Europe Protein Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 - 2031)

The Europe Protein Market Report is Segmented by Source (Animal, Microbial, and Plant), Application (Animal Feed, Food and Beverages, Personal Care and Cosmetics, and Supplements), and Geography (Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, and Rest of Europe). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Europe Protein Market Size and Share

Europe Protein Market Size
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Europe Protein Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The Europe protein market size was valued at USD 6.22 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow from USD 6.52 billion in 2026 to reach USD 8.26 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 4.85% during the forecast period (2026-2031). Growth reflects a decisive pivot away from imported soy toward domestically produced pulses, fermentation-derived ingredients, and insect biomass, a shift accelerated by Farm-to-Fork targets, Green Deal capital, and retailer carbon budgets. Plant-based proteins still dominate, yet microbial proteins are commercializing faster as Horizon-funded pilots move to industrial scale. Competitive behavior is shaped by low fragmentation: legacy dairy cooperatives grow pea and whey capacity while venture-backed precision-fermentation specialists race for first-mover EFSA approvals. Raw-material volatility, notably the 23% surge in yellow-pea prices during the 2024 Canadian drought, strengthens vertically integrated processors able to self-contract acreage.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By source, plant proteins held 57.58% of the Europe protein market share in 2025, while microbial proteins are projected to grow at a 6.32% CAGR through 2031.
  • By application, food and beverages captured 54.24% of Europe's protein market size in 2025; personal care and cosmetics are advancing at a 6.05% CAGR to 2031.
  • By geography, Germany led with a 22.19% share of the Europe protein market in 2025, while the Netherlands recorded the fastest CAGR at 5.34% through 2031.

Note: Market size and forecast figures in this report are generated using Mordor Intelligence’s proprietary estimation framework, updated with the latest available data and insights as of January 2026.

Segment Analysis

By Source: Microbial Proteins Gain Despite Plant Dominance

Plant proteins accounted for 57.58% of the European market in 2025, driven by the growing adoption of flexitarian and vegan diets. Ingredients such as soy, pea, wheat, and faba beans have become the preferred choice for reformulating products, particularly in meat and dairy alternatives. This dominance allows major suppliers like Roquette (pea, wheat) and Cargill (soy, wheat, pea) to set functionality standards and pricing benchmarks across categories, making it challenging for newer protein sources to gain market share, even when they offer superior sustainability or innovation. Microbial proteins, including algae and mycoprotein, are projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.32% through 2031, the fastest among all source types. These proteins align with European sustainability and land-use objectives while offering unique functional and nutritional benefits. 

Animal proteins, including whey, casein, collagen, gelatin, egg, and insect proteins, continue to set performance benchmarks in sports nutrition and functional foods. Whey protein isolates, in particular, command premium pricing due to their complete amino-acid profile, high digestibility, and strong scientific support for muscle recovery and performance. Companies such as Arla Foods GmbH Ingredients and Lactalis Ingredients supply advanced whey and milk protein isolates to the European sports and medical nutrition markets, reinforcing the perception that high-performance products still rely heavily on animal proteins. Collagen and gelatin producers, such as Gelita, extend the relevance of animal proteins into segments like beauty-from-within, joint health, and gummy formats, where plant and microbial alternatives face technical challenges. Insect proteins remain niche, with suppliers like Innovafeed and Protix focusing on pet food and feed markets, where regulatory and consumer barriers are lower.

Europe Protein Market Share by Source, 2025
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Europe Protein Market Share by Source, 2025

By Application: Personal Care Outpaces Food Growth

Food and beverages accounted for 54.24% of protein ingredient consumption in Europe in 2025, underscoring their role as essential nutritional and functional components in mainstream products. Within this category, meat and poultry alternatives have emerged as the largest sub-segment, driven by the need for high protein content and advanced texturizing systems to replicate animal meat. This has led to strong demand for plant-based protein ingredients, such as soy, pea, and wheat proteins, supplied by companies like Ingredion and Beneo. These suppliers offer tailored solutions for products like burgers, nuggets, and cold cuts, meeting both flexitarian consumer preferences and the processing requirements of European manufacturing facilities. Supplements, including sports nutrition, infant formula, and medical nutrition, represent the second-largest end-user segment, with sports and dietary supplements driving volume due to their reliance on proteins like isolates and hydrolysates for performance and recovery. 

