The insect-based pet food market is poised for significant expansion between 2025 and 2035, fuelled by the rising demand for sustainable, protein-rich, and hypoallergenic pet food alternatives. The market was valued at USD 1,610.5 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 4,150.2 million by 2035, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.0% over the forecast period.
The increasing focus on eco-friendly and ethical pet nutrition is driving the adoption of insect-based pet food. Compared to traditional protein sources like chicken and beef, insect protein production requires fewer resources, emits lower greenhouse gases, and is highly sustainable. Key insects used in pet food include black soldier fly larvae, mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers, which offer high protein content, essential amino acids, and digestible fiber, making them an ideal choice for pet diets.
The growing pet humanization trend has led to an increased demand for premium, organic, and grain-free pet food options, further boosting the market. Pet owners are becoming more conscious of allergy-friendly, gut-health-improving, and nutritionally balanced diets, where insect-based pet food provides a highly digestible and nutrient-dense solution. In addition, regulatory approvals in Europe and North America are facilitating market penetration, allowing brands to expand their product offerings.
Metric Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Market Size (2025E) | USD 1,610.5 million |
| Market Value (2035F) | USD 4,150.2 million |
| CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 10.0% |
The global insect-based pet food market provides reliable research insights into emerging trends that can shape the market potential in several regions around the world. Functional ingredients, innovative processing, and probiotic blends will also increase the attractiveness of insect-based pet nutrition, laying the industry's vision for the next ten years.
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North America is a leading region in the insect-based pet food market as consumers are increasingly aware towards sustainability and alternative protein sources. North America is being the leading market due to increasing adoption of eco-friendly pet diets and high demand for high-protein and hypoallergenic pet food products.
The main players in the regional scene emphasize product innovation and employ a wide range of protein sources particularly mealworms, crickets, and black soldier fly larvae. Moreover, supportive regulatory for alternative proteins in the pet food, along with the ascending e-commerce channels, is fuelling the growth of the overall market. Nonetheless, due to insect-based diets consumer scepticism and premium pricing, such products might not experience wide adoption.
When asked about insect-based pet food specifically, Schmidt notes that Europe is a large market, driven by significant demand (compared to the rest of the world) in countries like Germany, the UK, France, and the Netherlands. Adoption of alternative protein sources is driven by the region's strong focus on sustainability, circular economy practices, and high-quality pet nutrition.
Pet food ingredients from insects are subject to government regulations for EU approvals that play a key role in shaping the market. The growing demand for organic and natural pet diets among pet owners is also driving market demand. However, these new offers might face complications from regulation or high production costs that can affect pricing strategies and product availability.
The demand for insect-based pet food is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, where widespread pet ownership, urbanization, and rising disposable incomes are contributing to robust growth of the market. Market expansion is consistently driven by countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc. with increasing demand for sustainable pet nutrition solution which goes in favour of North American Pet Food Ingredients market.
The areas benefit by having a strong agricultural base allowing for insect farming for pet food production at economical rates. Moreover, consumer knowledge regarding the health benefits of insect protein, including high digestibility and amino acid content, is driving market penetration. Though, cultural factors around insect consumption as a whole and availability of premium insect-based pet food brands can act as deterrents towards market penetration.
Challenges
Consumer Perception and Regulatory Constraints
One of the biggest issues in the insect-based pet food market is consumer acceptance. Although insect protein focuses on their high nutrition levels and sustainability, many pet owners are still hesitant to feed their pets non-traditional protein sources. Moreover, regulatory approvals are different across regions, and some markets have stricter regulations for safety and labelling, delaying the product launches and expanding to markets.
Opportunities
Sustainability and Nutritional Benefits
Traditional forms of animal protein are facing growing concern regarding their environmental impacts, making insect-based pet food a highly sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative. Compared with traditional animal protein, insects need less land, water, and feed, making them a potential protein source for environmentally conscious consumers.
Moreover, insects are a great source of essential amino acids, omega fatty acids and micronutrients, making them nutritionally better for pets. Market players benefit from the increasing demand for grain-free, hypoallergenic, and novel proteins diets.
From 2020 until 2024, there was more investment in research and development in the market, as more companies were trying to enhance insect-based formulation and palatability. Major pet-food brands began using black soldier fly larvae, crickets and mealworms in their products, expanding options for consumers. However, the increased production costs and lack of large-scale availability were still major barriers to entry.
Insect farming, cost-effective production, and the loosening of regulatory approvals will play a significant role in the adoption of this technology from 2025 to 2035 and beyond. There will be even more diversity in product offerings, with insect-based kibble, wet food, treats, and supplements entering the market. Emerging market trends will include AI-driven customization of pet nutrition and fortified insect proteins.
