The latest investment figures show European privately held companies developing plant-based foods, cultivated meat, and fermentation raised nearly $509 million (€470 million) in 2024 – a 23% increase from the previous year.
As Labour prepares to develop a new food strategy, analysis finds that the UK has invested £75 million in developing sustainable new foods – more than half of the amount recommended by a landmark review of England’s food system.
There’s no doubt it’s been a tough few years for the UK’s plant-based sector – in common with other parts of the food and drink industry. But after a rollercoaster of sudden growth followed by struggling sales, there are now signs of stabilisation.
New analysis shows that sales of plant-based foods in six key European countries grew by 5.5% to €5.4 billion last year.
As the appetite for plant-based food grows across Europe, these products present new opportunities for farmers to produce the raw ingredients they need.
As a researcher investigating the barriers stopping people from embracing more plant-based foods, Sarah Nájera Espinosa has plenty of personal experience to draw on.
More than half of European consumers are eating less meat, but taste and price remain the biggest barriers to wider adoption of plant-based foods, a major study has found.