Personal care and cosmetics, while a smaller consumer of protein ingredients, represent the fastest-growing end-user segment with a projected CAGR of 6.05% through 2031. Growth is driven by EU Ecodesign-linked sustainability requirements, which discourage petroleum-derived emulsifiers and promote bio-based, biodegradable functional ingredients. Hydrolyzed wheat proteins, silk proteins, and collagen peptides are increasingly used in anti-aging serums, skin-firming lotions, and hair-repair treatments, offering film-forming, conditioning, and moisture-retention benefits that support premium product positioning. Additionally, large FMCG companies like L’Oréal and Unilever are prioritizing plant-based and low-impact protein ingredients, such as wheat, oat, or pea-derived proteins, and exploring microbial or fermentation-derived actives as substitutes for conventional petrochemical components. 

Europe Protein Market Share by Application, 2025
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Europe Protein Market Share by Application, 2025

Geography Analysis

Germany accounted for 22.19% of the Europe protein market in 2025, driven by its dual role as a pulse-processing hub and a leading exporter of collagen and gelatin. The country combines a strong base in plant proteins, such as soy, wheat, and pea, with a well-established legacy in animal-based functional proteins used in food, supplements, and personal care. German manufacturers leverage this position by supplying pulse proteins for meat and poultry alternatives, bakery products, and dairy-style items, while exporting collagen and gelatin for confectionery, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. This dual capability allows Germany to lead in both traditional and emerging protein segments, supported by its advanced food-processing infrastructure and innovation clusters that enable the rapid development of hybrid products blending plant and animal proteins.

The Netherlands, projected to grow at a 5.34% CAGR through 2031, has emerged as a key hub for precision fermentation in Europe. The country hosts a robust ecosystem of fermentation start-ups, contract manufacturing facilities, and research and development partnerships focused on microbial proteins and functional ingredients. Dutch companies utilize this ecosystem to scale production of mycoprotein, single-cell proteins, and specialty protein ingredients, which are exported across Europe for applications in meat analogues, dairy alternatives, and high-value functional foods. This growth complements the Netherlands’ historical role as a trading and processing hub, positioning it as a bridge between innovative microbial protein technologies and established manufacturers in neighboring markets.

Nordic countries, while smaller in market size, are among the fastest-growing regions due to their strong sustainability agendas and high acceptance of plant-based and alternative proteins. These markets often serve as early adopters for microbial and hybrid protein concepts. Central and Eastern European countries contribute incremental growth from a lower base, gradually increasing their use of plant and animal protein ingredients as processed food and supplements markets expand. Together, these regions shape the Europe protein market, balancing traditional and alternative protein sources to meet evolving industry demands.

Competitive Landscape

Established dairy cooperatives, such as Arla Foods GmbH and Royal FrieslandCampina N.V., leverage vertical integration to maintain their whey and casein franchises. Their control over milk collection, fractionation, and advanced application support enables them to secure raw milk access, optimize processing efficiency, and establish long-term contracts in sports, medical, and performance nutrition. This integrated approach creates barriers for new entrants in high-specification whey isolates and caseinates, even as customers explore blends incorporating plant and alternative proteins. Meanwhile, medium-sized regional players carve out niches in collagen, gelatin, egg, or specialty dairy ingredients, adding competitive complexity and preventing any single supplier from setting standards across all protein types.

Plant-protein specialists, including Roquette, Ingredion, and Cosucra, are responding to this competitive environment by expanding capacity and developing application-specific innovations. These efforts extend beyond basic pea or wheat flours to create tailored systems for specific applications. For instance, Roquette’s launch of five NUTRALYS variants in 2024, Pea F853M, H85, T Pea 700M/700FL, T Wheat 600L, and Fava S900M, illustrates this strategy. Each ingredient is optimized for applications such as bakery, beverages, or meat analogues, enabling manufacturers to refine texture, solubility, and sensory performance without extensive in-house research and development. Ingredion and Cosucra similarly focus on pea, chicory, and faba solutions, emphasizing protein content, clean-label attributes, viscosity, and emulsification properties. As plant proteins now dominate the Europe protein market, differentiation increasingly depends on addressing formulation challenges in categories like meat substitutes or high-protein bakery products.

