Global Zein Protein Market Report and Forecast 2024-2032

Global Zein Protein Market Outlook

The global zein protein market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% during the period 2024-2032.

The Global Zein Protein Market is Expected to be Driven by Applications of Zein Protein Across Industries Including Food and Beverage, Personal Care, Agriculture, Pharma/Nutraceutical, Biomedical, and Packaging

Zein is the primary storage protein in corn, accounting for nearly half of the protein in the grain. It was identified for the first time in 1897 on the basis of its solubility in aqueous alcohol solutions. Due to its negative nitrogen balance and low solubility in water, zein isolate is not suitable for direct human consumption. Commercial interest has been generated by the ability of zein and its resins to form tough, glossy, hydrophobic grease-proof coatings that are resistant to microbial attack.

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Zein protein has a number of potential applications in industries such as fibre, adhesive, coating, ceramic, ink, cosmetic, textile, chewing gum, and biodegradable plastics. However, while novel uses for zein appear to be promising, the development of low-cost manufacturing processes is warranted.

Since its isolation in 1821, zein has piqued scientific attention. It is low in important amino acids like as lysine and tryptophan, which renders its nutritional quality low. It is insoluble in water, thus, has limited use in human food products. For long, the primary focus on zein had involved its potential use as an industrial polymer.

Due to its good film-forming property and ability to provide a moisture barrier, zein protein is widely used in the food and packaging industries as a coating for candy, nuts, fruits, pills, and other encapsulated foods. Zein has also been studied as a potential biomaterial for the development of colloidal delivery systems. In 2018, Flo Chemical appointed Thew Arnott to distribute zein protein products across the European countries. The European region is a key contributor to the Zein protein market.

A significant zein-derivative application in the biomedical field is the possible use of zein's hydrolysate peptides for blood pressure reduction.

Biodegradable Packaging/Products a Significant Domain for Growth of Zein Protein Market

In 2021, a researcher from the University of São Paulo suggested a new way to extract protein from corn which was expected to introduce more bioplastics in the market. Currently, such a product did not exist in Brazil, mainly due to inefficiencies in existing protein extraction processes, despite the country being the fourth largest corn-grain producer across the globe. The new technique enables efficient extraction of zein, and is expected to allow ethanol plants and bioplastics industries significantly larger profits. With the help of the zein obtained through the novel technique, the researcher was able to produce nearly 100% biodegradable, edible, compostable and recyclable biomaterials, including soap and straws. An application for a “green patent” with respect to the new technique had been submitted to the National Institute of Industrial Property.

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In 2021, researchers from Harvard and the Nanyang Technological University developed a zein based, biodegradable waterproof packing which looked exactly like transparent plastic. The smart food packaging was said to gently emit antimicrobials to kill harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Listeria, and help store fish, meat, fruit and vegetables fresher for longer periods of time. The material could act as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based polymers (like plastic) employed in commercial food packaging.

Zein Protein Applications Encompass Several Key Domains

Key areas of zein protein applications include: Food and Confectionery (glaze and polish, encapsulation, extended shelf life, adhesive, gluten Replacement); Personal Care (moisture control, encapsulation, bulking or anti-clumping agent, anchoring humectant); Agriculture (moisture/oxygen barrier, antimicrobial, extended shelf life, reduces freezer burn, protection of roots and seeds); Pharma/Nutraceutical (glaze, encapsulation, taste masking, enteric coating, time release, excipient); Biomedical (controlled medication delivery, filaments for tissue engineering, nano encapsulation, DNA barcode); Packaging (antimocrobial wrap, bioplastics, coating paper, grease resistant food boxes, biodegradable packaging).

Global Zein Protein Market Segmentation

By application, the market is classified on the basis of:

• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceutical 
• Cosmetics
• Coating Agents
• Others

By region, the market is segmented into:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

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Key Industry Players in the Global Zein Protein Market

The report presents a detailed analysis of the key players in the market, looking into their capacity, and latest developments like capacity expansions, plant turnarounds, and mergers and acquisitions:

• Merck KGaA
• Glentham Life Sciences Limited
• Flo Chemical Corporation
• A.F. SUTER & CO. LTD
• Haihang Industry Co., Ltd,

Key Highlights of the Report