Cultured Meat Market
The market for Cultured Meat was estimated at $483 million in 2025; it is anticipated to increase to $1.96 billion by 2030, with projections indicating growth to around $7.99 billion by 2035.
Report Summary
Market Data
Methodology
Table of Contents
Global Cultured Meat Market Outlook
Revenue, 2025
$483M
Forecast, 2035
$7.99B
CAGR, 2026 - 2035
32.4%
The Cultured Meat industry revenue is expected to be around $482.7 million in 2026 and expected to showcase growth with 32.4% CAGR between 2026 and 2035. This trajectory underscores the growing strategic importance of cultured meat within the global protein landscape, as brands and investors increasingly position it as a scalable alternative protein solution that addresses climate impact, animal welfare, and food security concerns while aligning with evolving consumer expectations around health and transparency, with Foodservice and Retail/Household end users together accounting for 100.0% of industry revenue and Burgers Source alone generating $167.98 million in sales in 2025, highlighting how familiar burger formats are anchoring early commercialization and reinforcing the categories ongoing relevance across quick service, casual dining, and at home consumption channels driven by continuous improvements in bioprocess efficiency, cost reduction, and regulatory clarity
Cultured meat, also referred to as cell based meat, lab grown meat, or cultivated meat, is produced by cultivating animal cells in controlled bioreactors to create sustainable protein products that closely mimic the flavor, texture, and functionality of conventional meat, with key features including the potential for lower environmental footprint, reduced antibiotic use, and precise control over fat content and nutritional profiles that appeal to both foodservice operators and retail/household consumers seeking innovative meat substitutes; its major applications currently center on burgers, patties, meatballs, and nuggets, while recent trends such as advancements in serum free media, modular production systems, hybrid plant based and cultured formulations, and deeper collaboration between technology developers, chefs, and retailers are accelerating product diversification, improving scalability, and strengthening demand across mainstream and premium protein segments.
Market Key Insights
The Cultured Meat market is projected to grow from $482.7 million in 2025 to $7.99 billion in 2035. This represents a CAGR of 32.4%, reflecting rising demand across Foodservice Sector, Retail Household, and Institutional Catering.
Upside Foods Inc., Eat Just Inc., and Mosa Meat B.V. are among the leading players in this market, shaping its competitive landscape.
U.S. and China are the top markets within the Cultured Meat market and are expected to observe the growth CAGR of 31.1% to 45.4% between 2025 and 2030.
Emerging markets including India, Brazil and UAE are expected to observe highest growth with CAGR ranging between 24.3% to 33.7%.
Transition like Industrial Scale-Up and Integration is expected to add $367 million to the Cultured Meat market growth by 2030.
The Cultured Meat market is set to add $7.5 billion between 2025 and 2035, with manufacturer targeting Retail/Household Application projected to gain a larger market share.
With
rising ethical food awareness and tightening sustainability regulations accelerating global cultured meat commercialization, and
Advances in scalable bioreactor technology dramatically reducing production costs for cultured meat, Cultured Meat market to expand 1555% between 2025 and 2035.
Opportunities in the Cultured Meat
Western European consumers increasingly demand sustainable protein without sacrificing indulgence, creating potential for cultured meat gourmet burgers in dining and retail. Globally, red meat sources show the fastest expansion, with revenues rising from $38.13 million to $193.58 million by 2030, at a 38.39% CAGR. Collaboration between food tech start ups, established burger chains, and alternative protein ingredient suppliers will also accelerate commercialization, making cultured beef patties the rapidly growing high margin product within Western Europes flexitarian segment.