Emerging opportunities in precision-fermentation dairy proteins and algae-derived complete proteins are reshaping the competitive landscape. These segments require navigating long regulatory approval timelines and significant capital investments, favoring well-funded first movers. Precision-fermented whey and casein analogues aim to replicate animal-identical functionality without dairy farming, positioning microbial ingredient developers as both collaborators and potential disruptors to traditional dairy-protein suppliers. Similarly, algae-derived proteins and lipid-rich algae ingredients offer complete protein solutions with added omega-3 or antioxidant functionality, appealing to brands targeting "next-generation" plant-plus concepts in beverages, sports nutrition, and personal care. Partnerships between microbial and algae protein innovators and established ingredient companies are becoming increasingly common, enabling access to application expertise, sales channels, and hybrid formulation opportunities. This evolving ecosystem blurs the lines between animal and plant protein categories, with timing and strategic alliances playing a critical role in determining future growth in the Europe protein market.

Europe Protein Industry Leaders

  1. Archer Daniels Midland Company

  2. Roquette Frères

  3. Kerry Group plc

  4. Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.

  5. Arla Foods GmbH

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Europe Protein Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • February 2026: Roquette Frères launched NUTRALYS® Pea 850F, a pea protein isolate developed to address the characteristic vegetal taste associated with pea protein. The ingredient offers a cleaner and more neutral flavor profile without requiring additional masking ingredients or processing aids, supporting manufacturers in developing clean-label, high-protein plant-based products.
  • June 2025: Roquette expanded its Nutralys portfolio by introducing two innovative solutions: a textured wheat protein and a textured pea protein. Nutralys T Wheat 600L, the company's first-ever textured wheat protein, was specifically designed to address shifting consumer preferences for fibrous, chicken-style meat alternatives. This solution featured a protein content exceeding 60%, enabling the creation of high-protein products to meet market demands.
  • June 2024: Roquette, a leading provider of ingredient solutions, announced the launch of Nutralys Fava S900M, its first-ever fava bean protein isolate, across Europe and North America. This addition to Roquette's Nutralys plant protein portfolio featured a 90% protein content, making it an optimal choice for diverse applications such as meat substitutes, non-dairy alternatives, and baked goods.

Table of Contents for Europe Protein Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Shift To High-Protein Diets and Fitness Culture
    • 4.2.2 Growth of Plant-Based and Flexitarian Diets
    • 4.2.3 Clean-Label, Allergen and Digestibility Preferences
    • 4.2.4 EU Green-Deal Funding for Protein Diversification
    • 4.2.5 Regulatory Push for Sustainable Protein Strategy
    • 4.2.6 Advances In Processing and Extraction Technologies
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Allergenicity and Intolerance Issues
    • 4.3.2 Regulatory Complexity and Novel Food Approval
    • 4.3.3 Consumer Skepticism Toward Emerging Proteins
    • 4.3.4 Sensory and Formulation Challenges
  • 4.4 Supply Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Source
    • 5.1.1 Animal
    • 5.1.1.1 Casein and Caseinates
    • 5.1.1.2 Collagen
    • 5.1.1.3 Egg Protein
    • 5.1.1.4 Gelatin
    • 5.1.1.5 Insect Protein
    • 5.1.1.6 Milk Protein
    • 5.1.1.7 Whey Protein
    • 5.1.1.8 Other Animal Protein
    • 5.1.2 Microbial
    • 5.1.2.1 Algae Protein
    • 5.1.2.2 Mycoprotein
    • 5.1.3 Plant
    • 5.1.3.1 Hemp Protein
    • 5.1.3.2 Pea Protein
    • 5.1.3.3 Potato Protein
    • 5.1.3.4 Rice Protein
    • 5.1.3.5 Soy Protein
    • 5.1.3.6 Wheat Protein
    • 5.1.3.7 Other Plant Protein
  • 5.2 By Application
    • 5.2.1 Animal Feed
    • 5.2.2 Food and Beverages
    • 5.2.2.1 Bakery
    • 5.2.2.2 Beverages
    • 5.2.2.3 Breakfast Cereals
    • 5.2.2.4 Condiments/Sauces
    • 5.2.2.5 Confectionery
    • 5.2.2.6 Dairy and Dairy Alternatives
    • 5.2.2.7 Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Alternatives
    • 5.2.2.8 RTE/RTC Foods
    • 5.2.2.9 Snacks
    • 5.2.3 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.2.4 Supplements
    • 5.2.4.1 Baby Food and Infant Formula
    • 5.2.4.2 Elderly and Medical Nutrition
    • 5.2.4.3 Sport and Dietary Supplements
  • 5.3 By Geography
    • 5.3.1 Germany
    • 5.3.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.3.3 Italy
    • 5.3.4 France
    • 5.3.5 Spain
    • 5.3.6 Netherlands
    • 5.3.7 Poland
    • 5.3.8 Belgium
    • 5.3.9 Sweden
    • 5.3.10 Rest of Europe

