New AgrifoodTech investment opportunities to accelerate the food system transition

The report deepens the insights with a focus primarily on Climate Tech through an analysis of under- and over-invested segments within the food system in relation to the SDGs. Additionally, the report specifically zooms in on the Dutch investment landscape with a combination of sector research, a database analysis, and interviews with European Agrifood players to also make insights from practice visible.

Since the report offers valuable insights, Invest-NL is pleased to share its contents with the Dutch Agrifood ecosystem. We hope it will inspire other investors to step into ‘High Climate Impact’ investment opportunities that are needed to further accelerate the transition of our food system.

For Invest-NL, the Agri-food sector plays an important role in the transition to a carbon-neutral and circular economy. Food production alone is responsible for 25% of global CO2 emissions, while at the same time approximately one-third of pre-human consumption food is lost or rots away each year.

We see that many enterprises in the Netherlands are working on breakthrough ideas that can be directly related to the challenges outlined in the Agfunder report. Their creativity, innovations, and dedication are crucial to making their business cases a success.

However, it is often the case that many of these innovative solutions are perceived by the market as (too) risky, making it difficult for them to secure financing that allows them to scale quickly. Patient capital from Invest-NL and like-minded investors is then needed to advance these innovations. Regarding the specific Agri-food investment focus, Invest-NL identifies three key segments that can make the food system much more efficient and at the same time reduce pressure on nature:

1. A shift in consumption towards alternative proteins as a substitute for carbon-intensive animal proteins
2. The application of sustainable farming methods and technologies that minimize resource use for food production while preserving the health of nature and the environment
3. The implementation of circular food solutions that reduce waste across the entire supply chain