Plant-based Food Processing Equipment Market by Type (Dryers, Mixers & Grinders, Pasteurizers); by Mode of Operation (Semi-automatic, Automatic); by Production Facility Size (Small & Medium Scale, Large Scale); and Geography - Global Forecasts to 2030
Increasing Demand for Plant-base...
Millennials’ food habits are changing, with an increasing preference for vegan and plant-based foods over meat and meat products. According to the Plant Based Foods Association and the Good Food Institute, in 2021, 47% of the total population in the U.S., including millennials and Gen Z, relied on plant-based foods. In recent years, there has been significant growth in the sales of plant-based foods globally. For instance, according to the Plant Based Foods Association, retail sales of plant-based foods increased by 6.2% from 2020, reaching USD 7.4 billion in 2021. Rapid urbanization and industrialization, changing lifestyles, economic development, health & wellness trends, and consumers’ rising awareness about health concerns caused by the long-term use of animal proteins are creating growth opportunities for the manufacturers of plant-based food products. The traction in the plant-based protein products market is also attributed to food security challenges in terms of the growing demand from the livestock industry and the human population to ensure the longer sustainability of the animal protein model. In 2020, the U.S. News & World Report ranked the Mediterranean Diet—a meal pattern with a high proportion of plant-based foods—as the ‘No 1 Best Overall Diet.’
Moreover, consumers’ growing inclination toward healthy, clean, sustainable, and cruelty-free products and the rising need for sustainable food systems are driving the plant-based foods market globally. The recent trend of healthy snacking also supports the demand for plant-based foods.
Plant-based foods are easily consumable and developed according to consumer requirements without compromising their taste, texture, flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel. Various categories of plant-based foods are gaining popularity among consumers. Thus, the increasing demand for plant-based foods has encouraged manufacturers to increase production capacities.
With the growing demand for plant-based food options, manufacturers are implementing new technologies for food production.
Thus, the increasing demand for plant-based foods drives the growth of the plant-based food processing equipment market.
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Innovations in Plant-based Food Processing Equipment
Advances in technologies are driving innovations in plant-based food processing equipment. Plant-based foods undergo various processes to replicate the texture, taste, and flavor of meat products. Such applications require the food processing equipment to have specific attributes. Innovations in the plant-based food processing equipment market are mainly focused on new extrusion equipment, mixers, pasteurizers, and dryers, to extend the shelf life of food products and impart the desired mouthfeel.
Moreover, high-pressure processing (HPP), a cold pasteurization technique, is an innovation that helps in the post-packaging process. It allows food products to retain their freshness and nutritional content and extends their shelf life.
Additionally, the players operating in the plant-based food processing equipment market are focusing on developing advanced offerings to meet the growing demand and enhance the quality of their customers’ products. For instance, in February 2021, Bühler AG launched the PolyCool 1000, a high-performance cooling die combined with an extruder. With the PolyCool 1000, it is possible to produce wet textured proteins using a wide range of raw materials, including soy, pulses, oilseeds, grains, and microalgae, at throughputs of up to 1,000 kilograms per hour. Also, in January 2021, Bühler AG (Switzerland) partnered with DIL Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik e. V., to develop new production technologies for extruded alternative meat substitutes.
Furthermore, the rising demand for convenience foods has boosted the production of plant-based snacks, including burgers, schnitzels, and nuggets. However, processors of convenience foods face various challenges, including uneven coating of plant-based snacks, which may affect overall consumer acceptance. To overcome this challenge, equipment manufacturers increasingly focus on developing flexible coaters designed according to product requirements. For instance, in September 2022, Marel (Iceland) launched a 1000 mm Coating Line for flexible setups offering different products. The 1000 mm Coating Line features an active flour, batter, and tempura applicator, wider belts, and a more robust, fail-safe design. Mixing is one of the major challenges in processing plant-based foods, especially products with a sticky texture that does not flow easily and products that degrade with prolonged exposure to atmospheric oxygen. To overcome this challenge, equipment manufacturers have developed continuous mixers that enable smooth mixing with minimum product loss and have flexible, precisely adjustable settings depending on the product type.
Innovations that reduce equipment downtime by enhancing reliability and longevity can also improve facility throughput by increasing facility capacity utilization. Thus, innovations in plant-based food processing equipment are expected to drive the growth of this market.
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