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Ranking Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Archer Daniels Midland Company
    • 6.4.2 Arla Foods GmbH
    • 6.4.3 Darling Ingredients
    • 6.4.4 Groupe Lactalis
    • 6.4.5 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
    • 6.4.6 Kerry Group plc
    • 6.4.7 Roquette Frères
    • 6.4.8 Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.
    • 6.4.9 Weishardt Holding SA
    • 6.4.10 Südzucker AG
    • 6.4.11 Cargill, Incorporated
    • 6.4.12 DSM-Firmenich
    • 6.4.13 Glanbia Plc
    • 6.4.14 COSUCRA Groupe Warcoing S.A.
    • 6.4.15 Sotexpro
    • 6.4.16 Ÿnsect
    • 6.4.17 Protix
    • 6.4.18 Associated British Foods PLC
    • 6.4.19 ENOUGH (formerly 3F Bio)
    • 6.4.20 Tate & Lyle PLC

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

Europe Protein Market Report Scope

Protein is a macronutrient composed of amino acids that is essential for the growth, maintenance, and repair of body tissues and supports various biological functions, including enzyme activity, hormone production, immune response, and muscle development.

The scope of the report covers the Europe protein market, segmented by source, application, and geography. By source, the market is categorized into animal, microbial, and plant proteins. The animal protein segment includes casein and caseinates, collagen, egg protein, gelatin, insect protein, milk protein, whey protein, and other animal proteins. Microbial proteins include algae protein and mycoprotein, while plant proteins comprise hemp protein, pea protein, potato protein, rice protein, soy protein, wheat protein, and other plant proteins. By application, the market is segmented into animal feed; food and beverages, including bakery, beverages, breakfast cereals, condiments and sauces, confectionery, dairy and dairy alternatives, meat, poultry, seafood and alternatives, ready-to-eat/ready-to-cook foods, and snacks; personal care and cosmetics; and supplements. The supplements segment includes baby food and infant formula, elderly and medical nutrition, and sport and dietary supplements. Geographically, the report covers Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, and the rest of Europe.

By Source
Europe Protein Market segmentation breakdown
Animal Casein and Caseinates
Collagen
Egg Protein
Gelatin
Insect Protein
Milk Protein
Whey Protein
Other Animal Protein
Microbial Algae Protein
Mycoprotein
Plant Hemp Protein
Pea Protein
Potato Protein
Rice Protein
Soy Protein
Wheat Protein
Other Plant Protein
By Application
Europe Protein Market segmentation breakdown
Animal Feed
Food and Beverages Bakery
Beverages
Breakfast Cereals
Condiments/Sauces
Confectionery
Dairy and Dairy Alternatives
Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Alternatives
RTE/RTC Foods
Snacks
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Supplements Baby Food and Infant Formula
Elderly and Medical Nutrition
Sport and Dietary Supplements
By Geography
Europe Protein Market segmentation breakdown
Germany
United Kingdom
Italy
France
Spain
Netherlands
Poland
Belgium
Sweden
Rest of Europe
Europe Protein Market segmentation breakdown
By Source Animal Casein and Caseinates
Collagen
Egg Protein
Gelatin
Insect Protein
Milk Protein
Whey Protein
Other Animal Protein
Microbial Algae Protein
Mycoprotein
Plant Hemp Protein
Pea Protein
Potato Protein
Rice Protein
Soy Protein
Wheat Protein
Other Plant Protein
By Application Animal Feed
Food and Beverages Bakery
Beverages
Breakfast Cereals
Condiments/Sauces
Confectionery
Dairy and Dairy Alternatives
Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Alternatives
RTE/RTC Foods
Snacks
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Supplements Baby Food and Infant Formula
Elderly and Medical Nutrition
Sport and Dietary Supplements
By Geography Germany
United Kingdom
Italy
France
Spain
Netherlands
Poland
Belgium
Sweden
Rest of Europe

