Europe Insect Protein Market Size Likely to Reach at a CAGR of 30.5% By 2034

Europe Insect Protein Market Size

As per the Europe Insect Protein Market size analysis conducted by the CMI Team, the Europe Insect Protein Market is expected to record a CAGR of 30.5% from 2025 to 2034. In 2025, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of USD 310.86 Million. By 2034, the valuation is anticipated to reach USD 3422.72 Billion.

Europe Insect Protein Market Overview

As per the industry experts at CMI, the Europe insect protein market is picking up speed fast, led by the growing demand for sustainable and high-protein alternative food sources in animal feed, pet food, and even human nutrition. Industry leaders like Protix B.V., Ÿnsect, Entomo Farms, Hexafly, and AgriProtein are driving innovation by commercializing insect farming technology, especially for black soldier flies and mealworms, and heavily investing in automated manufacturing plants, bioconversion technologies, and circular economy strategies.

Government support in the form of facilitative EU regulatory policy, research awards, and sustainability programs is driving market convergence faster. From Dutch aquaculture farms to French poultry farms and German pet food processors, the adoption of insect protein is gaining momentum as a sustainable protein compared to conventional proteins such as soy and fishmeal. In addition, strategic partnerships, waste valorization technology, and R&D on insect oil and chitin are opening up new business prospects—putting Europe at the forefront as the world’s insect protein revolution center stage.

Europe Insect Protein Market Growth Factors and Dynamics

• EU Regulatory Approvals: As per the European Union’s Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, insect products must undergo evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) before being authorized for sale in the market, ensuring consumer safety and an open process for regulation. Between 2021 and 2023, the EU approved several insect species as food items, including dried mealworms, migratory locusts, house crickets, and lesser mealworm larvae. These approvals have helped companies like Protix B.V., operator of the globe’s largest insect factory in the Netherlands, to expand beyond their existing products to meet EU standards, producing safe, high-quality insect ingredients for human food and animal feed.

• Growing Demand for Pet Food and Aquaculture: Insects are gaining value as ecologically safe, high-protein feedstock to replace conventional feed materials in pet food and aquaculture with environmental benefits as they can be produced successfully and cultivated on organic waste. Protix B.V. in the Netherlands are spearheading this revolution through the production of insect-based ingredients to fulfill the nutritional requirements of animals of different kinds, minimizing the intake of resource-intensive inputs such as fishmeal and soy. Concurrently, UK-based business AgriProtein also has products like MagMeal and MagOil from black soldier fly larvae that offer sustainable feed solutions with lower greenhouse gas footprints and lower land and water usage, enabling more sustainable systems of animal nutrition.

• Circular Economy Support: Insect rearing supports the circular economy through the transformation of organic waste into valuable commodities like proteins and oils to reduce wastage and maximize efficient use of resources. AgriProtein businesses are a classic example by recycling food waste to yield black soldier flies that get processed into sustainable feed products such as MagMeal and MagOil to minimize the environmental impact of waste management and conventional feed manufacturing. Similarly, Protix B.V. combines circular principles in the development of organic waste into premium insect protein for enhancing sustainability and aligning with the broader EU goals of resource efficiency and environmental protection.

Report Scope

Europe Insect Protein Market SWOT Analysis

• Strengths: The market for European insect protein is supported by the stringent regulation of the EU Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, which encourages sustainable protein. Players such as Protix and Ynsect have already been EFSA-approved for other alternative insect species, further pushing legitimacy. Europe also leads in innovation, where vertical insect production and automation technology increase yield and efficiency.

• Weaknesses: Despite growing demand, psychological and cultural barriers remain significant because many European consumers are not willing to consume insect-based food. Production cost is also very expensive with a consequence of technology cost and economies of scale limits. Differences in regulation between EU countries may even discourage market entry and big production for new businesses.

• Opportunities: Expanding demand for sustainable animal feeds, particularly in aquaculture, where insect protein is increasingly seen as an alternative to fishmeal, is creating opportunities. Higher environmental awareness, government subsidies towards circular economy approaches, and innovation in functional foods and cosmetics create positive opportunities.Public-private collaborations and cross-border initiatives are also bringing market expansion on the horizon.

• Threats: The market also competes with other emerging alternative proteins such as plant-based and cultured meats, which tend to have higher consumer acceptance and more established supply chains. Differing legislation across EU nations and potential overregulation could hinder innovation. Global supply chain disruption and volatile feedstock availability can also make it difficult for long-term cost competitiveness.

List of the prominent players in the Europe Insect Protein Market:

• Protix B.V.
• Ynsect
• Entomo Farms
• Hexafly
• AgriProtein
• Beta Hatch
• EnterraCorp
• Bugsolutely Ltd
• InnovaFeed
• Protenga
• EntoCube Ltd
• Bühler AG
• Enviroflight
• entomo Agroindustrial
• Symton Black Soldier Fly
• Others

The Europe Insect Protein Market is segmented as follows:

By Product

• Coleoptera
• Lepidoptera
• Hymenoptera
• Orthoptera
• Hemiptera
• Diptera 

By Application

• Food and Beverages
• Personal Care
• Cosmetics

Regional Coverage:

Europe

• Germany
• France
• U.K.
• Russia
• Italy
• Spain
• Netherlands
• Rest of Europe