According to Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the global air-based foods market is expected to expand at an impressive CAGR of 11.7 percent to reach a market valuation of US$ 100 million by 2032. The market is surging due to remarkable food offerings that can be made independent of the land and sea by key market players.

Rising veganism and the need for sustainable food production are pushing forward the alternative protein industry. However, the forecast years’ alternative protein market will be far beyond plant-based protein and clean meat.

In an attempt to seek the perfect source of clean, sustainable, and resource-conscious protein, researchers have developed technology to replicate meat from carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen naturally present in the air.

Solar Foods, Air Protein, and, Deep Branch Biotechnology are some of the pioneers of the air-based food revolution. These air-based foods, such as beer or yoghurt, use fermentation, but the process is much faster and mostly carbon-negative. Another technology works on the model where carbon dioxide is combined with water, nutrients, and electricity to yield protein flour.

With the world leading towards sustainable food production using minimal resources, the air-based foods market is expected to transform the alternative protein industry and find applications in broader domains.

Additionally, growing government funding for protein obtained from microbes that feed on CO2 is boosting the air-based protein market. For instance, European companies that produce protein using carbon emissions or atmospheric CO2 may be able to reduce their production costs with reimbursements for the CO2 they utilise.

For such payments, their procedures must be accepted by the European Emissions Trading System. Each metric tonne of CO2 consumed would profit businesses roughly US$ 29. Such initiatives will aid in the decrease of product costs and increase its adoption.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

• The global air-based foods market is projected to expand at an impressive CAGR of 11.7% through 2032.
• In the short term, air-based foods will experience rapid adoption in North America and Europe.
• In the mid and long term, air-based foods will experience broader acceptance across several geographical regions.
• Although the primary goal of developing air-based foods was to feed humans in space, the aqua feed will dominate the market by end-use in the introductory phase.

“Ever-growing population and exhausting natural resources will drive the need for air-based foods going forward,” says a Fact.MR analyst.

Market Development

The purest and most durable type of protein is produced through an all-natural fermentation technique that pioneer manufacturers are using to establish a strong foothold in the market. Environment sustainability and carbon-negative labels will be the key drivers for air-based food adoption.

Product cost and fidelity would be the key challenges that manufacturers need to address to promote the commercial acceptance of air-based foods in the global market.