Market Overview
The global insect protein market size reached USD 1,171.4 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5,528.0 Million by 2033, registering a CAGR of 18.82% during 2025-2033. The market growth is driven by increasing awareness of insect protein’s nutritional value, rising demand for alternative protein sources, and technological advancements in sustainable insect farming and production. The insect protein market is witnessing strong adoption, especially in animal feed and food applications.
Study Assumption Years
Base Year: 2024
Historical Years: 2019-2024
Forecast Period: 2025-2033
Insect Protein Market Key Takeaways
The global insect protein market size stood at USD 1,171.4 Million in 2024.
The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.82% during 2025-2033.
The forecast period for the market outlook is from 2025 to 2033.
Nutritional benefits, including high-quality protein and essential amino acids, are key growth drivers.
Europe leads the market due to favorable regulations and high consumer awareness.
Offline distribution channels hold the largest market share due to strong retail presence and consumer trust.
Animal nutrition applications, particularly aquafeed and poultry feed, dominate overall demand.
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Market Growth Factors
The relatively high nutritional value of insect protein, including its amino acid profile and high mineral and vitamin content, is in part driving the growth of the insect protein market and its expected adoption into human diets and animal feed. For example, crickets are 60-75% protein by dry weight and have a better amino acid profile than many customary meat sources, making them a good candidate for food and feed.
This market has been further accelerated with an increase in demand due to an estimated increase in the world population to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, and environmental sustainability issues relating to existing sources of animal or plant protein such as overfishing, land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. Insect protein constitutes a sustainable food source and a scalable food source. Food scientists have extracted protein from insects for use within protein bars, snack foods, meat substitutes, and protein powder. Consumer surveys show consumers increasingly accept insect-based food products within the market.
Because people know more about health and chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases occur more, the demand increased for sustainable food products that contain a lot of protein. Insect protein, which contains 50-80% protein on a dry matter basis, can offer a balanced source of nutrition that promotes health rather than solely treats diseases, easing its penetration in diverse markets.
Market Segmentation
Breakup by Source
Coleoptera: Includes beetle species such as mealworms, widely used in animal feed and human food due to high protein content and efficient rearing on organic waste.
Lepidoptera: Includes silkworms and related species, valued for protein production alongside by-products such as silk.
Hymenoptera: Comprises ants, bees, and wasps, with edible ants rich in minerals and used in traditional diets.
Orthoptera: Includes crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts; crickets are the most commercially farmed due to rapid growth and easy processing into powders.
Hemiptera: True bugs such as cicadas and aphids, used mainly in niche and gourmet applications.
Diptera: Includes black soldier fly larvae, widely used in animal feed and waste-to-protein conversion due to high efficiency and sustainability benefits.
Breakup by Distribution Channel
Offline: Holds the largest market share, including supermarkets, specialty stores, and health food outlets, supported by consumer preference for physical product evaluation.
Online: Included in the market scope but without specific dominance data.
Breakup by Application
Animal Nutrition: Largest segment driven by demand for sustainable aquafeed and poultry feed; black soldier fly larvae and mealworms are widely adopted.
Food and Beverages: Included as an emerging application area.
Pharmaceutical and Supplements: Included with growing interest in functional nutrition.
Personal Care and Cosmetics: Included, reflecting expanding use of insect-derived ingredients.
Regional Insights
Europe dominates the global insect protein market, supported by favorable regulatory frameworks, strong sustainability awareness, and significant investments in alternative protein technologies. The European Union’s approval of insects for food and feed applications, along with active R&D and startup ecosystems, has positioned the region as the leading market worldwide.
Recent Developments & News
February 2021: Aspire Food Group, along with Telus Agriculture, DarwinAI, Swift Labs, and A&L Laboratories, received approximately USD 13.2 Million in funding to develop a cricket protein production facility in Canada.
February 2022: Innovafeed partnered with ADM to supply black soldier fly protein for ADM’s pet food division, focusing on reducing carbon footprint and land use compared to traditional animal proteins.
Key Players
Aspire Food Group
Chapul LLC
Entomo Farms
EnviroFlight LLC (Darling Ingredients)
Goterra
Hexafly
InnovaFeed SAS
Jimini's
nextProtein
Protenga
Protix B.V.
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