Market Definition

  • End User - The Protein Ingredients Market operates on a B2B basis. Food, Beverages, Supplements, Animal Feed, and Personal Care & Cosmetic manufacturers are considered to be end-consumers in the market studied. The scope excludes manufacturers buying liquid/dry whey to be used for application as a binding agent or thickener or other non-protein applications.
  • Penetration Rate - Penetration Rate is defined as the percentage of Protein-Fortified End User Market Volume in the Overall End User Market Volume.
  • Average Protein Content - Average protein content is the average protein content present per 100 g of product manufactured by all end-user companies considered under the scope of this report.
  • End User Market Volume - End-user market volume is the consolidated volume of all types and forms of end-user products in the country or region.
Europe Protein Market Glossary of Terms
Keyword Definition
Alpha-lactalbumin (α-Lactalbumin) It is a protein that regulates the production of lactose in the milk of almost all mammalian species.
Amino acid It is an organic compound that contains both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups, which are required for the synthesis of body protein and other important nitrogen-containing compounds, such as creatine, peptide hormones, and some neurotransmitters.
Blanching It is the process of briefly heating vegetables with steam or boiling water.
BRC British Retail Consortium
Bread improver It is a flour-based blend of several components with specific functional properties designed to modify dough characteristics and give quality attributes to bread.
BSF Black Soldier Fly
Caseinate It is a substance produced by adding an alkali to acid casein, a derivative of casein.
Celiac disease Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.
Colostrum It is a milky fluid that’s released by mammals that have recently given birth before breast milk production begins.
Concentrate It is the least processed form of protein and has a protein content ranging from 40-90% by weight.
Dry protein basis It refers to the percentage of "pure protein" present in a supplement after the water in it is completely removed through heat.
Dry whey It is the product resulting from drying fresh whey which has been pasteurized and to which nothing has been added as a preservative.
Egg protein It is a mixture of individual proteins, including ovalbumin, ovomucoid, ovoglobulin, conalbumin, vitellin, and vitellenin.
Emulsifier It is a food additive that facilitates the blending of foods that are immiscible with one another, such as oil and water.
Enrichment It is the process of addition of micronutrients that are lost during the processing of the product.
ERS Economic Research Service of the USDA
Extrusion It is the process of forcing soft mixed ingredients through an opening in a perforated plate or die designed to produce the required shape. The extruded food is then cut to a specific size by blades.
Fava Also known as Faba, it is another word for yellow split beans.
FDA Food and Drug Administration
Flaking It is a process in which typically a cereal grain (like corn, wheat, or rice) is broken down into grits, cooked with flavors and syrups, and then pressed into flakes between cooled rollers.
Foaming agent It is a food ingredient that makes it possible to form or maintain a uniform dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid food.
Foodservice It refers to the part of the food industry which includes businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Fortification It is the deliberate addition of micronutrients that are not found in them naturally or which are lost during processing, to improve a food product's nutritional value.
FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand
FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Gelling agent It is an ingredient that functions as a stabilizer and thickener to provide thickening without stiffness through the formation of gel.
GHG Greenhouse Gas
Gluten It is a family of proteins found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley.
Hemp It is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.
Hydrolysate It is a form of protein manufactured by exposing the protein to enzymes that can partially break the bonds between the protein's amino acids and break down large, complicated proteins into smaller pieces. Its processing makes it easier and quicker to digest.
Hypoallergenic It refers to a substance that causes fewer allergic reactions.
Isolate It is the purest and most processed form of protein which has undergone separation to obtain a pure protein fraction. It typically contains ≥ 90% of protein by weight.
Keratin It is a protein that helps form hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin.
Lactalbumin It is the albumin contained in milk and obtained from whey.
Lactoferrin It is an iron‑binding glycoprotein that is present in the milk of most mammals.
Lupin It is the yellow legume seeds of the genus Lupinus.
Millenial Also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, it refers to the people born from 1981 to 1996.