Growth Opportunities in North America and Asia-Pacific
In North America, cultured meat and other cell based meat solutions will be propelled by strong venture funding, advanced bioprocessing infrastructure, and consumer interest in sustainable protein, making Retail/Household the most relevant End user segment as products move from limited Foodservice pilots into mainstream grocery and e commerce channels. Top opportunities center on branded lab grown meat offerings positioned as premium, clean label alternative proteins in refrigerated and frozen aisles, along with hybrid meat products that blend cultivated meat products with plant based meat to manage costs and improve familiarity. Competitive intensity will rise as incumbent meat processors, major retailers, and food tech innovation startups form joint ventures for cultured meat, secure exclusive retail placements, and invest in scalable bioreactor capacity. Key regional drivers include regulatory clarity, climate focused purchasing by younger consumers, and retailer commitments to low carbon assortments, suggesting that investment should prioritize at home formats, private label collaborations, and omnichannel marketing that normalizes daily use of cultured meat
In Asia Pacific, cultured meat is strongly aligned with food security goals, urbanization, and high per capita consumption of poultry and seafood, making Foodservice the most influential End user segment as quick service restaurants, hotpot chains, and modern cafeterias pilot cell based meat and cultivated seafood menus. Top opportunities include tailoring lab grown meat to regional dishes, offering sustainable protein options for flexitarians, and leveraging high density cities for experiential dining concepts that showcase production transparency. Competition will intensify as regional conglomerates, traditional meat and seafood firms, and international alternative proteins players compete for exclusive partnerships with leading chains and airline caterers, while local governments court investment in large scale biomanufacturing hubs. Core drivers are supportive regulatory sandboxes, tech savvy consumers receptive to food tech innovation, and supply volatility in conventional protein, pointing to strategic focus on Foodservice led brand building, co branded menu items, and investment in localized production sites that reduce cost and reinforce trust in cultured meat
Market Dynamics and Supply Chain
01
Driver: Rising ethical food awareness and tightening sustainability regulations accelerating global cultured meat commercialization
Growing ethical food awareness is also reshaping protein demand, as consumers scrutinize animal welfare, antibiotic use, and climate impacts linked to conventional livestock. Early adopters of cultured meat increasingly overlap with flexitarian and environmentally conscious segments who perceive cultivated meat and other alternative protein solutions as credible ways to reduce intensive farming. This values based purchasing trend is also reinforced by digital transparency tools that highlight lifecycle emissions data and animal welfare metrics, positioning lab grown meat and broader cellular agriculture as premium, mission driven categories. In parallel, tightening sustainability regulations, including national climate targets, deforestation bans, and stricter food safety standards, are also raising compliance costs for traditional meat processors. Policymakers are also also developing clear pathways for regulatory approvals, providing greater visibility for investors backing cultured meat start ups. Together, these two growth forces accelerate commercialization, capital inflows, and long term consumer acceptance of cultured meat worldwide.
Rapid improvements in large scale bioreactor technology are also transforming the unit economics of cultured meat production. Engineers are also optimizing vessel design, mixing dynamics, and process monitoring to support higher cell densities while minimizing shear stress. Integrated automation, inline analytics, and growth media optimization are also enabling more consistent yields and shorter cultivation cycles, directly lowering cost per kilogram for cultivated meat. These innovations make it feasible for cellular agriculture companies to move from pilot plants to commercial facilities, attracting infrastructure investors focused on alternative protein. As production costs fall, price parity with conventional meat becomes more achievable, unlocking broader foodservice and retail adoption.
02
Restraint: High production costs and limited scale keep cultured meat prices uncompetitive versus conventional livestock protein
Despite technological advances, the cost of growth media, bioreactors, and sterile facilities keeps cultured meat and other cell based meat products priced far above conventional beef or poultry, limiting volumes to small pilot launches in premium restaurants and specialty retailers, which constrains overall market revenue. For example, early lab grown meat tastings in Singapore and the United States have relied on heavily subsidized pricing and limited menu placements, signaling that mainstream consumers remain price sensitive and unwilling to pay significant premiums, suppressing repeat demand. This cost price mismatch slows capital intensive scale up investments, delays cost curves from falling, and reinforces a cycle where alternative protein players, including plant based meat and other sustainable protein options, capture mass market growth while cultured meat remains a niche, low volume segment.
03
Opportunity: Cultured poultry meat for quick service restaurant chains in the United States and Cultured seafood meat for premium sushi and sashimi in Japan
Rising demand for healthier fast food options makes cultured meat attractive to U.S. quick service restaurant chains increasingly seeking nutritious, high protein, low footprint innovations. Cultured poultry meat is set to dominate this segment as global poultry revenues grow from $152.05 million to $536.88 million by 2030, at a 28.7% CAGR. Advancements in scalable bioreactors and cell based meat fat structuring will enable cost competitive nuggets, sandwiches, and tenders, positioning lab grown chicken as the fastest growing quick service application across North America.
Japans premium sushi and sashimi market offers a high value entry point for cultured meat innovators addressing overfishing and food safety concerns. Cultured seafood meat is poised to capture leading global revenues, rising from $167.98 million to $712.30 million by 2030, supported by a 33.5% CAGR. Precision fermentation, serum free media, and structured cultivated meat technologies will enable authentic marbling and texture, positioning bluefin tuna analogues as the most dynamic application within high end Japanese foodservice and retail.