Market Shifts: A Comparative Analysis 2020 to 2024 vs. 2025 to 2035
| Market Shift | 2020 to 2024 Trends |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Landscape | Selective approvals in North America & Europe |
| Technological Advancements | Optimized insect farming techniques |
| Industry Adoption | Emerging niche brands promoting insect protein |
| Supply Chain and Sourcing | Challenges in large-scale insect farming |
| Market Competition | Presence of start-ups and specialty brands |
| Market Growth Drivers | Sustainability awareness and hypoallergenic pet diets |
| Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Focus on reducing carbon footprint in pet food |
| Consumer Preferences | Gradual shift toward alternative protein sources |
| Market Shift | 2025 to 2035 Projections |
|---|---|
| Regulatory Landscape | Standardized global regulations for insect-based pet food |
| Technological Advancements | Automated insect protein extraction and fortification |
| Industry Adoption | Widespread adoption by major pet food manufacturers |
| Supply Chain and Sourcing | Expansion of insect farming hubs worldwide |
| Market Competition | Entry of multinational pet food companies into the segment |
| Market Growth Drivers | High-protein, eco-friendly pet food demand surges |
| Sustainability and Energy Efficiency | Circular economy adoption with zero-waste insect farming |
| Consumer Preferences | Preference for personalized, insect-based pet nutrition |
The USA is seeing a surge in demand for insect protein pet food, reflecting increased consumer awareness of sustainable pet nutrition. As more people become aware of the environmental impact of traditional pet diets, many are turning to eco-friendly alternatives.
Additionally, the presence of leading manufacturers along with positive government initiatives to support sustainable protein alternatives are boosting the market growth. There is also demand for health-specific dog foods, which have led some pet food brands to incorporate more insect-based proteins into their offerings.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United States | 9.8% |
The UK insect-based pet food market is on the rise, driven by a growing consumer demand for sustainable and hypoallergenic pet food options. The UK government's focus on reducing carbon emissions and encouraging alternative protein sources has also played a role in helping the market.
Enter a start-up or even pet food company with an existing presence most recently, many of them are toying with cricket additives in their formulations, which urban pet owners have recently been showing interest in for their pets as food novelties and sustainable sources.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 9.4% |
Apart from EU, Germany, France, and the Netherlands lead the race for insect-based pet food market growth. A robust market has been established due 1) regulatory support, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2) strong acceptance by consumers.
A growing amount of moon-shot capital is pouring into the sector, with researchers working on both insect farming and protein extraction. In addition, as EU's ambitious sustainability targets that sync with surging demands for eco-friendly pet food solutions.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| European Union | 9.6% |
Japan's pet food market is changing with a growing interest in insect options fuelled by concerns about sustainability and pet health. Food consumption by high digestibility, protein-rich diet and the aged pet population in the country is driving the adoption of insect-based diet. Additionally, Japanese pet food manufacturers are dedicating efforts towards studying ways to improve both the taste and nutritional content of insect based pet food to suit the needs of pet owners in the country.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| Japan | 9.7% |
From the government incentives for alternative protein sources, to the increasing consumer awareness, South Korea is quickly becoming a player in the insect-based pet food market. Demand for premium and sustainable pet food products in Argentina is driven by a strong pet care market and increasing disposable income. In addition, improvements in insect production and processing technologies are providing more options for mainstream consumers.
| Country | CAGR (2025 to 2035) |
|---|---|
| South Korea | 9.9% |
The insect-based pet food market is experiencing significant expansion due to the increasing demand from pet owners for sustainable, high-protein, and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional pet food ingredients. Recent interest in using insects as a protein source in pet food has been driven by an increased demand for alternative protein sources, and greater scrutiny over the environmental sustainability of cat and dog food formulations based on traditional meat sources. Companies in this category are creating new products from insects like crickets, mealworms and black soldier flies known to supply pets with necessary vitamins, amino acids and good fats.
The evolution of insect-based pet food sector is influenced by growing consumer awareness of pet health, and an increasing preference for natural and organic food formulations. Moreover, the expansion of the market has also been attributed to regulatory approvals and advances in processing techniques.
Interest in insect-based proteins has also been boosted by the fact that the demand for hypoallergenic pet food has been driving sales of the product, as insects tend to be easier to digest than more traditional protein sources like beef or chicken.
The organic and monoprotein segments are gaining acceptance by nature as these segments provide biological value which aligns with the demands for clean-label pet food.
A natural diet without chemicals and additives is being preferred by the pet owners, therefore, the organic insect-based pet food is gaining popularity. These formulations contain insects free from pesticides and antibiotics, sourced from farms practicing sustainability, making them a high-quality protein for pets. The segment is propelled by the growing awareness about the harmful effects of artificial additives, making the organic insect-based pet food a preferred choice among health-aware consumers.
