$10.1B in Agrifood tech investment in 2017: new report

In California, the new AgFunder AgriFood Tech Investing Report 2017, tracking agrifood tech investment that has reached $10.1 billion across 924 deals, a 29% year-over-year increase in funding volume. Overall deal activity actually declined but larger, later stage deals pushed up the total in what looks like a new normal for venture-backed agrifood tech.

Farm tech did finally see some exciting exits however with John Deere acquiring robotics company Blue River Technology for $305 million, and DowDuPont acquiring farm management software platform Granular for $300 million. Both exits were applauded by investors as large agricultural corporates look to acquire the innovation they find difficult to foster in-house. Corporate VCs were also more active this year.