Cultured Food Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Dairy-based (Yogurt, Kefir, Others), Plant-based (Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh, Others)), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online, Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 33.89 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.65%
Fastest Growing Segment	Plant-based
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 55.75 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Cultured Food Market will grow from USD 33.89 Billion in 2025 to USD 55.75 Billion by 2031 at a 8.65% CAGR. The Global Cultured Food Market consists of genuine animal protein products, such as meat and seafood, produced by cultivating animal cells in a controlled environment rather than through traditional livestock rearing and slaughter. The primary drivers supporting the market's growth are distinct from temporary trends, rooting deeply in the urgent need for environmental sustainability, improved global food security, and enhanced animal welfare standards. These fundamental motivators propel the industry forward as nations and corporations seek resource-efficient alternatives to conventional agriculture to meet the protein demands of a growing population.

Despite this potential, the sector faces a significant challenge in securing the necessary capital to scale production and achieve price parity with conventional meat. According to the Good Food Institute, in 2024, cultivated meat and seafood companies raised $139 million in investment, a figure that highlights the current financial tightening compared to previous years. This contraction in funding presents a substantial obstacle to market expansion, as robust capital injection is critical for building the infrastructure required to transition from pilot scales to mass-market availability.

Key Market Drivers

Technological advancements in precision fermentation and cellular agriculture act as the primary catalyst for the Global Cultured Food Market, fundamentally altering production economics and scalability. Innovations in bioreactor design and cell culture media are rapidly lowering operating costs, bringing cultivated products closer to price parity with conventional meat. For instance, according to Food Navigator, September 2024, in the article 'Breakthrough in cultivated meat can lower production costs,' a study demonstrated that continuous manufacturing techniques could reduce the production cost of cultivated chicken to approximately $6.20 per pound at scale. This technical maturation is also accelerating regulatory validation across key regions. A significant milestone occurred when, according to Food Safety News, in 2024, Israel’s Ministry of Health granted the world’s first regulatory approval for a cultivated beef product, signaling growing governmental confidence in these advanced production methodologies.

The escalating demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly food alternatives further propels market expansion, as nations strive to meet climate goals without compromising food security. Cultured food production offers a resource-efficient solution that drastically mitigates the ecological footprint associated with traditional livestock farming, particularly regarding land usage and greenhouse gas emissions. Highlighting this efficiency, according to Food Ingredients First, November 2024, in the report 'Cultivated meat outperforms beef in carbon emissions and land use, flags study,' a life cycle assessment revealed that industrial-scale cultivated meat production currently requires only 3.1 square meters of land to produce one kilogram of meat. This quantifiable reduction in resource intensity positions the sector as a critical component of future sustainable food systems, attracting consumers and policymakers focused on environmental preservation.

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Key Market Challenges

The restrictive capital environment stands as a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Cultured Food Market, primarily because the sector relies heavily on massive upfront expenditures to build commercial infrastructure. Cultivated protein production requires sophisticated, high-capacity bioreactors and sterile manufacturing environments that demand substantial financial outlays long before profitability is achievable. When funding dries up, companies are forced to halt or delay the construction of these industrial facilities. Consequently, producers remain trapped at the pilot stage, unable to achieve the economies of scale essential for lowering unit costs and competing on price with traditional agriculture.

This funding scarcity directly correlates with a slowdown in market penetration and technological optimization, as companies must prioritize cash conservation over expansion. The severity of this financial contraction is evident in recent regional data which mirrors the global trend. According to the Good Food Institute Europe, in 2024, investment in the European cultivated meat sector plummeted by 59% to reach just $52 million. Such a significant reduction in liquidity limits the industry’s capacity to execute critical expansion plans, thereby stalling the global trajectory toward mass-market availability and adoption.

Key Market Trends

The Commercialization of Cultivated Pet Food as Early Market Entry serves as a strategic bridge for the industry, allowing companies to generate revenue while navigating the complex regulatory landscape of human food. By targeting the pet nutrition sector, producers can bypass some of the sensory and psychological barriers associated with human consumption and optimize cost structures in a real-world commercial environment. This trend is sustained by dramatic improvements in production economics which make lower-margin products viable. For instance, according to Protein Production Technology, June 2025, in the article 'Meatly’s cultivated leap startup slashes costs and reaches key milestones in pet food market,' the UK-based startup Meatly successfully reduced the cost of its animal-free growth medium to £0.22 per liter. Such techno-economic breakthroughs demonstrate that cultivated proteins can achieve price competitiveness, providing a scalable template for future mass-market applications.

