AgriFoodTech startups hailing from North America are leading the charge towards a more sustainable food system, as they represent a significant portion of the total finalists in Forward Fooding’s 2024 FoodTech 500 rankings. In this article, we dive deep into the thriving North American AgriFoodTech ecosystem, identifying key trends, funding developments, and the impactful companies that have earned their place on the industry’s prestigious list.

The FoodTech 500: Setting the Global Innovation Standard

The FoodTech 500 is a rich platform for the most innovative startups and scaleups in the industry. The 2024 edition received 1,420 applications from over 80 countries. Among the finalists, 104 companies from North America made the list, accounting for 20.8% of the total.

The Numbers Behind North American Excellence

According to industry data, North America has maintained its position as a global leader in AgriFoodTech investment and innovation, securing $6.6B in investments last year. Meanwhile, Canada has emerged as a world leader in alternative protein funding, with Protein Industries Canada’s investment exceeding CAD $150M. Our recent report, in partnership with the Canadian Food Innovation Network, also found that the AgriFoodTech sector in the country attracted CAD $4.1B in funding between 2014 and 2024. North America is also the only region in the developed markets to see a positive trend in total funding, with a 10% growth year-on-year. 

Despite challenging global investment conditions, North American startups have shown remarkable resilience, with a diverse ecosystem that encompasses everything from early-stage breakthrough technologies to established scale-ups preparing for commercial deployment.

North America’s Innovation Epicenters

When examining the funding landscape of North American AgriFoodTech in 2024, several regions stand out for their exceptional ability to attract investment capital. California startups have historically captured nearly half of all US AgriFoodTech VC investment, accounting for $5.3B of the $12.4B raised by US startups. The Northeast corridor has also become a powerhouse for food innovation and urban agriculture solutions, with New York investing US$45M in a regional food hub and US$2.5M in urban farms and community gardens. Meanwhile, the agricultural heartland of Texas has emerged as the center for precision farming and agricultural technology development, with precision agriculture tools like satellite imaging, AI analytics, drone surveillance, and IoT sensors transforming Texas agriculture into a leading tech-driven sector, supported by major companies like John Deere.

Government Support and Regulatory Progress

North America has strengthened its AgriFoodTech ecosystem through targeted government programs and policy innovations, including several notable recent developments:

• Earlier this year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) allocated US$14.4M in grants and technical assistance through urban agriculture and innovative production programs.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) achieved significant breakthroughs in cellular agriculture approvals, granting market clearance to Mission Barns for bioreactor-produced animal fat earlier in the year and approving Wildtype for cell-based seafood products this June.
• Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food announced over CAD$7.2M in funding for four projects through the AgriInnovate Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership in November 2024.
• The comprehensive Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership encompasses a 5-year (2023-2028), CAD$3.5B commitment, including CAD $1B in federal programs and CAD$2.5B in collaborative federal-provincial-territorial initiatives.

These strategic policy investments establish a supportive framework that empowers AgriFoodTech startups to pursue bold innovations while navigating clear regulatory pathways to market success.

Meet the North American FoodTech 500 Finalists

These North American companies have secured a spot in the 2024 FoodTech 500, showcasing outstanding innovation, growth, and impact within the AgriFoodTech sector:

United States (92 companies)

Apeel Sciences (#1 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Develops science-backed, technology-supported solutions that help improve the produce experience on market shelves.

ProducePay (#2 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Eliminates the economic and food waste caused by the volatile, opaque, and fragmented nature of the global fresh produce supply chain.

Nature’s Fynd (#3 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Turns fungi protein Fy into nutritious and planet-friendly vegan foods.

Plantible (#4 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Develops healthier ingredients by harnessing sustainable superplants

Terviva (#6 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Partners with farmers and communities to grow and harvest pongamia, then transform it into sustainable food ingredients and bioenergy.

UPSIDE Foods (#10 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Founded as the world’s first cultivated meat company.

