New trends and technologies are emerging in agriculture - many driven by startups - in order to make farming more efficient and sustainable for the long-term. This trends spotlight details the three key subsectors that received the most funding in 2016: Precision Agriculture, Biotechnology and E-commerce & Marketplaces. In it, you’ll find the top trends within the subsectors and startups in the DACH region leading the charge.

1. TREND SPOTLIGHT:
AgTech
28. 6. 2017, Vienna, Austria

2. 2
I N T R O D U C T I O N
What’s Happening in AgTech
The agriculture sector is under serious pressure in light of
a growing world population that is expected to reach nearly 10
billion in 2050, a scarcity of natural resources and finite land.
Alongside this, consumers’ preferences are changing and food
supply needs to respond to this demand.
As a result, new trends and technologies are emerging in
agriculture - many driven by startups - in order to make farming
more efficient and sustainable for the long-term.
This trends spotlight details the three key subsectors that
received the most funding in 2016: Precision Agriculture,
Biotechnology and E-commerce & Marketplaces. In it, you’ll find
the top trends within the subsectors and startups in the DACH
region leading the charge.
40%
8%
6%
4%
3%3%
2016 Investment in AgTech Subsectors
E-commerce & Marketplaces
Biotechnology
Precision Agriculture
Novel Farming Systems
Supply Chain Technologies
Bioenergy & Biomaterials
Innovative Food
Other
Source: AgFunder: AgTech Funding Report: Year in Review 2016 (2017); Pioneers Discover Future Report: Agriculture (2017)

3. 3
P R E C I S I O N AG R I C U L T U R E
Total investment in Precision Agriculture dropped in
2016 to 14%. In terms of the technology itself, there
was a slight increase in investment in IoT and Big Data
but a significant pull back in Robotics (as the investment
in drones decreased).
Making farming operations more efficient.
Drones: Provide farmers with digital
images; can also irrigate and spray the
crops, or even plant seeds.
Autonomous vehicles: Allow driverless
operations for autonomous planting,
spraying, harvesting and more.
Robotics,
Mechanizatio
n
IoT,
Big Data
Allowing farmers to real-time monitor or
map their fields.
Smart sensors: Measure temperature,
humidity, acidity and numerous other
properties.
Big Data software: Allow farmers to
remotely monitor their crops and even
obtain predictions.
Trends Overview
InvestmentinM$
Year
YoY Investment in Precision Agriculture
28%
33%
14%
Source: Tracxn Technologies: AgriTech – Sub Sector Overview (2017); AgFunder: AgTech Funding Report: Year in Review 2016 (2017)
TopStartups

4. 4
B I O T E C H N O L O G Y
Farm Inputs
Enabling sustainable food production.
Microbial solutions: Biofertilizers,
biopesticides and soil amendments
enable higher productivity and resilience
against diseases and pests.
Animal feed additives: Improve nutrient
content and other feed properties.
Biotechnology was the second most-funded subsector
in 2016. Biological inputs are widely replacing chemical
products, as they are demanded by consumers for
being more sustainable and are now able to be
produced cheaper and with more effective results.
Trends Overview
Biologically-based genetic engineering.
Gene editing: Widely debated for its
ethics issues but offers countless
solutions for disease resilience and more.GMO
Year
InvestmentinM$
YoY Investment in Biotechnology
14%
6%
22%
Source: Tracxn Technologies: AgriTech – Sub Sector Overview (2017); AgFunder: AgTech Funding Report: Year in Review 2016 (2017)
TopStartups

5. 5
E - C O M M E R C E & M AR K E T P L A C E S
Making everyday cooking easier and
more fun.
Enabling consumers to cook home-made
food without the trouble to think of recipes
and shop for ingredients, by having a
meal kit delivered that includes a
recipe and all ingredients.
Meal Kits
Connecting farmers with consumers
directly.
Mostly locally-sourced and fresh-
produced food can be ordered online
directly from the farmers and local
producers.
Farm-2-
Consumer
Food e-commerce investment grew significantly in 2015
and has continued to attract investors. In 2016, the
sector received the most funding with 40% of the total.
Trends Overview
InvestmentinM$
Year
YoY Investment in Ag. E-commerce
16%
36%
40%
Source: Tracxn Technologies: AgriTech – Sub Sector Overview (2017); AgFunder: AgTech Funding Report: Year in Review 2016 (2017)
TopStartups

6. 6
Jasmina Henniova
Innovation Analyst
jasmina.henniova@pioneers.io
0043 677 620 843 61
There is a demand for an increase in the quality and
quantity of our food, and the AgTech sector is
adapting in order to meet this global challenge. As a
result, we’ll continue to see massive disruption in
one of the world’s oldest industries, with startups
paving the way.
If you are interested in more details about AgTech or
are keen on meeting the top-notch startups from the
field which match your current needs, please get in
touch with us!
G E T I N T O U C H W I T H U S !