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Pea Protein Market

The market for Pea Protein was estimated at $2.5 billion in 2025; it is anticipated to increase to $4.8 billion by 2030, with projections indicating growth to around $9.0 billion by 2035.

Report ID:DS1805004
Author:Debadatta Patel - Senior Consultant
Published Date:
Datatree
Life Science
Nutraceuticals
Pea Protein
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Report Summary
Market Data
Methodology
Table of Contents

Global Pea Protein Market Outlook

Revenue, 2025

$2.5B

Forecast, 2035

$9.0B

CAGR, 2026 - 2035

13.6%

The Pea Protein industry revenue is expected to be around $2.5 billion in 2026 and expected to showcase growth with 13.6% CAGR between 2026 and 2035. The market path demonstrates how Pea Protein functions as a vital foundation for plant based protein markets worldwide because people adopt vegan and flexitarian diets at higher rates and sports nutrition needs increase and major food companies adopt Pea Protein for its multiple functional uses. The product serves 79.7% of its total market through its use in Food & Beverages and Animal Feed applications which demonstrate its essential role in human consumption and advanced animal feed systems. The market generated $1.3 billion in sales from pea protein isolates during 2025 because these products offer pure composition and unflavored taste and multiple uses in beverage production and meat substitute and dairy substitute and textured pea protein product development. The company continues to invest in protein isolate processing development and supply chain improvement and environmentally friendly material acquisition which will maintain Pea Proteins market position against other alternative protein sources.

The protein ingredient Pea Protein originates from yellow peas and provides excellent nutritional value because it contains all essential amino acids and it is easily digestible and contains minimal allergenic properties. The product exists in two forms which include isolated pea protein and pea protein concentrate for use as a versatile ingredient to enhance protein content in bakery products and beverages and meat substitutes and dietary supplements and specific animal nutrition formulations. The product features non GMO positioning and naturally allergen free attributes which make it suitable for brand owners who want to create premium products. The global market for Pea Protein experiences increasing demand because of three main trends which include sustainable protein growth and ready to drink shake and high protein snack development and pea based solutions penetration into sports nutrition and pet nutrition markets.

Pea Protein market outlook with forecast trends, drivers, opportunities, supply chain, and competition 2025-2035
Pea Protein Market Outlook

Market Key Insights

  • The Pea Protein market is projected to grow from $2.5 billion in 2025 to $9.0 billion in 2035. This represents a CAGR of 13.6%, reflecting rising demand across Food & Beverages, Animal Feed, and Personal Care & Cosmetics.

  • The market features Cargill Inc., Ingredion Incorporated and Roquette Frères as its dominant competitors who determine its competitive dynamics.

  • The Pea Protein market shows its highest demand in the U.S. and Canada which will experience 12.2% to 16.3% annual growth rates from 2025 to 2030.

  • Our analysis predicts that India, China and Brazil will experience the most significant growth among emerging markets at a combined annual rate of 9.5% to 14.3%.

  • Transition like Shift from Traditional Animal Proteins to Plant-Based Alternatives is expected to add $605 million to the Pea Protein market growth by 2030.

  • The Pea Protein market will experience a $6.5 billion growth expansion from 2025 to 2035 while manufacturers focus on developing Animal Feed & Personal Care & Cosmetics Application products which will dominate market expansion.

  • The Pea Protein market will experience a 258% growth from 2025 to 2035 because people are becoming more health conscious while they switch to vegan and vegetarian eating habits.

pea protein market size with pie charts of major and emerging country share, CAGR, trends for 2025 and 2032
Pea Protein - Country Share Analysis

Opportunities in the Pea Protein

The Asia Pacific region experiences increasing demand for dairy alternatives because its population is also urbanizing quickly while more people develop lactose intolerance. Pea Protein concentrates provide a budget friendly solution which delivers high protein content and unobtrusive taste and excellent mixing properties for beverage applications. The worldwide concentrate market will expand from 0.71 billion USD in 2023 to 1.24 billion USD during 2030 while achieving 11.7% annual growth rate. The Asian Pacific beverage market will experience its fastest growth through Pea Protein localization of taste profiles which positions the product as a complete vegan protein.