04
Challenge: Regulatory uncertainty and slow approvals delay market entry for cultured meat, dampening investor confidence
Fragmented safety frameworks and evolving definitions for cultured meat and lab grown meat have resulted in a patchwork of approvals, where only a few jurisdictions have granted limited clearances, forcing companies to concentrate on narrow test markets instead of global rollouts, which caps revenue potential per product. Prolonged review timelines and shifting documentation requirements increase compliance costs and push back commercialization milestones, leading some investors to reallocate capital toward more predictable alternative protein and sustainable protein categories, such as plant based meat. This uncertainty also makes large foodservice chains and retailers hesitant to commit to long term supply agreements, weakening forward demand visibility and slowing the transition of cultured meat from pilot projects to scalable, mainstream distribution.
Supply Chain Landscape
1
Alternative Protein Inputs
Thermo Fisher ScientificMerck KGaALonza Group
2
Bioreactors Equipment
Sartorius AGEppendorf AGCytiva
3
Cell-based Meat Production
Upside Foods Inc.Eat Just Inc.Mosa Meat B.V
4
Cultured Meat
FoodserviceRetailReady-to-eat meals
1
Alternative Protein Inputs
Thermo Fisher ScientificMerck KGaALonza Group
2
Bioreactors Equipment
Sartorius AGEppendorf AGCytiva
3
Cell-based Meat Production
Upside Foods Inc.Eat Just Inc.Mosa Meat B.V
4
Cultured Meat
FoodserviceRetailReady-to-eat meals
Use Cases of Cultured Meat in Foodservice Sector & Institutional Catering
Foodservice Sector : Within the foodservice sector, cultured meat and cultivated meat are rapidly moving from pilot tastings to mainstream menus, with end users generating about $312.31 million in revenue in 2025 and projected to grow at around 31.2% CAGR between 2026 and 2030 as restaurants, quick service chains, and hotels adopt lab grown meat for burgers, nuggets, seafood dishes, and premium tasting experiences. Poultry and seafood formats dominate here, reflecting overall demand shares of roughly 31.5% and 34.8% in 2025, while pork at 10.6% and red meat at 7.90% are used in specialty dishes such as cultured pork cutlets and beef medallions that showcase the sensory parity of this alternative protein with conventional products. Chefs value the consistent quality, supply resilience, and food safety profile of cell based meat, while diners are increasingly attracted by its positioning as clean meat and sustainable protein with a significantly reduced environmental footprint; Upside Foods Inc. leverages its strengths in cultivated poultry, strong regulatory engagement, and collaborations with high profile restaurants, Eat Just Inc. capitalizes on its early commercialization of GOOD Meat chicken in foodservice venues and chef led storytelling, BlueNalu Inc. is building a premium position in high value cultured seafood portions for sushi bars and casual dining concepts, Aleph Farms Ltd focuses on thin cut beef steaks for fine dining experiences, and Mosa Meat B.V. advances cultured beef burgers tailored to quick service and fast casual operators, together shaping foodservice as the front line of cellular agriculture commercialization.
Retail Household : In the retail and household channel, cultured meat is transitioning into branded packaged products designed for home cooking, with this end user segment generating around $170.39 million in 2025 and forecast to expand at approximately 34.49% CAGR through 2030 as supermarket shoppers embrace cultivated meat as a convenient and ethical meat option. In this space, cost optimized cultured poultry and pork are expected to account for the bulk of everyday formats such as frozen nuggets, meatballs, and dumplings, aligning with their growing demand shares of about 31.5% and 10.6% in 2025, while premium cultured red meat cuts, currently at roughly 7.90% of demand, support higher margin steak, burger, and mince products targeted at flexitarian and environmentally conscious consumers. Lab grown meat in retail is often launched first as hybrid meat products that blend cell based meat with plant proteins to manage price points and nutrition, enabling brands to deliver sustainable protein with familiar taste and cooking performance; Eat Just Inc. and its GOOD Meat division are positioned as pioneers in bringing cultivated poultry to retail freezers and chilled cabinets, Mosa Meat B.V. focuses on scalable beef burger patties suited to private label and branded ranges, Upside Foods Inc. is building strong brand recognition around cultivated chicken for family oriented meal solutions, Aleph Farms Ltd prepares for the roll out of packaged beef steaks that allow households to experience restaurant quality future foods at home, and BlueNalu Inc. is developing cultured seafood offerings that can transition into frozen and chilled retail formats as regulations and capacity scale, collectively reinforcing the role of cultured meat as a mainstream grocery choice.
