Hi tech for agribusiness, growing start-ups and investments in the sector
In 2025, resources of 121.6 million (+18%) for 501 active start-ups (+23%), bucking the European trend: the results of the Agrifoodtech Report by Eatable Adventures for the Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub
Key points
Italy's agri-food technology start-ups are experiencing a moment of development that is igniting the interest of investors. In fact, 2025 closed on a largely positive note with investments up 18%, reaching 121.6 million euros raised compared to 103 million in 2024. These figures take on greater value when one considers that they are in contrast to the international trend, which sees a decline of 12% globally and 3.7% in Europe. This is what is stated in the 'Report on the State of AgriFoodTech in Italia in 2025', prepared by Eatable Adventures for the Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub.
'2025 marks a turning point for the Italian agri-food system: while Europe slows down, we accelerate,' comments Alberto Barbari, regional VP Italy of Eatable Adventures. 'This is the result of an ecosystem that has reached a critical mass of skills, capital and industrial vision.
The amount of financing is growing
According to the Report, this growth is 'driven by the capacity of the Italia ecosystem to attract specialised investors, larger international funds and higher quality investments'. In fact, micro-investments (below 350,000 euros) are dropping from 60% to 42%, while the bounce of rounds exceeding one million euros, which will rise from 12.4% in 2024 to 39.4% in 2025, tells of a gradual process of maturation of the entire ecosystem capable of reallocating capital towards more solid and credible industrial models.
The breeding ground of start-ups
Last year also saw an increase in the number of start-ups in the sector compared to 2024, "confirming a dynamic and attractive ecosystem": those surveyed reached 501 (+23% annually). A trend that is also reflected positively in terms of employment, with the generation of 4,410 total jobs (+47%). "A signal," the researchers point out, "that indicates the entry into a phase of expansion and the strengthening of corporate organisational structures to aim for scalability".
From a geographical point of view, the distribution of start-ups sees a strong concentration in Northern Italia, with Lombardy positioning itself as the main hub, collecting 28.1% of the most innovative projects. This is followed by Piedmont with 11.7% and Emilia-Romagna with 10.9%, regions that benefit from a mature industrial ecosystem and strong agrifood traditions. Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige both stand at 7.8%, confirming the vitality of the North-East also thanks to territorial initiatives such as the Verona Agrifood Innovation Hub.
