This is expected to trigger restrictions on the consumption of certain animals and related products in some cities in East Asian countries, increasing the shortage of meat products and accelerating the demand for alternative substitutes, such as edible insects and plant-based products. In May 2020, Wuhan's municipal government banned breeding, hunting, and consuming wild animals for five years to prevent zoonotic diseases. These factors impacted the meat products sector, driving the demand for alternative proteins, such as insect protein products (mealworm proteins).

The meat products sector faced several challenges, such as the risk of continuing production, distribution, transportation lack of workforce supply chain disruptions, and delays in development activities. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the food sector, negatively affecting meat producers worldwide. These restrictions significantly impacted numerous industries, reducing manufacturing and distribution globally. Many countries declared emergencies and announced complete nationwide, statewide, or citywide lockdowns, halting all travel, transport, manufacturing, educational institutions, and non-essential trade to curb the spread of this disease. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic became a severe public health emergency globally, as it spread to more than 215 countries. Impact of COVID-19 on the Mealworms Market

However, the risk of allergic reactions due to the consumption of mealworms is expected to restrain the growth of this market to a notable extent. The growth of this market is driven by factors such as the increasing greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock and poultry industries, the high nutritional value of mealworms, environmental benefits of edible mealworms consumption, and the lower risk of zoonotic diseases with insect consumption compared to the consumption of animal-derived products. In terms of volume, the mealworms market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 28.6% from 2022–2030 to reach 367,491.7 tons by 2030.

The Mealworms Market is expected to reach $1.27 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 25.8% during the forecast period 2022–2030.

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