Growth Opportunities in North America and Europe

The Food & Beverages sector drives Pea Protein demand throughout North America because manufacturers use pea protein isolate and concentrate and textured pea protein to create plant based meat alternatives and dairy substitutes and high protein snacks and functional beverages which benefit from consumer demand for clean label non GMO allergen friendly plant based protein products. The strategic opportunities in the established plant based protein market focus on creating premium products which differentiate from others through specific sports nutrition formulas and pea protein additions to regular convenience foods and foodservice menu development with leading restaurant operators. The market competition has become fierce because multinational ingredient companies and regional innovative businesses continue to build their capacity while developing specialized pea protein solutions which drive suppliers to compete through price and performance benchmarks that reward companies which deliver stable quality and technical assistance and dependable pea material access. The main factors which drive this market include the widespread adoption of flexitarian and vegan dietary patterns and rising public knowledge about environmental sustainability and carbon impact and the extensive presence of vegan protein ingredients in retail stores and e commerce platforms. The Food & Beverages sector functions as the primary market segment because of its large customer base but Animal Feed and Personal Care & Cosmetics sectors show potential through their pet food and specialized cosmeceutical markets.
The European market for Pea Protein exists mainly in the Food & Beverages sector because manufacturers use it to create plant based meat substitutes and dairy free yogurt products and beverages and bakery products and specialized nutritional products. The European market for Pea Protein follows strict health claim regulations and clean label requirements and sustainability standards which drive its adoption in plant based protein applications. The market presents its most promising business potential through certified organic and regionally sourced pea protein and specialized products for allergen free bakery and infant and medical nutrition and high end sports nutrition items that fulfill European safety and quality requirements. The Personal Care & Cosmetics sector presents a rapidly expanding market for Pea Protein which functions as a vegan and biodegradable and skin friendly functional ingredient. The competitive market consists of European ingredient companies which operate alongside smaller specialty food manufacturers who drive product development through their focus on functional performance and taste masking and supply chain transparency and European pea grower traceability. The main factors which drive core demand stem from European governments providing extensive backing for protein substitution and people who want to eat sustainably and ethically and companies that develop new plant based meat and dairy products which make Food & Beverages the dominant market segment and establish Europe as a vital center for developing premium pea protein products.

Market Dynamics and Supply Chain

01

Driver: Rising Demand for Plant‑Based Nutrition and Sustainability‑Driven Protein Alternatives

The growing global emphasis on plant‑based nutrition and environmental sustainability is also a major driver for the pea protein market. Consumers increasingly seek plant‑based protein sources to support health goals such as muscle building, weight management, and dietary restrictions, with pea protein isolates and concentrates gaining popularity due to high essential amino acid content, allergen‑friendly status, and neutral taste profile. This trend is also reinforced by flexitarian and vegan diet adoption across demographics, expanding application in functional foods, sports nutrition, and dairy alternatives. At the same time, sustainability concerns are also pushing food manufacturers and pet feed formulators to replace traditional animal‑derived proteins with eco‑friendly options. Pea protein’s lower carbon footprint, reduced land and water use, and compatibility with regenerative agriculture practices appeal to brands striving for environmental credentials. Together, health‑driven nutritional demand and sustainability‑oriented sourcing are also fueling investment, innovation, and broader market acceptance of pea protein ingredients.
A key driver for pea protein market growth is also processing innovation that enhances functionality, solubility, and sensory profiles of pea protein ingredients. New extraction methods, enzymatic treatments, and fractionation technologies reduce bitterness, improve mouthfeel, and increase protein purity, enabling seamless integration into beverages, meat analogs, and nutrition bars. These improvements address historical barriers such as grainy texture and off‑flavors, expanding pea protein’s appeal to both formulators and consumers. Technological enhancements also support specialty applications in animal feed and personal care, where tailored protein fractions deliver targeted benefits. also advances in micro‑ and nano‑encapsulation further enable pea protein to perform in emulsification, stabilization, and targeted nutrition delivery, positioning it as a versatile, high‑quality plant protein solution across industries.
02

