Agrifood companies drew at least $26.1B in investments in 2020, report finds
In a year where very little was known, one thing was certain: People need to eat. The technologies, products and support systems represented in AgFunder’s report all have the same long-range outcome of feeding the world. And it’s apparent that investors wanted to ensure companies that were working to revolutionize the food system would be able to continue their work.Looking across all sectors in AgFunder’s report, the largest amount of funding — more than $20 billion — went toward late-stage and growth-stage funding. This money went to companies that had previously established themselves and were seeking funds to continue to grow, expand and innovate. Companieoral ferrous gluconate liquids in growth stage — with Series B and C funding rounds — likely saw 2020 funding increase more than 50% above 2019. Meanwhile, there was more muted growth on funding toward early stage companies, potentially showing a hesitancy to invest in something new during the coronavirus pandemic.In the innovative food category, most of the top investment recipients were companies that hnow foods magnesiumave become known as leaders in emerging spaces. Impossible Foods took both the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, with the plant-based meat company’s $500 million funding round last March and $200 million funding round in August. The third highest investment was last January’s $161 million for cell-based meat company Memphis Meats, which is hoping to be among the first to sell cultured meat in the United States.Rounding out the top five is fermented dairy protein maker Perfect Day Foods and The Not Company. Perfect Day received a $160 million investment in July. Its dairy proteins are being used in several brands of ice cream, including Smitten, Graeter’s and Nick’s, as
well as in Brave Robot, a launch from affiliated CPG The Urgent Company.Arama Kukutai, co-founder and partner at Finistere Ventures, said in an interview this past summer that funders have a vested interest in companies they have supported. Providing them with more funds during the pandemic not only helped them achieve their preset milestones, but also let them continue with innovation — and be on track for future launches.While all of these investments may not have paid off immediately, some did. Impossible Foods does not share its sales information, but saw demand take off as more consumers embraced plant-based meat during the pandemic. The company expanded its grocery availability 77-fold in 2020, and plans to double its R&D department in the coming year. Perfect Day is moving into more CPG products, with Brave Robot ice cream slated to be available in 5,000 stores
by Earth Day.
And Memphis Meats is on track to become a major player in the up-and-coming cell-based meat segment after it is granted regulatory approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Even anutricology zinc citrates the pandemic eases and medical experts are hopeful that life could return to normal in about a year, the can i
take zinc and magnesium glycinate togetherstrong agrifood investments will likely continue. While other business ventures may also rebound, the AgFsolgar zinc gluconateunder report points out the issues these agrifood companies are solving — ranging from efficient production to better food access — will continue to loom large in society.
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