Crickets Market (2026-2036)
The global crickets market size was valued at USD 1.29 billion in 2025. This market is expected to reach USD 17.20 billion by 2036 from USD 1.64 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 26.5% from 2026 to 2036.
- Published
- Mar 2026
- Pages
- 305
- Format
- PDF + Excel
- Report ID
- MRFB - 104560
- Base year
- 2025
- 2025 · BASELINE
- $1.29B
- 2036
- $17.20B
- CAGR 2026–2036
- 26.5%
2025 baseline · 2026–2036 forecast at 26.5% CAGR · hover a bar for the value
Key highlights
The global crickets market is projected to reach USD 17.20 billion by 2036 from USD 1.64 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 26.5% from 2026 to 2036.
Asia-Pacific dominates the global crickets market in 2026, while North America is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
By product, the whole cricket segment is expected to account for the largest share of the overall crickets market in 2026. The cricket powder segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
By species, the house cricket (Acheta domesticus) segment is expected to dominate the market in 2026 and also register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by its high nutritional value and growing regulatory acceptance for food and feed applications.
By application, the processed whole crickets segment is expected to account for the largest share in 2026. The cricket protein bars and protein shakes segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
By end use, the human consumption segment is expected to dominate the market in 2026 and also register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
By distribution channel, the business-to-business (B2B) segment is expected to hold the largest share in 2026. The business-to-consumer (B2C) segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Regulatory developments, including the European Commission’s 2023 authorization of partially defatted house cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder as a novel food in the EU and the availability of GRAS-based regulatory pathways in the U.S., are expected to support commercialization and market growth throughout the forecast period.
Report summary
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Report Coverage | Details |
| Market Size (Value) by 2036 | USD 17.2 Billion |
| Market Size (Value) in 2025 | USD 1.29 Billion |
| Market Size (Value) in 2026 | USD 1.64 Billion |
| Market Growth Rate (2026–2036) | CAGR of 26.5% |
| Format | PDF, Excel & Cloud Portal · 305 pages |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 to 2036 |
| Dominating Region | Asia-Pacific |
| Fastest Growing Region | North America |
| Dominating Product Segment | Whole Cricket |
| Fastest Growing Product Segment | Cricket Powder |
| Dominating Species Segment | House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) |
| Dominating Application Segment | Processed Whole Crickets |
| Fastest Growing Application Segment | Cricket Protein Bars & Protein Shakes |
| Dominating End Use Segment | Human Consumption |
| Dominating Distribution Channel | Business-to-Business (B2B) |
| Fastest Growing Distribution Channel | Business-to-Consumer (B2C) |
| Segments Covered | By Product: Whole Cricket; Cricket Powder; Cricket Meal; Other Products By Species: House Cricket (Acheta domesticus); Other Species (Gryllus and Others) By Application: Processed Whole Crickets; Protein Supplement Powder; Animal Feed & Pet Food Products; Cricket Protein Bars & Protein Shakes; Bakery Products & Snacks; Beverages; Other Applications By End Use: Human Consumption; Animal Nutrition By Distribution Channel: Business-to-Business (B2B); Business-to-Consumer (B2C) (Store-based; Non-store-based) |
| Countries Covered | North America (U.S., Canada); Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, France, U.K., Denmark, Finland, Germany, Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Thailand, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Australia, India, Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America); Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Uganda, Rest of Middle East & Africa) |
| Key Companies | Entomo Farms (Canada); Aspire Food Group (U.S.); All Things Bugs, LLC (U.S.); JR Unique Foods Ltd. (Thailand); Global Bugs Asia Co., Ltd. (Thailand); Chapul, LLC (U.S.); Bugsolutely Ltd. (Thailand); Eat Grub Ltd. (U.K.); Bitty Foods (U.S.); Six Foods Inc. (U.S.) |
Report overview
Segments covered: product, specy, application, end use, distribution channel. Regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa.
The growth of this market is driven by the high nutritional value of crickets and increasing acceptance among consumers, the rising greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock and poultry sectors, the growing demand for cricket-based food products, and the low risk of zoonotic disease transmission associated with the consumption of crickets. FAO assessments indicate that edible insects such as crickets provide high-quality protein (60–70% by dry weight), essential amino acids, B vitamins, iron, and zinc, while requiring substantially less feed, land, and water per unit of protein compared to conventional livestock, with greenhouse gas emissions estimated at approximately 1% of those from beef production on a protein-equivalent basis . However, the lack of a standardized regulatory framework and psychological and ethical barriers to insect consumption are anticipated to restrain market growth. Emerging economies in Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East & Africa are expected to generate growth opportunities for the players operating in this market, particularly where traditional entomophagy practices intersect with modern food security strategies aligned with FAO guidance on sustainable protein diversification.
The crickets market has witnessed significant commercial and regulatory developments in recent years. In January 2023, the European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/5 authorizing partially defatted powder of Acheta domesticus (house cricket) as a novel food for human consumption, following positive scientific opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on its safety and nutritional adequacy. In the U.S., cricket-derived ingredients may be marketed under existing food regulations, including through Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) determinations submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), providing a regulatory pathway for product commercialization in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
Report infographic
Market dynamics
8 factors across 4 forcesGrowing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Livestock and Poultry Industries
Growing environmental awareness of the unsustainable resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with conventional livestock protein production is one of the primary drivers of the crickets market. Around 77% of agricultural land is dedicated to raising livestock and producing animal feed, and the global livestock industry emits around 14.5% of human-caused greenhouse gases, comparable to all transportation sectors combined. This environmental toll is neither feasible nor sustainable to scale further, given that the global human population is expected to grow from 8.1 billion today to 9.8 billion by 2050, a 21% increase that will substantially boost global protein demand. Crickets present a compelling environmental alternative as they require up to 12 times less feed, 10 times less land, and approximately 1,000–2,000 times less water per kilogram of protein produced compared to cattle, while generating approximately 100 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, crickets can be fed on agricultural byproducts and food scraps, enabling cricket farms to simultaneously increase the world's protein supply while reducing and recycling organic waste streams. Cricket meal can also substitute for expensive conventional feed inputs such as soybeans and fishmeal in animal feed, potentially reducing livestock production costs and freeing feed crops for direct human consumption. Growing corporate sustainability commitments, investor ESG expectations, and government climate policy initiatives are increasingly incentivizing the food industry to transition toward lower-carbon protein sources, thereby driving the demand for cricket-based ingredients.
Rising Demand for Cricket-based Food Products and High Nutritional Value
The rising demand for cricket-based food products across both consumer and food-service channels is another key driver of market growth, reflecting the growing commercial viability and consumer acceptance of crickets as a functional food ingredient. Crickets are now considered a functional food ingredient and an integral part of food in major markets such as Thailand, Mexico, China, and the Netherlands, with rapidly growing consumer acceptance in North America and Europe. Crickets are a rich source of complete protein containing around 60-70% protein by dry weight, along with high levels of vitamins including B12, essential amino acids, iron at levels twice that of beef, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, making them nutritionally superior to many conventional protein sources. The high nutritional density of crickets makes them suitable for diverse food applications such as cricket pasta, burgers, cricket-infused candies and confections, beverages, cricket protein powder in bakery products, protein bars and shakes, and whole dried crickets as toppings or snacks. Food manufacturers are increasingly incorporating cricket protein into mainstream and functional food product portfolios targeting health-conscious consumers, athletes, and sustainable diet adopters. The rising availability of cricket-based consumer products in both specialist and mainstream retail channels, combined with growing media and social coverage of insect protein sustainability, is driving the consumption in Western markets.
Table of contents
14 chapters · 138 sections · 305 pages · click to expandSegmental analysis
| Segment | Largest share (2026) | Fastest growth (2026–2036) |
|---|---|---|
| By Product | Whole Crickets | Cricket powder |
| By Specy | Acheta domesticus | — |
| By Application | Processed Whole Crickets | Processed whole crickets |
| By End-Use | Human Consumption | Human consumption |
| By Distribution Channel | B2B | Business-to-business (B2B) |
By Product
- The whole crickets segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global crickets market in 2026.
- The dominant share of whole crickets reflects their role as the primary raw material form used in the production of value-added insect-based ingredients, including cricket powder, meal, and protein isolates.
- Whole crickets are the most widely available and cost-efficient farm-gate output and are therefore procured in bulk by ingredient processors and animal feed manufacturers for downstream processing.
- In addition to their use as an input material for ingredient production, whole crickets are directly consumed in several Asia-Pacific markets where entomophagy practices are culturally established.
- Countries such as Thailand continue to export significant volumes of farmed whole crickets to international processing facilities for incorporation into food and feed applications, further driving the growth of this market.
- The cricket powder segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.
- Cricket powder is increasingly utilized in food product formulations across Western markets, where consumer acceptance of visible whole-insect formats remains limited.
- The powdered format enables incorporation into protein bars, baked goods, pasta, snack products, and nutritional beverages without affecting product appearance, thereby addressing consumer neophobia associated with insect-based foods.
- Its compatibility with conventional food manufacturing processes and its applicability across both human food and animal nutrition applications are expected to drive growth of this market over the forecast period.
By Specy
- The house cricket (Acheta domesticus) segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global crickets market in 2026 and is projected to register significant growth during the forecast period.
- The commercial dominance of Acheta domesticus is attributed to its favorable nutritional composition, established breeding cycles, high feed-conversion efficiency, and the availability of large-scale farming infrastructure in key producing countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.
- Additionally, Acheta domesticus has received Novel Food authorization in the European Union for use in specific food formats, including frozen, dried, and powdered forms, enabling its incorporation into a range of food applications within regulated markets.
- These regulatory developments, combined with its suitability for use in aquaculture and livestock feed formulations due to its amino acid profile, are expected to support the continued expansion of this species in both food and feed applications.
By Application
- The processed whole crickets segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global crickets market in 2026.
- The large share of this segment is primarily attributable to the availability of farmed whole crickets from Asian production hubs and the growing consumption of roasted, dried, and seasoned cricket products in both traditional entomophagy markets and emerging Western markets.
- Processed whole crickets are marketed as snack products for direct human consumption and are also utilized as an intermediate input for ingredient processing, including the production of cricket powder and meal.
- The cricket-based functional food products segment, including protein bars and ready-to-drink nutritional beverages, is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period.
- The growth of this segment is driven by increasing consumer demand for high-protein, clean-label food products, expanding interest in alternative protein sources, and the growing adoption of sustainable nutrition solutions among health-conscious consumers.
- The complete amino acid profile and digestibility characteristics of cricket-derived protein support its application in premium sports nutrition and functional food product categories.
By End-Use
- The human consumption segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global crickets market in 2026 and is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period.
- This growth is driven by increasing consumer awareness regarding the nutritional benefits of insect-based proteins, rising demand for environmentally sustainable food sources, and expanding regulatory approvals for insect-derived ingredients in human food applications across developed markets.
- Recent regulatory developments in regions such as the European Union and Singapore have enabled the commercialization of cricket-based food ingredients in regulated food product categories, encouraging food manufacturers to introduce insect-protein-based product offerings in the alternative protein space.
By Distribution Channel
- The business-to-business (B2B) segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global crickets market in 2026.
- The dominance of the B2B segment is due to the current commercial structure of the industry, wherein bulk volumes of whole crickets and cricket-derived ingredients are supplied by farming enterprises to processors, feed manufacturers, and food product companies for use in downstream applications.
- The business-to-consumer (B2C) segment is projected to register faster growth during the forecast period, driven by the expansion of direct-to-consumer sales channels, including e-commerce platforms and specialty health food retailers.
- The increasing availability of cricket-based food products through online retail channels is enabling manufacturers to reach health-conscious consumers in emerging markets while overcoming the distribution constraints associated with traditional retail shelf space.
Geographic analysis
Asia-Pacific
Largest shareThis is mainly attributed to the well-established commercial cricket farming infrastructure, particularly in Thailand, which hosts tens of thousands of small- and medium-scale cricket farms and is among the largest commercial producers and exporters of farmed crickets globally. In addition, the availability of diverse cricket species, relatively high production volumes, and historically positive consumer attitudes toward insect consumption across Southeast Asia and parts of East and South Asia support regional leadership. The presence of key market players such as Global Bugs Asia Co., Ltd. and JR Unique Foods Ltd. (Thailand), along with emerging large-scale producers such as Cricket One (Vietnam), further strengthens Asia-Pacific’s production ecosystem. Moreover, the July 2023 approval by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) permitting the sale of 16 insect species for human consumption has supported the commercialization of cricket-based food products across the region. Geographic Analysis: Asia-Pacific Leads; North America Fastest Growing
North America
North America is expected to record the highest regional CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the growing demand for sustainable high-protein diets and increasing consumer acceptance of alternative protein sources. Expanding retail availability of insect-based food products, a rising number of cricket-based ingredient manufacturers and startups, and growing environmental concerns related to conventional livestock production are supporting regional market growth. Additionally, the availability of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)-based regulatory pathways for cricket-derived ingredients in the U.S. is expected to facilitate commercialization. The presence of leading market players such as Entomo Farms, Aspire Food Group, All Things Bugs, and Chapul positions the region to benefit from increasing demand for cricket-based food and ingredient products.
Competitive landscape
- Entomo Farms · Canada
- Aspire Food Group (U.S.)
- All Things Bugs, LLC (U.S.)
- Global Bugs Asia Co., Ltd. · Thailand
- JR Unique Foods Ltd. · Thailand
- Chapul, LLC (U.S.)
- Bugsolutely Ltd. · Thailand
- Eat Grub Ltd. (U.K.)
- Bitty Foods (U.S.)
- Six Foods Inc. (U.S.)
Frequently asked questions
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the global crickets market based on product, species, application, end use, distribution channel, and geography. It includes value and volume analysis of various market segments at the regional and country levels and covers commercial crickets used for both human consumption (direct food applications) and animal nutrition (feed and pet food) across multiple product formats.
Cite this report
Meticulous Research. (2026). Crickets Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2026-2036) (Report No. MRFB - 104560). Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/crickets-market-5247