Express interest in investing in Fund V.

AgFunder is a top 100 VC, according to TIME and Statista.

Is your business ready for AI analytics? Find out more here.

This week: We catch up with Syngenta Group Ventures MD David Pierson to discuss where exits might come from in 2026, where AI/ML tools that can make a real impact in ag, what raises red flags for him in a pitch, and what he’s learned over the years: “Be very choosy and then practice patience.”

Elsewhere, Peter McGuinness steps down at Impossible Foods, prompting still more soul-searching in the beleaguered alt-meat category.

- Electroportation: AgFunder portco Azaneo puts a new spin on killing weeds with electricity.

- Brilliant Harvest: Can AI solve ag equipment’s service bottleneck?

- Alt-fat showdown: David Protein scores initial win in antitrust case.

 - Augmented reality: DeepSight takes AR to the factory floor.

And finally… Ripelocker bets on container-scale vacuum storage to unlock global produce markets, Drone-Hand reshapes livestock management from the air, and Vonnie Estes takes a look at what robotics can offer the produce sector.

Have a fantastic week! Louisa, Jenn, and Elaine.

And a big thanks to this week's sponsor:

Agtech isn’t dead—just sobering up, says Syngenta Group Ventures MD: ‘Now is the time to deploy capital’

“If anything, there is more tech innovation in this sector than ever before," says Dave Pierson. Elaine Watson

Peter McGuinness stepping down as CEO at Impossible Foods

“Impossible raised tons of capital like Beyond at nose bleed valuations, none of which will hold water as a public company," says one source. Elaine Watson

Azaneo bets on electroportation for weed control - AgFunder portfolio co!

Electroportation can kill weeds without using enormous amounts of heat and energy. Jennifer Marston

Brilliant Harvest raises $4m to solve ag equipment’s service bottleneck with AI

"The ROI is immediate and quantifiable," says founder Remi Schmaltz. Elaine Watson

David Protein scores initial victory in antitrust case over EPG fat replacer; plaintiffs say battle isn’t over

According to the judge, the plaintiffs have not made the case that David’s conduct harmed competition in a relevant market. Elaine Watson

DeepSight takes augmented reality to the factory floor

Watching a training video is easy. Remembering what to do when you’re standing in front of a machine is harder. Elaine Watson

Ripelocker bets on container-scale vacuum storage to unlock global produce markets

Ripelocker thinks it has finally cracked a long-standing challenge in produce logistics: how to ship under vacuum at container scale. Elaine Watson

Drone-Hand reshapes livestock management from the air with AI-powered precision

"You can’t just come in and say I’ve got this magic tech that's going to change your life," says Edward Barraclough. "They've heard that before.” Elaine Watson

AgriFood Signals: UAE’s Kitopi nabs $50m, new Defra investments in UK ag, Carbon Robotics launches AI model

Plus: The EU adopts a new standard for carbon removal projects. Jennifer Marston

What CES really taught us about robotics in the produce sector

The best robots in agriculture are the ones growers stop talking about because they just work, said panelists at CES 2026. By guest contributor Vonnie Estes

AgFunderNews exclusive: Sign up (for free) to review and optionally invest in elite agtech venture deals like these

AgFunderNews and Alumni Ventures (AV) are teaming up to give our readers special access to join the AV AgTech Syndicate (for free). Earn $100 in credit to the AV Swag Store, full of high-quality apparel, when you complete sign up.
The AV AgTech Syndicate offers:

Elite venture deal flow, investing alongside AV and firms like a16z & Sequoia
Review comprehensive professional-grade diligence materials
Join live deal discussions with AV investing team
Only invest if you like the deal. No obligation.

Must be an accredited investor to join.

Join the AV AgTech Syndicate (for free)

As ‘fibermaxxing’ gains traction, one.bio launches invisible oat fiber: ‘We could add 50g and you still wouldn’t notice it’

The message that we need diverse fibers for optimal health is often lost on consumers who still see fiber as “roughage,” says one.bio. Elaine Watson

MENA signals point to global innovation powerhouse agrifoodtech is waiting for

A convergence of capital abundance, regulatory innovation, and high environmental stakes are transforming the region. Jennifer Marston

🎥 A 10-page reset? Nutrition experts unpack the new US dietary guidelines

The new US dietary guidelines aim for simplicity—but is the messaging muddying the science? Elaine Watson

🎥 Taste, price, or bust: Bruce Friedrich’s roadmap for alt meat

If alt meat is the future, why does the present look so shaky? Elaine Watson