April 11, 2015

The AgTech gold rush is on. With investment in this sector exploding to over two billion in 2014 from roughly $150 million in 2012, according a recent article by  GAI News, the momentum is set to continue. Highly engaged in discussions of the principles of this burgeoning sector are investors – from venture capital to private equity to foundations and corporations – all of whom can turn to the inaugural AgTech Week for the most critical networking and imperative knowledge to date.

Global AgInvesting (GAI), in association with Larta Institute, will host GAI AgTech Week in San Francisco, June 22-24 at the Hilton Financial District where discussions on technologies addressing the California drought crisis, the pathway to public markets for agtech startups, consumer trends and future foods, agtech advancement hubs worldwide and more will dominate the conversation. This landmark event is focused on building and growing the community of innovators and intrepid investors who are catalyzing the sector.

According to a recent AgFunder report, 2014 was a record-breaking year for agtech funding, with $2.36 billion raised across 264 financing deals.

“We see real significant unmet demand for smart capital in the space,” said Arama Kukutai, chairman of AgTech Week’s Innovation Advisory Board and Finistere co-founder and partner, in a recent interview with GAI. “There are fundamental resource and quality issues that are out there around need for agricultural products but we also see that the sector is underserved by innovation capital, which is why we’re delighted to see investors recognize this opportunity and come into the space.” Finistere, which has been investing in the agtech space for a decade, just announced last month its first closing of $150 million for its agtech-focused Finistere II fund.

Examining the roles technology can play in farming efficiencies and reward schemes for those investing will move the $3 trillion dollar ag sector, tasked with feeding 9 billion people by 2050, further more quickly in its monumental task. Substantial investor interest in the sector is giving rise to new technologies, helping generate excitement about AgTech’s ability to address significant challenges in water conservation, production, sustainability, quality output, the durability of supply chains and more.

Join the conversation at AgTech Week during unique panel discussions on:

• The Evolution of AgTech as an Asset Class

• From R&D to M&A – The Big Ag Perspective 

• A View from the Field – The Farmers' Perspective

• Building a Pathway to Public Markets

• Panel: Consumer Trends – What is the Outlook for FoodTech?

Visit www.agtechweek.com for more details.