India’s protein consumption could triple by 2070, opening a major pulse-processing opportunity
A report from Asia Research & Engagement and FICCI forecasts India’s per-capita protein consumption will rise from about 9.5 kg in 2025 to 30 kg by 2070. Pulses are projected to become the second-largest protein category after dairy, strengthening the case for domestic processing, product innovation and procurement reform.
What happened
Asia Research & Engagement (ARE) · ARE and FICCI project India’s protein consumption will more than triple by 2070, with pulses becoming the second-largest
Key facts
- India per-capita protein consumption projected to rise to 30 kg by 2070 from about 9.5 kg in 2025
- Pulse-derived protein consumption projected to rise to 9.3 million tonnes by 2070 from 3.5 million tonnes in 2025
- India imports almost 90% of processed plant protein isolates
- Annual protein-related emissions could reach 1.92 GtCO2e by 2070 under business as usual
- Climate-safe annual emissions threshold estimated at 0.25 GtCO2e
- Smallholders account for around 72% of India's milk production
- India and Southeast Asia projected to account for 31% of global agricultural and fisheries consumption by 2033
Why this matters
Pursue partnerships or acquisitions across pulse sourcing, fractionation technology and high-protein food brands to capture an emerging domestic value chain.
What to watch
- Announcement of Indian government incentives, procurement reforms, buffer-stock policies or import-duty changes for pulses and plant-protein processing.
- New domestic fractionation or isolate plants reaching commercial scale, along with their certified capacity and ingredient quality consistency.
- Retail velocity and repeat purchase for pulse-protein convenience formats versus traditional dal, dairy and soy products.
- Wholesale pulse-price volatility, monsoon outcomes, acreage shifts and public procurement volumes.
- Growth in foodservice menus and packaged-food claims using plant protein, high protein or fortified nutrition.
- Changes in imported isolate prices, INR exchange rates and global pea/soy crop conditions.
- Map private-label opportunities across pulse-based snacks, instant meals, flour blends, nutrition powders and fortified staples, prioritizing price points accessible beyond premium urban consumers.
- Secure multi-year sourcing relationships with farmer producer organizations, millers and emerging pulse fractionation firms; include quality, traceability and volume-expansion clauses.
- Test blended-protein products using chickpea, lentil, mung and pea ingredients to reduce dependence on imported isolates and manage sensory performance.
- Build a protein-value architecture in stores and digital channels: affordable daily nutrition, family staples, active nutrition and premium functional products.
- Track import exposure in own-brand formulations and develop dual-source specifications for isolates, concentrates and pulse flours.