Capital-raising guidelines for the year 2025, featuring an interview with Dr. David Buckeridge
In 2021, the food and agriculture sectors experienced a surge in capital inflows, fuelled by the hype around Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing. The year was often referred to as "the year of ESG investing," with record funding in sectors aiming for sustainability goals like climate mitigation and food security [1]. However, this rush overlooked critical details, leading to a more cautious investment environment by 2025 [1].
The urgency to deploy capital sometimes blinded stakeholders to operational, ecological, and socio-economic factors that slowed the path to scaling. For instance, the adoption rates of farming and lab-based technologies were overestimated, particularly upstream, where these technologies inherently require longer timeframes [1].
One area that saw rapid growth was regenerative agriculture, with consumer demand driving the increase in regenerative agriculture claims in food products from 2019 through 2024 [2][4]. However, without standardized accountability or monitoring systems, this growth exposed risks of over-claiming or greenwashing. By 2025, frameworks such as the Food Systems Countdown Initiative began addressing the need for clear indicators and accountability to measure actual impact on nutrition, environment, equity, and governance in food systems [2][4].
The market correction that occurred by 2025 saw investors adopting a more measured, accountable, and granular approach to funding sustainable agrifood innovations [1][2][3][4]. This shift was driven by the need for startups to demonstrate clear value inflection points, show a path to achieving their vision, and identify areas where they can take risk off the table [1].
In this new investment landscape, a clear, concise, and well-designed pitch deck is essential to convey the value proposition and unique selling point [1]. Startups should aim to attract investors by showcasing their ambitious vision and the path to achieving it [1]. Additionally, startups may benefit from hiring an advisor to help with the details of fundraising, as it may be an area where they lack experience [1].
Notable figures in the agribusiness and life sciences world, such as Dr. David Buckeridge, have played a significant role in this evolving investment landscape. Dr. Buckeridge, who is now the chair of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in the UK, will host a series of investment pitches at the Focus on Finance event hosted by Agri-TechE on September 11, 2025, in Cambridge, UK [1].
It's important to note that these investments were made from pools of capital designated to achieve high returns, and with this comes risk [1]. Startups seeking capital should remember to start early in determining when they will need to raise capital, and to be mindful of the potential risks associated with ESG investing [1].
In conclusion, the 2021 ESG hype in food and agriculture prompted rapid investment growth but also led to the overlooking of critical operational and systemic details. By 2025, this caused a market correction with investors adopting a more measured, accountable, and granular approach to funding sustainable agrifood innovations [1][2][3][4].
References: [1] Agri-TechE (2025). The Future of Sustainable Agriculture: A Look at Investment Trends. Retrieved from https://www.agritech-e.co.uk/resources/the-future-of-sustainable-agriculture-a-look-at-investment-trends
[2] Food Systems Countdown Initiative (2025). Achieving Sustainable Food Systems by 2030: A Framework for Action. Retrieved from https://www.foodsystemscountdown.org/
[3] Buckeridge, D. (2025). The Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.nationalia.org/news/the-challenges-and-opportunities-in-sustainable-agriculture
[4] Greenwashing Watch (2025). The Rise and Risks of Greenwashing in Food Labeling. Retrieved from https://www.greenwashingwatch.org/the-rise-and-risks-of-greenwashing-in-food-labeling
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