Onego Bio (#18 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Aims to build a more resilient food system while catering to the industry’s growing demand for reliable and sustainable proteins.

Tender Food (#23 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Aims to make a new generation of plant-based meats that have delicious texture and taste.

Miso Robotics (#24 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Commercial Robotics & Hardware | Helps restaurants streamline their operations and boost profitability through the use of Kitchen AI and automation.

Beewise (#25 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Insects Farming & Aquaculture | Uses AI and robotics to save bees and secure the global food supply.

KETOS (#26 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Helps address global water management issues while providing mission-critical insights and 24/7 services for operators.

BioConsortia (#29 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Uses microbes to meet the world’s food needs while reducing agriculture’s ecological impact.

TraceGains (#31 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Transformed the F&B industry with its Source-to-Shelf network ecosystem, digitizing processes and insights using advanced AI and providing comprehensive solutions for compliance, nutritional calculation and labeling, new product development, environmental, social, and governance, and packaging.

Babylon Micro-Farms (#34 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | Builds the world’s easiest-to-use small-scale indoor hydroponic micro-farms

Square Roots (#35 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | An indoor farming platform built to accelerate agricultural research in the face of climate change.

IUNU (#37 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | Uses advanced AI technology to provide greenhouse growers with data-driven insights for enhanced productivity, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

Michroma (#40 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Develops food dyes using mushrooms.

Full Harvest (#42 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms |  The first and only produce business marketplace for all grades of produce, including surplus & off-grade.

Crisp (#44 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Retail Tech | The leading retail data platform that ingests and delivers daily, actionable data from 40+ retailers and distributors to give brands a timely and accurate view of their inventory and sales.

BeeHero (#47 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | P​​rovides beekeepers and growers with precision pollination services that utilize IoT sensors and proprietary AI to optimize bee pollination for commercial agriculture, enhancing crop yields and supporting bee health.

BlueNalu (#48 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Specializes in cell-cultivated seafood, producing sustainable and high-quality products directly from fish cells.

Edible Garden AG Incorporated (#50 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | Provides fresh, organic, sustainably grown herbs and lettuces for consumers throughout the US.

C16 Biosciences (#53 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Produces next-generation oils and fats to decarbonize consumer products supply chains.

GALY CO. (#54 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Produces lab-grown agriculture products in a sustainable, traceable, predictable, reliable, high-quality, and cost-efficient manner.

Arable (#60 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Provides a comprehensive system that integrates advanced IoT sensing technology, machine learning, and agronomic modeling to transform in-field data related to the weather, plants, soil, and irrigation into real-time, actionable insights.

Kula Bio (#65 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Develops a microbial biofertilizer that fixes nitrogen directly from the air in the field, eliminating the environmental impacts associated with traditional synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.

Shiru (#66 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Accelerates the application of natural, high-value ingredients through AI-powered discovery, yielding healthier, more sustainable products.

Eden Green Technology (#71 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | Provides a patented vertical greenhouse technology and a revolutionary model for produce and herb distribution.

Enko Chem (#75 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Reimagines food systems with AI-informed sustainable crop protection

Helaina (#76 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Replicates bioactive proteins produced by the human body and brings them to market as nutrients for the first time.

Vertical Harvest Farms (#77 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | A pioneering urban hydroponic farm that sells fresh, locally grown produce.

Wholechain (#79 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Supply Chain Monitoring & Traceability | Provides a blockchain-based traceability solution to enable trust, coordination, and transparency in fragmented supply chains.

TurtleTree (#81 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Transforms nutrition and the dairy industry by producing milk and functional milk ingredients without animals.

Minus (#87 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Upcycled Ingredients, Food Surplus & Waste Efficiency | Creates climate-proof, delicious products, through fermentation with a reduced environmental footprint.

Agtools (#88 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Provides real-time market and intelligence data to manage volatility, reduce food waste, and minimize CO2.

