Plant-based Vaccines - Global Strategic Business Report

The global market for Plant-based Vaccines was valued at US$140.8 Million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$1.5 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 47.8% from 2024 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The report includes the most recent global tariff developments and how they impact the Plant-based Vaccines market.

Global Plant-Based Vaccines Market - Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

How Are Plants Being Engineered Into Next-Generation Vaccine Production Platforms?

Plant-based vaccines represent a frontier in biopharmaceutical innovation, wherein plants are used as biofactories to produce immunogenic proteins that trigger specific immune responses in humans or animals. These vaccines are developed by genetically engineering plants - commonly tobacco, lettuce, or potato - to express recombinant proteins such as viral antigens, bacterial toxins, or subunit fragments. The approach offers several distinct advantages: rapid scalability, room-temperature stability, and the elimination of animal-derived components or microbial fermentation systems that carry contamination risks. These attributes are particularly relevant in low-resource or pandemic-stricken settings where cold chain infrastructure and sterile production facilities are limited or unavailable.

Notable breakthroughs in plant molecular farming, including Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and viral vector systems, have significantly improved the yield and expression efficiency of target antigens in plant cells. Companies like Medicago and Kentucky BioProcessing have demonstrated the viability of plant-derived vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, and Ebola, advancing several candidates into clinical trials. Additionally, plant-based platforms can produce virus-like particles (VLPs), which closely mimic native viral structures and stimulate strong immune responses without carrying infectious material. These innovations are positioning plant-based systems as competitive alternatives to traditional egg- or cell-culture-based vaccine production methods.

Why Are Safety, Cost, and Flexibility Giving Plant-Based Vaccines a Strategic Advantage?

One of the strongest value propositions of plant-based vaccines is their favorable safety profile. Plants do not harbor human pathogens, making them inherently safer than mammalian or insect cell lines. The elimination of animal-derived components reduces the risk of zoonotic contamination and mitigates allergic or autoimmune responses. These vaccines also carry a lower likelihood of endotoxin presence compared to bacterial fermentation systems, improving overall tolerability. From a regulatory standpoint, these safety benefits are streamlining the approval process in several jurisdictions that are eager to diversify their vaccine manufacturing pipelines.

Cost-efficiency is another significant advantage. Traditional vaccine production requires expensive bioreactors, stringent aseptic conditions, and prolonged cell culture processes. In contrast, plant-based systems offer high biomass yields with minimal input costs, enabling rapid scale-up using greenhouses or vertical farming setups. This makes them highly attractive for pandemic preparedness strategies, especially in low-income countries or regions with limited access to global vaccine supply chains. Moreover, the modularity of plant expression platforms allows rapid swapping of genetic templates, enabling quick response to emerging viral variants or novel pathogens. These characteristics make plant-based vaccines not only cost-effective but strategically adaptable for global immunization programs.

Where Are the Leading Applications and Partnerships Taking Shape Globally?

The leading edge of plant-based vaccine development is concentrated in both human and veterinary health applications. Human use cases have included prophylactics against influenza, COVID-19, norovirus, and rotavirus. In the animal health space, plant-based vaccines have been developed for Newcastle disease in poultry, foot-and-mouth disease in livestock, and rabies in wild animals. These veterinary applications benefit from fewer regulatory hurdles and have provided a valuable proof-of-concept pathway for human-targeted vaccines. Research institutions and biotech startups are increasingly collaborating with agricultural universities, government health agencies, and multinational pharmaceutical companies to accelerate development timelines.

Global partnerships are playing a pivotal role. The World Health Organization and Gavi have expressed support for decentralized, cost-efficient vaccine production models, including plant-based platforms. Medicago’s collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for a COVID-19 vaccine candidate and Bayer’s support for plant-based pharmaceuticals indicate growing confidence from established players. In emerging economies, regional consortia are leveraging plant-based production to develop local vaccines against endemic diseases, boosting pharmaceutical sovereignty. These strategic alliances are improving regulatory frameworks, attracting capital, and promoting cross-border knowledge exchange - all of which are critical for the mainstreaming of plant-derived vaccine technology.