Monoprotein Insect-based Pet Food is gaining popularity, especially in pets with food sensitivities or allergies. Monoprotein pet food is made with one main protein source, allowing pet owners to pinpoint and deal with dietary issues that their pets may have (which can be really difficult when multi-protein formulas have). Being hypoallergenic and highly digestible, insects ensure that pets face a lesser risk of gastrointestinal issues. This segment is forecasted to grow at a rapid pace, when a large number of pet owners are looking for alternative proteins with little implications of allergy.
However, due to having the best nutritional profile and sustainability calliper as compared to other species, crickets and black soldier flies have taken the lead by becoming the most consumed insect protein in the pet food industry by source.
Pet food based on crickets is high in protein, amino acid profile, vitamins, and mineral. Crickets consume far less land, water and feed than traditional livestock this makes them a highly sustainable source of protein for pet food production. Its mild taste and digestibility have lead to an increased acceptance of its use in both dry and wet pet food formulations. An additional advantage of this protein source is that chitin, a natural fiber present in cricket exoskeletons, promotes daily gut health and immunity in pets.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL)-based pet food insects such as the Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) have become increasingly popular recently due to their capacity to metamorphose organic waste into high-grade protein. BSFL is high in many fats, especially healthy medium-chain fatty acids that help support pets: skin, coat and overall health. Moreover, it saves food waste and its related greenhouse gas emissions, as it is produced according to the standards of circular economy. With sustainability fast emerging as a key consideration at the point of purchase, BSFL may see accelerated adoption, especially in the premium end of the pet nutrition market.
As technology has advanced, ensuring food safety has become more achievable in the insect-based pet food market. With pet humanization trends continuing to rise and pet owners making purchasing decisions influenced by environmental issues, insect-based pet food is set to become a mainstream pet food industry segment globally.
Due to growing conscious consumerism when it comes to sustainable pet nutrition, alternative sources of protein for pets, and eco-friendly pet food products contributing to the growth of insect-based pet food market. Among those, the pet food that is high in protein, hypoallergenic and grain-free, are in high demand, which, in turn, is supporting the market growth. Pet food manufacturers are finding more nutritious and sustainable options, such as insect-based proteins like black soldier fly larvae, crickets, and mealworms.
Market Share Analysis by Company
| Company Name | Estimated Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Ynsect | 20-24% |
| Protix | 15-19% |
| InnovaFeed | 12-16% |
| Mars Petcare | 10-14% |
| Other Companies (Combined) | 30-40% |
| Company Name | Key Offerings/Activities |
|---|---|
| Ynsect | Produces black soldier fly-based pet food with a focus on sustainability and high protein content. |
| Protix | Develops insect-based protein powders and pet food formulations for eco-friendly nutrition. |
| InnovaFeed | Specializes in premium insect protein sources for pet food and animal feed industries. |
| Mars Petcare | Introduces alternative protein pet food lines, including cricket and insect-based treats. |
Key Company Insights
Ynsect (20-24%)
Ynsect is the key player in the insect-based pet food market, catering to top-brand pet foods with its high-quality insect protein. Its specialization in vertical farming technology, sustainability and high digestibility proteins continues to cement its leading position in the market.
Protix (15-19%)
Proteins suited to pet food manufacturers, Protix is a leader in insect based pet food ingredients. The company invests heavily in R&D focused on insect farming, positioning it to compete.
InnovaFeed (12-16%)
InnovaFeed offers high-quality pet food solutions by creating nutritionally optimized insect proteins. Its specialism in organic and ethically sourced insect ingredients helps to gain market share.
Mars Petcare (10-14%)
Mars Petcare is capitalizing on its global reach in the pet food industry by launching insect-based pet food under its existing brands. All in all, the company’s investments towards innovations for sustainable pet food means it will have a great role to play in making pet food sustainable.
Additional Significant Players (30-40% Combined)
The upcoming report by our team of analysts offers an elaborate analysis of the global insect-based pet food market, which can be summarized as follows: Key players include:
The overall market size for the insect-based pet food market was USD 1,610.5 million in 2025.
The insect-based pet food market is expected to reach USD 4,150.2 million in 2035.
The demand for insect-based pet food is expected to rise due to the growing preference for sustainable, protein-rich, and hypoallergenic pet food alternatives, increasing pet ownership, and heightened awareness of environmentally friendly pet nutrition.
The top five countries driving the development of the insect-based pet food market are the USA, Germany, France, the UK, and China.
Dog and cat food segments are expected to dominate the market due to their widespread pet adoption rates and growing demand for high-quality, nutrient-dense alternative protein sources.
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Insect-based Pet Food Market
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