Challenges and Developments in Agrifoodtech: A 2025 Overview

The year 2025 has proven to be another tumultuous time for agrifoodtech startups, reflecting the reality of the adage, “If it bleeds, it leads.” This has been evident in our most-read stories at AgFunderNews, which have been predominantly negative, featuring significant issues from the collapse of Meati and Believer Meats to Biomilq’s recent bankruptcy filing.

Litigation and Controversies

This year also saw a surge in reader interest surrounding legal battles in the industry. Notable cases included David Protein facing an anti-trust lawsuit over access to the alt-fat ingredient EPG, and the intense intellectual property conflict between Onego Bio and The EVERY Co regarding egg proteins derived from precision fermentation.

Positive Innovations in Agrifoodtech

However, the narrative is not entirely bleak. Stories highlighting advancements in regenerative agriculture, such as Tropic’s innovative non-browning bananas, Edacious’s new technology that measures and maps nutrient density in various food types, and Biosphere’s unique methods for sterilizing bioreactors, generated significant interest.

Top Stories of 2025

1. Food & ag groups blast ‘destabilizing’ tariffs, seek exemptions: ‘We urge the White House to reconsider’ Elaine Watson
2. Exclusive: Peter Rahal, David Protein, sued over ‘bait & switch’ scheme aimed at monopolizing Epogee’s fat replacer Elaine Watson
3. FMC Corporation restructures agtech VC arm FMC Ventures ‘to optimize operations’ Jennifer Marston
4. Exclusive: Meati plans “gut-wrenching” mass layoffs amid “bank-induced crisis” Elaine Watson
5. Exclusive: BIOMILQ files for bankruptcy due to an IP dispute that rendered it ‘uninvestable and unacquirable’ Elaine Watson
6. Protein bar maker David acquires novel fat maker Epogee, raising $75m Series A on the back of ‘explosive’ growth Elaine Watson
7. Tropic to launch non-browning bananas in March, aiming for extended shelf life by year-end Elaine Watson
8. Regenerative agriculture’s biggest developments in 2024 — and what they mean for 2025 Jennifer Marston
9. ‘Objectively unreasonable’: Onego Bio challenges The Every Co in high-stakes patent fight Elaine Watson
10. Motif FoodWorks assets up for sale in online auction Jennifer Marston
11. Plenty, an autopsy: It promised the moon, but plants don’t run on pitch decks, say experts Jennifer Marston
12. Oishii acquires Tortuga AgTech’s IP, assets, and engineering team to ‘supercharge’ its vertical farms Jennifer Marston
13. Edacious raises $8.1m to tackle commoditization by enhancing nutrient density in whole foods Elaine Watson
14. Biosphere emerges from stealth, raising $8.8m for its UV-sterilized bioreactors that claim to cut bioproduction costs Elaine Watson
15. Revol Greens makes ‘painful’ decision to close operations in California while pursuing efficiency gains in Texas Elaine Watson
16. Exclusive: Miyoko’s founder plans to buy back brand from liquidator Elaine Watson
17. Believer Meats ceases operations, but key players insist this ‘setback’ does not spell doom for the cultivated meat sector Elaine Watson
18. Carbon Robotics’ founder Paul Mikesell discusses agtech: ‘Be careful how you talk about it’ Jennifer Marston
19. Icafolin-methyl seen as a completion of glyphosate, not a replacement: insights from Bayer Jennifer Marston
20. Corteva’s planned separation raises questions about AI and data segmentation Louisa Burwood-Taylor

As we continue through 2025, the agrifoodtech landscape remains vibrant and multifaceted. While the challenges are considerable, so too are the opportunities for innovation and growth.