Atarraya (#95 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Insects Farming & Aquaculture | Its AI-driven Shrimpbox technology offers a regenerative approach to aquaculture and transforms shrimp into a 21st-century protein source.

The Better Meat Co. (#100 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Harnesses the power of fermentation to create next-generation mycoprotein ingredients for alt-meat applications.

smoodi (#101 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Catering/ Office Services & Vending Machines | World’s first robotic smoothie chain, delivering the freshest, healthiest ingredients with minimal space requirements and no labor needed.

Posha (fka Nymble) (#105 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Appliances | A self-cooking stove that functions as a kitchen robot to take cooking time off your plate.

Chunk Foods (#121 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Creates whole cuts that look, cook, and taste like beef

Solena Ag (#128 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | A soil health company that uses AI and microbiome data to improve agricultural outcomes.

Fork Farms (#129 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Vertical & Indoor Farming | Provides innovative, sustainable hydroponic systems to grow fresh, nutritious food efficiently indoors.

Synonym (#136 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Its infrastructure enables the commercialization and manufacture of bio-products.

Pubinno (#141 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Commercial Robotics & Hardware | Transforms the beverage industry with AI-powered, fully automated draft systems that adapt to existing setups.

Renewal Mill (#145 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Upcycled Ingredients, Food Surplus & Waste Efficiency | Creates crave-worthy plant-based foods by upcycling nutritious ingredients within the food system.

Map My Crop (#147 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | The world’s first 360° imagery-based Agro Data Suite.

AgriCapture (#149 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Marketplace | Connects farmers and ranchers to environmental markets and premium supply chains.

Ryp Labs (fka Stix Fresh) (#155 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Creates innovative products, like StixFreshⓒ, designed to extend shelf life and enhance profitability while reducing waste.

Avalo (#158 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | AI/ML-driven discovery for complex traits and faster, more economical breeding for climate-resilient crops

Lunchbox (#162 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Restaurant Operations Management & POS Systems | The only open, scalable restaurant solution enabling B2B catering, multi-channel ordering, and guest engagement for enterprise operations on a single platform.

Clean Crop Technologies (#163 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Use air and electricity to stop crop loss at the source and remove pathogens, making the food system safer and more abundant.

Mozza Foods (#164 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Engineers plants to produce bovine milk proteins to make identical but more sustainable versions of cheese and dairy products.

Spoiler Alert (#174 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Powers the discounting programs for the world’s largest and most iconic food and beverage companies.

Foraged (#188 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | eGrocers | Connects consumers with hard-to-find foods sourced directly from sustainable, small-scale producers.

Mi Terro (#197 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Sustainable Packaging & Plastic Alternatives | Engineers low-value biomass waste into high-value hydrophilic and hydrophobic biomaterials, offering a unique solution to microplastic pollution and sustainable packaging needs.

Bright Feeds (#199 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Upcycled Ingredients, Food Surplus & Waste Efficiency | Diverts unwanted food from the waste stream and converts it into a high-quality, nutrient-rich animal feed replacement to soy and corn.

Sensegrass (#202 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Helps companies grow better with low emissions through personal recommendations using AI agronomist.

ZeaKal (#207 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Enhances crops to capture more carbon and sunlight leading to healthier, nutrient-rich food.

Elo Life Systems (#209 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Aims to unlock nature’s abilities to make consumers’ favorite foods more delicious, healthy, and planet-friendly.

GrowinCo (#216 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Retail Tech | Connects idle production lines to the CPG brands that need to outsource production. 

Bioeutectics (#218 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Replaces the petrochemical solvents involved in industrial processes with nature-born alternatives

Amulet (#220 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Increases access to food allergy testing and on-site food safety testing.

Biftek (#222 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Produces growth medium supplements to make cultured meat affordable.

UnReal Milk (#225 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Creates ‘real’ whole milk without any cows.

