Series is examining plant-based meat-alternative industry

Meat and dairy analogues are more popular than ever, with consumers able to grab an Impossible Whopper from Burger King or almond milk from most any Walmart. Sales of such products grew 27 percent in 2020 to $7 billion, catching the attention of consumers, companies, farmers and more. A six-part series from agriculture and consumer-economics professor Maggie Cornelius provides an in-depth examination of the "meatless meat industry," as she calls it.

The first part, published July 22 in the University of Illinois' Farmdoc Daily, provides an overview of the industry, which includes plant-based meat alternatives and lab-grown meat. The second part, published today, discusses consumer preferences for plant-based analogues. Keep an eye out for the next parts, published over the next four Thursdays.