains that historically in the US novel foods are adopted …

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poke bowl - Impact Food

© Impact Food

New Study Finds Healthy Plant-Based Diets Slow Down Aging Process

A new study has found that adopting a healthy plant-based diet can slow down the human body’s aging process.  The study was conducted among a large group of Asian participants over a long period of time to determine the connection between plant-based diets and aging. But since the aging process is complex and varies among individuals, the researchers used a newly developed biological age biomarker, called MDAge, to measure aging in the study participants to understand it better.  MDAge integrates multiple biomarkers relevant to physical functions and provides information about overall health. This tool was found to be a more accurate measure of aging than chronological age, as it better predicted all-cause mortality, explain the authors.  Using these biomarkers, the researchers identified three distinct aging trajectories, …

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Meatiply duck breast

Duck breast prototype © Meatiply

Report: Alt Proteins Must Account for Over 50% of Asia’s Protein Production by 2060

A report by Singapore-based Asia Research Engagement has found that alt proteins will play a key role in tackling the climate crisis in Asian countries. According to the researchers, it will be impossible to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C without food system change. They recommend that the production of animal protein will need to start declining by 2030, while alt proteins should account for over 50% of protein production in most countries by 2060. This is especially important in Asia, as it is home to a large proportion of the world’s population and meat consumption is currently rising as incomes increase. The report calculates projected emissions from protein production in ten major Asian economies — China, India, Indonesia, Japan, …

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