Bye, Meat! Not Only Is Potato Protein a Thing, But Its Market Value Is Set to Hit $88M by 2022

It’s no secret that vegetables are rich and important sources of protein. With pea and mushroom proteins already dominating the market, the meat industry now has a new protein contender to deal with: potatoes. According to Business Wire, the potato protein market was estimated to be valued at $72.2 million in 2017 and is projected to grow to $88.2 million just by 2022.

What’s accounting for the massive rise of potato protein? You guessed it. The demand for plant-based proteins. People are actively seeking out plant-based options as they become more aware of the impact that meat and dairy have on the planet, animals, and their health. Europe currently has the largest share of the potato protein market, but the Asia Pacific market is projected to be the fastest growing from 2017 to 2022, notes Business Wire.

The opportunity for potato protein shouldn’t go underappreciated. Demand for protein in the developed and developing world is at an all-time high, with the average person in the U.S. consuming 103 grams per day, around double the actual recommended amount. The animal agriculture system already covers over 45 percent of the world’s land mass, uses a majority of finite freshwater water resources, and is responsible for rampant air and water pollution – not to mention is the largest singular source of global greenhouse gas emissions. Even with all the resources that this industry uses, nearly one billion people still go hungry.

The rise of potato protein is yet another example of the innovation happening in the protein space as more companies recognize that animal-based protein isn’t where consumers are looking. We’ve seen other plant proteins come to the forefront of the vegan food space and potato protein has the potential to show that there are a variety of ways to create healthy, sustainable protein options that can help shift our food system away from factory farming.

To learn more about the environmental impact of our food choices as well as trends and developments in the plant-based food space, check out our podcast #EatForThePlanet with Nil Zacharias.

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