An increasing trend is the extraction of protein from edible seaweeds for a variety of medical uses. Revenue from the worldwide seaweed protein market, which was $513.7 million in 2021, is predicted to touch $1,397.7 million by 2030, growing at an 11.8% CAGR from 2021 to 2030. It is urged to adopt alternative protein sources since, unlike raising cattle, they do not consume land or emit greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the intake of meat proteins may increase due to the possibility of contagious viral diseases in animals.
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| Seaweed Protein Market Analysis Demand Forecast Through 2030 |
The Gracilaria chilensis is most significant seaweed crop grown in Chile, accounts for up to 100% of all the biomass produced by aquaculture. Given that local fishers are mostly responsible for planting and harvesting it, it has had a favorable socioeconomic influence on residents of coastal communities.
Over the past ten years, seaweed production in Chile has increased dramatically—by more than 400%. The second-most popular export from Chile is dehydrated seaweed, with over two-thirds living in China and the remainder going to Denmark, Japan, France, Canada, and Norway.
Around 50% of seaweeds are grown worldwide, primarily red seaweeds. Red seaweed proteins account for over 70% of the seaweed protein market globally. The red seaweed known as nori has the highest measured protein level at up to 47%.
Red seaweeds are useful to humans primarily as a food product binder and as a bacterial substrate in scientific settings. Carrageenan, a substance used in cosmetics, food processing, and other industries, is produced using Eucheuma and kappaphycus. When compared to alternative approaches, seaweed extracts produced using the conventional alkaline extraction process provide higher yields. However, these techniques of protein extraction take a long time and use a lot of solvents, and the extraction effectiveness is only moderate.
The seaweed protein market dominates by traditional methods of extraction, accounting for around 55% of total sales. An extensive study revealed that enzymatic pre-treatment with a mixture of polysaccharides, coupled with alkaline extraction, is the most effective method and will provide the best yield.
For further processing, China has served as the primary importer of both edible and inedible seaweed. In a similar vein, the Philippines is China's second-largest rival for carrageenan exports, both semi-processed and processed. About 60% of the global production of seaweeds and hydrocolloids is consumed in the APAC.
Over the past ten years, the Philippines has seen a more than 40% growth in carrageenan exports. The largest seaweed protein market for carrageenan is the U.S., which is coupled with the European Union, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, and Thailand.
For example, the Indonesian government has given seaweeds top priority in its goal for economic growth. The rising expenditures in R&D activities to create new technologies for seaweed protein extraction and cultivation are another element boosting the growth of the seaweed protein market in the APAC region. Numerous initiatives have been started to advance farming methods and inform people about them; which has helped to raise the standard of living in coastal villages.
