Switched On Harvest Halted: Why Agriculture Funding Is Withering
Jul 30, 2025
In this engaging conversation with Alexander Liddington, a food and agriculture analyst at BloombergNEF, the decline in agricultural funding takes center stage. Liddington discusses the shocking 76% drop in investments since 2021 and the impact on sustainable farming practices. He explores the intricate dance between agriculture and climate change, as well as consumer shifts towards lower-impact meats. The challenges of vertical farming and the innovation journey of a Thai company provide a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing funding crisis.
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Agriculture's Emissions and Vulnerability
- Agriculture contributes around 30-35% of global emissions, particularly from fertilizers, proteins, rice, and on-farm transport.
- The sector is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts like droughts affecting coffee and cocoa yields.
Climate Change Raises Food Costs
- Climate change already affects food prices, shown by rising costs of coffee, cocoa, and eggs due to drought and disease.
- Consumers and taxpayers are indirectly paying for climate damages through prices and subsidies like crop insurance.
Contrasting On-Farm and Boardroom Trends
- On farms, rising input costs have driven farmers to adopt efficient, sustainable practices like reduced fertilizer use and smarter agronomy.
- Boardrooms tell a different story as companies retreat from some green targets and venture capital funding for ag-tech crashes.