Restraint: Price Volatility and Higher Production Costs Limit Pea Protein Competitiveness

Pea protein often costs more than traditional protein sources like soy or whey, driven by premium processing, purification, and supply chain constraints. Price volatility in raw peas and processing expenses discourage use in cost‑sensitive food and animal feed formulations, narrowing adoption among manufacturers that compete on price. For example, some meat alternative producers may opt for cheaper blends to maintain margins, reducing overall demand and slowing pea protein’s market penetration in mainstream categories.
03

Opportunity: Expanding use of pea protein isolates in European ready-to-drink sports nutrition and performance beverages and Rising demand for textured pea protein in North American plant-based meat alternatives for flexitarian consumers

European sports nutrition companies fail to maximize their use of Pea Protein isolates in their ready to drink beverages which combine high protein content with low sugar levels because gym membership rates and sports participation numbers continue to grow. The worldwide isolate market will expand from 1.30 billion USD to 2.55 billion USD during 2030 with a 14.4% annual growth rate which indicates robust market requirements. The development of innovative microfiltration systems together with flavor masking technologies allows manufacturers to create premium products which minimize grittiness and beany flavor characteristics. The European functional drink market experiences its fastest growth from Pea Protein isolates because these ingredients enable ingredient suppliers to create localized flavors which strengthen their products with start up beverage companies.
The consumer base in North America who follow flexitarian and reducetarian diets now demands easy to consume meat substitutes which duplicate the texture of fibrous meat but most current products continue to use soy as their main ingredient. Textured Pea Protein provides burgers and nuggets and meals with neutral taste and short ingredient lists and sustainable features. The worldwide market for textured formats will expand from 0.37 billion USD in 2023 to 0.74 billion USD during 2030 with a 15.3% annual growth rate. The North American meat analogues market will experience the fastest growth from textured Pea Protein because restaurant chains and plant based protein innovators establish co development agreements.
04

Challenge: Sensory and Functional Limitations Still Challenge Broader Food Industry Adoption

Despite improvements, pea protein can exhibit off‑flavors, gritty texture, and limited solubility compared to animal proteins, which affects consumer acceptance in beverages and clean‑label foods. These sensory and functional issues require additional processing or formulation adjustments that add complexity and cost for manufacturers. As a result, some brands avoid using high levels of pea protein or blend it with other proteins, limiting its standalone market growth and reducing potential revenue for pure pea protein suppliers.

