Ag tech venture capital stays on sidelines [Video]

Agriculture venture capital investment was an outlier in 2023, as it increased slightly over 2022, according to the Canadian Venture Capital Association (CVCA)

However, that news belied pessimism on the state of ag tech at the recent Agri Tech Venture Forum in Toronto. The forum heard that the availability of capital for agriculture technology entrepreneurs has dried up significantly compared to the heady days of investment growth during the pandemic years.

David Kornacki, of the Canadian Venture Capital Association, reported that agribusiness had a record year in 2023, with $273 million invested in 50 deals.

That compares to a decline of 34 per cent last …