Hemp-based foods are far from being a new thing. Humans have made use of the hemp plant for thousands of years, including using parts of the hemp plant for food. One of my favorite things to eat these days is hemp hearts, which I buy in the bulk foods section of my local grocery store.
Foods using hemp as an ingredient and foods that are just parts of the hemp plant, such as hemp hearts, are big business. A recent analysis by DataM Intelligence projects that the hemp-based food sector will experience significant growth by the end of this decade.
“The global hemp-based foods market reached USD 3.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to witness lucrative growth by reaching up to USD 6.4 billion by 2030.” the analysts at DataM Intelligence wrote about their recent research. “The market is growing at a CAGR of 9.2% during the forecast period 2024-2031.”
“Hemp-based foods are nutritional products made from hemp seeds, oil, or protein, offering high levels of omega-3, fiber, and plant-based protein. They are gaining popularity for their health benefits, sustainability, and suitability in vegan and gluten-free diets.” DataM Intelligence also wrote.
Analyzing the emerging global hemp industry and its sectors can be challenging because much of the overall hemp industry remains unregulated, and there are differing opinions as to what constitutes a ‘hemp-based food.’ That, in turn, can help explain why projections vary widely.
For example, The Business Research Company issued a market analysis last year, which projected that the global hemp-based foods market will reach $8.36 billion by 2028, which is considerably more than the previously cited market analysis by DataM Intelligence.
During his presentation at the International Cannabis Business Conference in Berlin, Germany in April 2025, leading international cannabis economist Beau Whitney, founder of Whitney Economics, projected that the value of the global industrial hemp industry could be as much as $456.2 billion if mainstream industries harnessed hemp as a production input.
The value of the global hemp-based foods sector would obviously be a subset of Mr. Whitney’s estimated overall worldwide hemp market value.