Supply Chain Landscape

1

Pea Protein Cultivation

AGT Food and Ingredients Inc.Cargill Inc
2

Pea Protein Processing

Roquette FrèresDuPont de Nemours Inc.Ingredion Incorporated
3

Pea Protein Ingredients

Cargill Inc.Ingredion IncorporatedRoquette Frères
4

Pea Protein Applications

Sports nutritionMeat alternativesDairy alternatives
Pea Protein - Supply Chain

Use Cases of Pea Protein in Food & Beverages & Personal Care & Cosmetics

Food & Beverages : Pea protein is widely used in the food and beverage sector for its high nutritional value, neutral flavor profile, and functional versatility. Pea protein isolates and concentrates are incorporated into plant‑based dairy alternatives, meat analogs, protein bars, and nutritional shakes to boost protein content while remaining allergen‑friendly and non‑GMO. The rise in vegan and flexitarian diets has driven demand from major food formulators like Eminent Foods, Roquette, and Ingredion, which offer tailored pea protein solutions that improve texture, solubility, and mouthfeel in diverse product portfolios competing in the growing plant‑based market.
Animal Feed : In the animal feed industry, pea protein serves as a sustainable, plant‑based protein source for aquaculture, poultry, and pet nutrition formulations. Pea protein meal and concentrates are valued for essential amino acids and digestibility, helping producers reduce reliance on traditional soy and fish meals. Companies such as Cargill, AGT Foods, and Burcon NutraScience supply high‑quality pea protein feed ingredients that support growth performance while aligning with sustainability goals. Their strong supply chains and quality assurance protocols attract livestock and companion animal nutrition brands seeking environmentally responsible and cost‑competitive protein alternatives.
Personal Care & Cosmetics : In personal care and cosmetics, pea protein is increasingly used for its film‑forming, moisturizing, and skin‑conditioning properties. Hydrolyzed pea protein is common in hair care and skin formulations, offering strength and shine benefits while supporting clean‑label trends. Ingredient suppliers like BASF SE, Kerry Group, and Arjuna Natural Extracts integrate pea protein extracts into shampoos, conditioners, serums, and body lotions, appealing to consumers seeking plant‑derived, gentle formulations. These players leverage R&D capabilities to develop pea protein fractions that enhance product performance and align with natural beauty preferences.

Recent Developments

Recent developments in the pea protein market reflect growing adoption in plant-based foods, beverages, and functional nutrition due to rising consumer demand for sustainable, allergen-friendly protein alternatives. Key trends include enhanced processing technologies that improve solubility, texture, and flavor, enabling wider application in meat analogs, dairy alternatives, and protein bars. Leading ingredient suppliers are expanding capacity, launching specialized pea protein isolates and concentrates, and targeting vegan, clean-label, and nutraceutical markets, positioning pea protein as a versatile and high-value ingredient across food, feed, and personal care industries.

June 2025 : Roquette Frères introduced NUTRALYS T PEA 700XC, a large‑chunk textured pea protein designed for plant‑based meals and sauces, helping food manufacturers meet demand for sustainable, high‑protein ingredients with improved texture and cooking resilience.
July 2024 : Ingredion Incorporated released VITESSENCE Pea 100 HD, optimized for cold‑pressed bars with enhanced softness and shelf‑life stability, reflecting its focus on plant‑based snack applications in North America.

Impact of Industry Transitions on the Pea Protein Market

As a core segment of the Nutraceuticals industry, the Pea Protein market develops in line with broader industry shifts. Over recent years, transitions such as Shift from Traditional Animal Proteins to Plant-Based Alternatives and Technological Advancements Enhancing Functional and Sensory Properties of Pea Protein have redefined priorities across the Nutraceuticals sector, influencing how the Pea Protein market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics. These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.
01

Shift from Traditional Animal Proteins to Plant-Based Alternatives

The pea protein market is experiencing a significant transition as consumer demand for plant-based diets and sustainable protein sources accelerates. This shift is prompting manufacturers to replace traditional animal-derived proteins with pea protein isolates and concentrates across various applications, including dairy alternatives, meat analogs, and protein bars. Notably, the animal feed sector is also embracing pea protein meals to mitigate reliance on soy and fish meal. Major players like Roquette, Cargill, and Ingredion are scaling up production and developing tailored solutions to capitalize on this trend. As a result, the transition is projected to contribute an impressive $605 million to the pea protein market growth by 2030, underscoring the strategic importance of aligning with environmental sustainability goals and catering to the rising demand for clean-label, allergen-friendly, and ethically sourced ingredients.
02

Technological Advancements Enhancing Functional and Sensory Properties of Pea Protein

Advancements in processing technology have transformed the usability of pea protein across multiple industries. Techniques such as enzymatic treatment, nano- and micro-encapsulation, and fractionation improve solubility, reduce off-flavors, and enhance mouthfeel, enabling integration into beverages, bakery, and nutritional products. In personal care, hydrolyzed pea protein is increasingly applied for hair and skin conditioning. These technological innovations, championed by companies like Eminent Foods, Roquette, and Kerry Group, allow formulators to expand product applications, improve consumer acceptability, and support functional claims, making pea protein a versatile, high-value ingredient in both food and non-food applications.