Institutional Catering : Institutional catering, covering corporate cafeterias, universities, hospitals, and public sector food programs, is emerging as a strategic application for cultured meat as these organizations seek to meet climate and nutrition commitments at scale, positioning cultivated meat as a reliable backbone protein for high volume menus. Canteens and contract caterers favor versatile cultured poultry, pork, and minced red meat formats that can be used in curries, pasta sauces, stews, and sandwich fillings, leveraging the broad market demand distribution where poultry accounts for about 31.5% of cultured meat usage, seafood around 34.8% for coastal and international menus, pork close to 10.6%, and red meat near 7.90%, enabling menu planners to rebalance away from conventional livestock while maintaining familiar dishes. By adopting lab grown meat and other alternative protein solutions, institutional buyers gain predictable supply, reduced exposure to zoonotic risk, and strong sustainability narratives that resonate with employees, students, and patients; Upside Foods Inc. and Eat Just Inc. are actively cultivating partnerships with large contract caterers to deploy cell based meat at campuses and workplaces once regulatory clearances and capacity allow, Mosa Meat B.V. and Aleph Farms Ltd are well positioned to supply beef based dishes that support institutional carbon reduction targets, and BlueNalu Inc. offers high quality cultured seafood portions suited to airline catering, cruise lines, and coastal institutions seeking to provide ocean friendly menus without compromising taste or nutrition.
Recent Developments
Recent developments in cultured meat show accelerated investment, regulatory progress, and pilot scale commercialization, particularly in cell based chicken and lab grown beef. Major food companies and alternative protein startups are forming strategic partnerships to secure bioreactor capacity, growth media innovation, and scalable cellular agriculture platforms. A key market trend is the shift from novelty to cost competitiveness, driven by precision fermentation, hybrid plant based and cultivated meat products, and modular production systems.
January 2024 : Aleph Farms Ltd obtained regulatory approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health to sell its cultivated beef steak in Israel, a landmark authorization for cultured meat and cultivated meat that expands the global cultured meat market and validates sustainable protein as a viable future category.
June 2023 : Upside Foods Inc. received final clearance from the US Department of Agriculture to commercially produce and sell its cell cultivated chicken in selected US restaurants, moving cultured meat from pilot scale to real world foodservice and accelerating consumer adoption of alternative protein.
March 2023 : Eat Just Inc., through its GOOD Meat division, secured a no questions letter from the US Food and Drug Administration for its cultivated chicken, a pivotal safety validation that de risks future regulatory steps for lab grown meat and strengthens investor confidence in scaling cell based meat production.
Impact of Industry Transitions on the Cultured Meat Market
As a core segment of the Packaged & Processed F&B industry,
the Cultured Meat market develops in line with broader industry shifts.
Over recent years, transitions such as Industrial Scale Up and Integration and Regulation, Branding, and Adoption have redefined priorities
across the Packaged & Processed F&B sector,
influencing how the Cultured Meat market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics.
These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.
01
Industrial Scale Up and Integration
The transition of cultured meat production from pilot batches to industrial scale bioreactors is poised to significantly reshape the market, with an anticipated growth of $367 million by 2030. This shift is driving demand for pharmaceutical grade bioprocess systems, growth media, and advanced sensors, creating a ripple effect across the biotechnology supply chain. Traditional meat processors are increasingly adopting hybrid plants that integrate both conventional and cell based meat lines, fostering strategic partnerships between cultured meat startups and contract manufacturers. This collaboration not only accelerates technology transfer but also opens new revenue streams in upstream fermentation, cold chain logistics, and quality assurance services, positioning the cultured meat sector for robust expansion and innovation.
02
Regulation, Branding, and Adoption
As regulators clarify labeling and safety pathways for cultured meat and lab grown meat, branded retail launches are transforming how consumers perceive alternative protein. This shift is influencing quick service restaurants, grocery private labels, and premium hospitality, which are piloting limited time menus and co branded experiences. Livestock, feed, and feed additive producers are reassessing long term capital allocation, hedging exposure by investing in sustainable protein portfolios. Marketing, insight, and packaging agencies are also emerging as critical partners, shaping narratives around provenance, nutrition, and climate resilient food systems.