Overview

• A recent review in npj Sustainable Agriculture concludes that insect-based products cannot overcome social and market hurdles to curb meat consumption in Western diets.
• Public surveys in the United States and Europe report only about 20% willingness to try insect foods compared to 91% readiness to sample plant-based alternative meats.
• Funding data show that roughly 95% of the $1.2 billion invested in insect farming in 2022 was allocated for animal feed and pet food, leaving under 1% for human food products.
• High production costs, slow regulatory approval processes and entrenched taste aversions have confined insect-based items to niche snack markets.
• Plant-based meat substitutes already occupy mainstream retail and restaurant channels with competitive pricing and increasingly meat-like sensory qualities.