Agrifoodtech in 2025: What broke, what bent—and what might still work, from the AgFunderNews team

2025 was meant to be the year agrifoodtech found its footing again. Instead, it turned into something messier: a year of recalibration, retrenchment, and some very public reality checks. Funding fell further than many expected, high-profile companies stumbled or collapsed, and long-standing assumptions about consumer demand, climate narratives, and venture-scale returns were put under the microscope.

In this end-of-year roundtable, the AgFunderNews editorial team takes stock of what really happened—and what it means. AgFunder head of managing editor Louisa Burwood-Taylor is joined by foodtech editor Elaine Watson and agtech editor Jenn Marston for a candid conversation that spans alternative proteins, regenerative agriculture, biologicals, vertical farming, drones, AI, GLP-1 drugs, and the shifting role of sustainability in food and farming.

From the implosion of high-profile alt-protein startups to renewed debates over glyphosate, regenerative ag funding, and whether venture capital is the right tool for long-cycle technologies, the team unpacks where hype collided with hard economics—and where genuine progress is still being made.

Looking ahead to 2026, the picture is cautious but not bleak. Premiumization, biomanufacturing capacity, AI-driven discovery, and pragmatic approaches to regeneration and automation could reshape the landscape in quieter, more durable ways. Watch the full conversation below for an unfiltered take on a turbulent year—and a grounded look at what may come next.

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