The Expansion into Cultivated Seafood and Exotic Species is diversifying the market beyond commodity meats like beef and chicken, focusing instead on high-value proteins that offer unique culinary experiences. This differentiation strategy enables companies to launch premium products in markets with favorable regulatory frameworks, leveraging scarcity and novelty to drive initial consumer adoption. A tangible example of this capacity occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, where distinct milestones in manufacturing volume were recorded. According to GFI APAC, June 2025, in the report 'BREAKING Regulators approve cultivated meat sales in Australia,' the Australian startup Vow passed a significant production benchmark by harvesting more than 538 kgs of cultivated Japanese quail in a single run. This volume underscores the growing industrial maturity of exotic cell lines, positioning them as a commercially viable segment that complements the broader push for sustainable protein sources.

Segmental Insights

The Plant-based segment is currently identified as the fastest-growing category within the Global Cultured Food Market. This expansion is primarily driven by a significant global shift toward vegan and flexitarian lifestyles, coupled with the rising prevalence of lactose intolerance, which necessitates alternatives to traditional dairy-based fermented products. Furthermore, growing consumer prioritization of gut health and environmental sustainability has accelerated the demand for probiotic-rich, non-animal alternatives. Consequently, manufacturers are increasing their investment in plant-derived fermentation processes to meet the escalating requirement for functional, ethical, and allergen-free food options.

Regional Insights

North America dominates the Global Cultured Food Market due to its established regulatory infrastructure and high levels of commercial investment. The region benefits from a collaborative oversight framework involving the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, which provides clear guidelines for product approval and safety. This structured approach fosters industry growth by reducing uncertainty for manufacturers. Additionally, strong consumer interest in sustainable protein sources and the presence of key market players further consolidate the region's leading position in the sector.

Recent Developments

• In July 2025, Mission Barns, a California-based biotechnology company, secured a significant regulatory milestone by receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its cultivated pork fat ingredient. This development followed an earlier clearance from the Food and Drug Administration, authorising the firm to label and sell its hybrid products in the United States. The approval allowed the company to move forward with commercial partnerships and retail launches for products such as bacon and meatballs that incorporate the cultivated fat for enhanced flavour. The company's leadership highlighted this achievement as a crucial step toward bringing sustainable, slaughter-free meat alternatives to American consumers.
• In February 2025, Ever After Foods, a food technology innovator specialising in cultivated meat, announced a strategic collaboration with the multinational plant equipment manufacturer Bühler to accelerate the scaling of manufacturing processes. This partnership aimed to develop a commercial-scale production system, addressing critical challenges related to efficiency and yield in the sector. By combining the technology company's proprietary bioreactor platform with the manufacturer's industrial expertise, the alliance sought to reduce production costs significantly. The Chief Executive Officer of the technology firm emphasised that this cooperation was essential for establishing a reliable and sustainable supply chain to meet future global protein demand.
• In April 2024, Vow, an Australian food technology startup, received approval from the Singapore Food Agency to sell its cultivated quail products, becoming the fourth company globally to achieve such regulatory clearance. Following this approval, the company launched its distinct "Forged Parfait" at an exclusive venue in Singapore, introducing a unique cultivated meat product derived from Japanese quail cells. This launch differentiated the company from competitors by focusing on creating a novel culinary experience rather than replicating conventional commodity meats. The company's Chief Executive Officer stated that this approval would pave the way for further product rollouts and expansion into other international markets.
• In January 2024, a leading Israeli cellular agriculture company, Aleph Farms, received regulatory approval from the Ministry of Health to market its cultivated beef steaks. This decision marked the first time a non-chicken cultivated meat product was approved for sale globally and established Israel as the first Middle Eastern country to greenlight such innovations. The regulatory authority issued a "no questions" letter, confirming the safety of the company's steak product, which combines cultivated cattle cells with a plant protein matrix. The company announced plans to introduce the product to diners in select restaurants before expanding to broader foodservice and retail channels.

Key Market Players

• Upside Foods, Inc.
• Finless Foods, Inc.
• BlueNalu, Inc.
• Aleph Farms Ltd.
• Perfect Day, Inc.
• Supermeat The Essence of Meat Ltd.
• Shiok Meats Pte Ltd.
• Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited
• Danone SA
• Lactalis American Group, Inc.

By Product Type	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Dairy-based (Yogurt, Kefir, Others) Plant-based (Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh, Others)	Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Convenience Stores Online Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Cultured Food Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Cultured Food Market, By Product Type:

• Dairy-based (Yogurt, Kefir, Others)
• Plant-based (Sauerkraut, Kimchi, Pickles, Tempeh, Others)

• Cultured Food Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Online
• Others

• Cultured Food Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE