Prices and cost drivers of alternatives to animal-source foods: a scoping review and narrative analysis.

Abstract

This Review examines the pricing and cost drivers of alternatives to animal-source foods (Alt-ASFs). Through systematic searches, we identified 76 eligible studies. Traditional, unprocessed or minimally processed plant-based foods, such as legumes, are relatively low cost across contexts. However, most other Alt-ASFs are not cost-competitive with conventional animal products. Plant-based dairy and meat analogues come closest to price parity with their animal-based equivalents, with average price ratios of 1·81-2·04, while insect prices vary widely by product type and context. Projected cell-based meat prices range from slightly lower to several times higher than conventional meat prices. Research shows a strong geographical bias towards high-income western countries, with less coverage of low-income and middle-income regions except for traditional insect-based foods. Promoting legumes and related plant-based foods, such as tofu, could offer a viable approach to reducing animal-source food consumption in high-consumption settings without requiring further price reductions. However, scaling other Alt-ASFs will require substantial cost reductions through technological advances, particularly for cell-based and algae-based products, or policy-level approaches, such as subsidy reform, true-cost pricing, or carbon taxes.