What’s Accelerating the Global Growth of the Plant-Based Vaccines Market?

The growth in the global plant-based vaccines market is driven by several factors, including the need for rapid, flexible, and affordable vaccine platforms in a post-pandemic world. The global COVID-19 crisis exposed significant vulnerabilities in traditional vaccine manufacturing and distribution systems, sparking interest in decentralized, scalable production methods like plant-based systems. As pandemic preparedness and vaccine equity gain global policy priority, countries are exploring plant-based platforms as part of their national biopharma strategies.

Ongoing R&D breakthroughs, regulatory fast-tracking for novel biologics, and growing investor interest are fueling pipeline growth across multiple indications. Climate resilience, low infrastructure requirements, and minimal biosafety risks make plant-based vaccines especially suitable for deployment in remote or resource-limited settings. Additionally, the potential for oral or edible vaccines - using transgenic fruits or leafy greens - is being explored as a game-changer for pediatric immunization and mass vaccination campaigns. With increasing global emphasis on biosecurity, equitable access, and cost containment, the plant-based vaccine market is poised for long-term expansion as a disruptive and humanitarian-aligned alternative to conventional vaccine systems.

Report Scope

The report analyzes the Plant-based Vaccines market, presented in terms of market value (US$ Thousand). The analysis covers the key segments and geographic regions outlined below.

Segments: Vaccine Type (Bacterial Vaccines, Viral Vaccines, Parasite Vaccines, Other Vaccine Types); Source (Tobacco Plant, Maize, Potato, Other Sources); Application (Influenza, COVID-19, Zika Virus, Ebola Virus, Poultry Disease, Other Applications).

Geographic Regions/Countries: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa.

Key Insights:

• Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Bacterial Vaccines segment, which is expected to reach US$498.4 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of a 43.0%. The Viral Vaccines segment is also set to grow at 54.0% CAGR over the analysis period.
• Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, valued at $38.4 Million in 2024, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 57.2% CAGR to reach $357.5 Million by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Why You Should Buy This Report:

• Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Plant-based Vaccines Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments.
• Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies.
• Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Plant-based Vaccines Market.
• Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions.

Key Questions Answered:

• How is the Global Plant-based Vaccines Market expected to evolve by 2030?
• What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market?
• Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period?
• How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030?
• Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects?

Report Features:

• Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2024 to 2030.
• In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.
• Company Profiles: Coverage of players such as Agenus Inc., Akdeniz University, Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd., Biodextris Inc., British American Tobacco PLC and more.
• Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Some of the 42 companies featured in this Plant-based Vaccines market report include:

• Agenus Inc.
• Akdeniz University
• Baiya Phytopharm Co., Ltd.
• Biodextris Inc.
• British American Tobacco PLC
• Calyxt Inc.
• Creative Biolabs Inc.
• ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies ApS
• Fraunhofer USA Inc.
• G+FLAS Life Sciences
• Icon Genetics GmbH
• iBio Inc.
• Kentucky BioProcessing Inc.
• LenioBio GmbH
• Medicago Inc.
• Panacea Biotec Limited
• PlantForm Corporation
• Transgene SA
• Ventria Bioscience
• Zyus Life Sciences Inc.

Tariff Impact Analysis: Key Insights for 2025

Global tariff negotiations across 180+ countries are reshaping supply chains, costs, and competitiveness. This report reflects the latest developments as of April 2025 and incorporates forward-looking insights into the market outlook.

The analysts continuously track trade developments worldwide, drawing insights from leading global economists and over 200 industry and policy institutions, including think tanks, trade organizations, and national economic advisory bodies. This intelligence is integrated into forecasting models to provide timely, data-driven analysis of emerging risks and opportunities.

What's Included in This Edition:

• Tariff-adjusted market forecasts by region and segment
• Analysis of cost and supply chain implications by sourcing and trade exposure
• Strategic insights into geographic shifts

Buyers receive a free July 2025 update with:

• Finalized tariff impacts and new trade agreement effects
• Updated projections reflecting global sourcing and cost shifts
• Expanded country-specific coverage across the industry