The transition toward a more sustainable and resilient food system also requires diversifying protein sources. In this context, alternative proteins represent a strategic opportunity for Spain and Europe, both because of their innovation potential and their ability to activate new value chains in agriculture and industry.

This vision is supported by two recent publications: the Report on the State of the Alternative Protein Ecosystem in Spain(GFI Europe, in collaboration with AseBio and Eatable Adventures), which provides a snapshot of the national R&D ecosystem and business landscape; and Seizing the Economic Opportunity of Alternative Proteins in Europe: Delivering Prosperity from Farm to Factory(Systemiq, in collaboration with GFI Europe), which quantifies the potential economic impact of the sector through 2040 in the European Union and in Spain under a scenario of "moderate policy support." These reports do not include insect-derived protein, a pathway that AseBio considers part of protein diversification, but which is excluded from the impact analysis, although they do include other sources such as plant-based foods, cultivated meat, and fermentation-derived alternatives.

At AseBio, as an association that brings together and represents companies and entities within the biotechnology ecosystem, we work to promote a more competitive and sustainable growth model, guided by a commitment to science and innovation, collaboration, and ethics. In this regard, alternative proteins are a clear example of how biotechnology can translate into new value chains, skilled employment, and strategic autonomy for the agri-food and industrial sectors.

The Spanish ecosystem according to GFI Europe

The report on the Spanish ecosystem observes that R&D in alternative proteins has focused primarily on plant-based proteins, and that a significant share of research is oriented toward the development of products and ingredients-an approach close to market needs that is consistent with the role of technology centers in Spanish R&D.

In parallel, the business landscape shows similar dynamics: a strong prominence of plant-based approaches, with relevant advances in fermentation and the presence of companies operating in links of the value chain related to cultivated foods (for example, equipment and inputs).

Moreover, the plant-based market continues to grow: retail sales in Spain of plant-based categories reached €491 million in 2024, with growth of 9.8% compared to 2023; and 20.8% of households purchased plant-based meat at least once in 2024.

However, the report itself notes that for the sector to fully realize its potential, challenges such as access to financing, scaling infrastructure, and greater legal certainty/regulatory predictability must be addressed.

The potential of Europe and Spain according to Systemiq

Systemiq's European report models a scenario of moderate policy support in which products improve in taste and price and regulatory processes become more predictable, enabling scaling and investment. The projections presented in this analysis consider the impact of this scenario across the entire value chain. In this context, by 2040 the EU could meet around 10% of its meat demand and 25% of its dairy demand with alternative proteins.

In economic terms, the analysis estimates that by 2040 alternative proteins could contribute €111 billion annually in gross value added (GVA) in the EU, represent a total internal market opportunity (including the value chain) of €79 billion, and generate export potential of €60 billion per year. In terms of employment, the sector could support around 414,000 jobs in 2040, with 16% associated with agricultural crop production (arable farming).

For Spain, the same analysis estimates that, with moderate policy support, the sector could contribute up to €10 billion annually to the Spanish economy and generate 34,000 jobs by 2040, with a domestic market of €6.7 billion and export opportunities of up to €3 billion per year. The report also includes a country-by-country perspective that helps to gauge how this opportunity manifests across different European ecosystems. In the cases of Italy and France, the forecasts are also very favorable: €10 billion and €18 billion annually in GVA, and 31,000 and 64,000 jobs respectively.

This report emphasizes that growth is not limited to the final product, but extends to sectors such as specialized equipment, automation, quality control, and advanced technical services, reinforcing its character as an industrial opportunity.

AseBio's perspective

At AseBio, we read these two reports as complementary pieces of the same diagnosis: Spain already has scientific, technological, and business capabilities in alternative proteins, but making the leap toward a sustained competitive advantage requires turning innovation into industry.

On the one hand, GFI Europe confirms that the national ecosystem has advanced particularly in plant-based proteins and in R&D oriented toward product and ingredient development, while also showing relevant progress in fermentation and in industrial links connected to the value chain of new food technologies.

On the other hand, Systemiq quantifies what it would mean to convert this base into an industrial commitment: under a scenario of moderate policy support, the sector could generate a significant economic contribution and employment in Spain by 2040, activating opportunities that go beyond the final food product and reach sectors such as equipment, automation, and technical services.

Thus, the shared message of both reports is clear: the growth of the sector will not depend solely on entrepreneurial dynamism, but on three enablers that require coordinated public-private action. First, strengthening R&D and technology transfer to accelerate product improvement (taste, texture, cost) and consolidate the technological pipeline that already exists in Spain. Second, unlocking scaling infrastructure (pilot and industrial) so that innovation does not remain in the laboratory but translates into productive capacity, investment attraction, and domestic supply chains. And third, ensuring legal certainty and predictable regulatory processes, because certainty is a prerequisite for mobilizing capital, planning investments, and competing from Europe under demanding food safety standards.

Although both reports offer a very valuable snapshot of the ecosystem and the economic potential of alternative proteins in Spain and Europe, it is worth bearing in mind that their scope does not include insect-derived protein. At AseBio, we understand protein diversification more broadly and also include this pathway; therefore, we believe it is important to frame the debate with rigor and transparency, with clear information for consumers and an environment that provides certainty for the development of the sector.