The demand for plant-based meat alternatives has outpaced the supply chain capabilities of the industry and due to the impacts of COVID-19 on global supply chains, things have been even more challenging in recent years. However, many insiders predicted that by 2030, plant-based meats will represent 6% of the seafood and global meat market.

To achieve the estimated 25 million metric tons of plant-based food products required to keep up with demand by 2030, a $27 billion investment would be necessary. The large sum of money would go towards a minimum of 800 extrusion factories that can produce at least 30,000 metric tons of extruded protein products per year.

The ingredients involved in plant-based alternatives that risk causing restraints on the supply chain include coconut oil, peas, enriched pea protein, soy, and soy protein concentrate. However, ingredient producers, farmers, and plant-based manufacturers can make the necessary investments before supply chain weaknesses infringe on their production and sales.

The Good Food Institute's findings lay out an overview of what areas producers, manufacturers, ingredient providers, and investors need to focus on in the future, along with what issues will arise with enough time to address them. Necessary long-term investments must be made to ensure that continuing to make the products revolutionizing the food industry is sustainable.