Monogastric It refers to an animal with a single-compartmented stomach. Examples of monogastric include humans, poultry, pigs, horses, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Most monogastric are generally unable to digest much cellulose food materials such as grasses.
MPC Milk protein concentrate
MPI Milk protein isolate
MSPI Methylated soy protein isolate
Mycoprotein Mycoprotein is a form of single-cell protein, also known as fungal protein, derived from fungi for human consumption.
Nutricosmetics It is a category of products and ingredients that act as nutritional supplements to care for skin, nails, and hair natural beauty.
Osteoporosis It is a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.
PDCAAS Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) is a method of evaluating the quality of a protein based on both the amino acid requirements of humans and their ability to digest it.
Per-capita consumption of animal protein It is the average amount of animal protein (such as milk, whey, gelatin, collagen, and egg proteins) that is readily available for consumption by each person in an actual population.
Per-capita consumption of plant protein It is the average amount of plant protein (such as soy, wheat, pea, oat, and hemp proteins) that is readily available for consumption by each person in an actual population.
Quorn It is a microbial protein manufactured using mycoprotein as an ingredient, in which the fungus culture is dried and mixed with egg albumen or potato protein, which acts as a binder, and then is adjusted in texture and pressed into various forms.
Ready-to-Cook (RTC) It refers to food products that include all of the ingredients, where some preparation or cooking is required through a process that is given on the package.
Ready-to-Eat (RTE) It refers to a food product prepared or cooked in advance, with no further cooking or preparation required before being eaten.
RTD Ready-to-Drink
RTS Ready-to-Serve
Saturated fat It is a type of fat in which the fatty acid chains have all single bonds. It is generally considered unhealthy.
Sausage It is a meat product made of finely chopped and seasoned meat, which may be fresh, smoked, or pickled and which is then usually stuffed into a casing.
Seitan It is a plant-based meat substitute made out of wheat gluten.
Softgel It is a gelatin-based capsule with a liquid fill.
SPC Soy protein concentrate
SPI Soy protein isolate
Spirulina It is a biomass of cyanobacteria that can be consumed by humans and animals.
Stabilizer It is an ingredient added to food products to help maintain or enhance their original texture, and physical and chemical characteristics.
Supplementation It is the consumption or provision of concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances that are intended to supplement nutrients in the diet and is intended to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Texturant It is a specific type of food ingredient that is used to control and alter the mouthfeel and texture of food and beverage products.
Thickener It is an ingredient that is used to increase the viscosity of a liquid or dough and make it thicker, without substantially changing its other properties.
Trans fat Also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, it is a type of unsaturated fat that naturally occurs in small amounts in meat.
TSP Textured soy protein
TVP Textured vegetable protein
WPC Whey protein concentrate
WPI Whey protein isolate

Research Methodology

Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.

  • Step-1: Identify Key Variables: The quantifiable key variables (industry and extraneous) pertaining to the specific product segment and country are selected from a group of relevant variables & factors based on desk research & literature review; along with primary expert inputs. These variables are further confirmed through regression modeling (wherever required).
  • Step-2: Build a Market Model: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step-1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set and the model is built on the basis of these variables.
  • Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.
  • Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases & Subscription Platforms
research-methodology
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What is the projected value of the Europe protein market by 2031?

It is expected to reach USD 8.26 billion, reflecting a 4.85% CAGR over 2026-2031.

Which source category is forecast to grow fastest?

Microbial proteins, including mycoprotein and algae, are projected to expand at a 6.32% CAGR to 2031.

Which application segment shows the highest growth rate?

Personal care and cosmetics leads with a 6.05% CAGR, driven by demand for plant-based emulsifiers and peptides.

Why is the Netherlands the fastest-growing country in Europe protein?

Precision-fermentation investments and generous research and development tax credits drive a 5.34% CAGR through 2031.

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