What’s next for animal agriculture? What trends are shaping meat and dairy production? Where is investment about to land?
We asked five active investors for their expert predictions for 2025 and beyond. Each of them shared what types of technology they hope to see at the upcoming Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas, where they will be speaking on stage as well as scouting for innovation.
Some are more optimistic than others, keep scrolling to read valuable insights from Fall Line Capital, Farmhand Ventures, FGVC, Lever VC, and Better Food Ventures.
As we head into a new year, what are your predictions for the animal agriculture investment landscape in 2025 and beyond?
I expect the environment for animal tech investment will improve in 2025 – the strong run with cattle is expected to continue and the other livestock and poultry sectors are rebounding as well.
What types of innovation are you hoping to see at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas?
I am hoping to see more tech this year related to improving efficiencies while at the same time addressing climate concerns – doing one without the other is no longer desirable.
As we head into a new year, what are your predictions for the animal agriculture investment landscape in 2025 and beyond?
I think we’re already starting to see a swing back from “eliminate animals!” to “make animals more efficient.” I’m also predicting more mechanization and automation. I think changes in immigration policy will be the push to drive some more dollars into the space.
What types of innovation are you hoping to see at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas?
I’m excited to catch up with some of the maturing manure management companies in the space, and understand where the current gaps/opportunities continue to exist. Manure tech continues to be an underinvested in and impactful opportunity for emissions reduction.
As we head into a new year, what are your predictions for the animal agriculture investment landscape in 2025 and beyond?
I believe the animal agriculture landscape will remain challenging. Investment capital remains scarce and hesitant. Start-up technologies need to bring clear production level ROI and speak to producer’s needs and pain points, reducing input costs, improving outcomes and providing replicable differentiation.
What types of innovation are you hoping to see at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas?
Practical and operational AI based solutions that create value for the producer. Automation and robotics solutions that reduce, replace or cap the future labor requirements for Animal Ag production.
What types of innovation are you hoping to see at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas?
We’re continuing to look for technology inputs or platforms that are cheap to install, generate ROI for a farmer, but importantly capture large, clean data sets. These are incredibly valuable for companies up and down the supply chain, and will be fundamental in driving continued productivity and sustainability gains.
Inputs that can reduce on-farm labor requirements, aid in disease detection or alleviate productivity challenges stemming from reduced antibiotic use would also be great to see.
As we head into a new year, what are your predictions for the animal agriculture investment landscape in 2025 and beyond?
We need to be real and acknowledge this is most likely going to be a tough year for animal agtech funding— as well as the broader agri-food-tech VC funding scene.
What types of innovation are you hoping to see at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas?
Twenty years ago I had a portfolio startup company CEO say to me “When the money stops, the thinking starts”. Well, here we are. Let’s go explore new innovation models. Let’s borrow those successfully used in other industries. Let’s see more pre-competitive collective innovation and cross-boarder collaboration. Let’s see how we can lower the cost of bringing appropriate innovations to livestock producers to really solve problems at scale.
Join these experts and other leaders across animal agriculture at the Animal AgTech Innovation Summit in Dallas on April 8-9. Browse the agenda or download a brochure for more information.