Cruz Foam (#231 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Sustainable Packaging & Plastic Alternatives | Provides a compostable alternative made from upcycled food waste, seamlessly replacing conventional plastic foams while matching their performance and pricing

Salient (#233 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Combines novel ocean and land-surface data with machine learning and climate expertise to deliver the world’s most accurate subseasonal-to-seasonal weather forecasts 2 to 52 weeks in advance.

MeliBio (#244 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Uses science to make honey and other bee products without bees.

TrueAlgae (#260 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Insects Farming & Aquaculture | Pioneers metabolite technology to address key challenges in agriculture.

ClearLeaf (#270 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Provides a line of safe fungicides and bactericides for agricultural use.

IngateyGen (#273 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Develops new peanut varieties with improved safety and nutritional values.

HyperSpectral (#278 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Combines spectroscopy and AI to illuminate invisible threats and unlock valuable insights across a range of industries.

Guac (#283 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Uses machine learning to accurately predict future demand, helping retailers reduce food waste and increase availability.

PreciTaste (#288 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Restaurant Operations Management & POS Systems | Provides restaurant owners with AI-driven tools that streamline back-of-house operations, optimize food preparation, enhance labor efficiency, and reduce food waste.

Aniai (#305 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Commercial Robotics & Hardware | Transforms restaurant operations with robotic kitchen solutions, ensuring efficient production, precise recipe execution, and reduced labor.

MyFloraDNA (#312 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Specializes in advanced genetic analysis and CRISPR-based genetic editing to enhance crop quality and yield across various agricultural sectors.

EQUII (#316 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Creates complete protein flours and flour-based foods to bring balanced nutrition in a convenient and sustainable manner.

Kitchen Robotics (#327 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Commercial Robotics & Hardware | The world leader in development of commercial robotic kitchens.

Algaenite (#328 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Develops a patented process to produce “bio-ammonia” fertilizer through bio-reactors, utilizing nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

SynergySuite (#347 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Restaurant Operations Management & POS Systems | Offers a cloud-based, all-in-one back-of-house restaurant management solution to streamline operations and boost profitability.

De Novo Foodlabs (#350 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Produces novel, sustainable, nutritionally relevant functional ingredients through cutting-edge technology

Unibaio (#355 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Produces biodegradable nanoparticles from shrimp waste for agrochemical formulations.

AQUA Cultured Foods (#383 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | The world’s first fish-free seafood made through fermentation.

Edacious (#384 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Safety & Quality | Helps food producers understand how good their food really is, transforming nutrition into a strategic asset.

Syocin (#397 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Accelerates the process of creating bactericidal solutions.

Akorn Technology (#398 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Produces all-natural, multifunctional, edible coatings for fresh produce to extend shelf life and quality.

Nutrition From Water (#411 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Meal Replacements & Supplements | Provides water-based nutrition solutions.

Ayana Bio (#445 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Uses plant cell culture to more sustainably deliver health-beneficial bioactive ingredients.

Foodberry (#456 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Plant-based | Creates better bite-sized snacks and desserts.

Edamam (#465 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Meal Planning & Nutrition | Provides nutrition solutions to businesses in the food, health, and wellness sectors by leveraging its cloud-based structures.

GTF Technologies (#492 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Transforms the food industry through our innovative drying & milling system, RENU.

Bactelife Industries (#498 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Ag Biotech | Provides climate-smart regenerative agriculture solutions that combine biologics and nano-tech organics to reduce greenhouse gases while improving production.

Biolumen (#500 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Functional Foods & Drinks | Enhances gut and overall health by creating products that transform ultra-processed and sugary foods in the intestine.

 

Canada (12 companies)

Flashfood (#58 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Food Waste Tech & Food Sharing Platforms | Marketplace that connects grocers’ surplus and near-expiry food to consumers via their app.

Relocalize (#73 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Novel Processing Techniques & Equipment | Decarbonizes & hyperlocalizes food supply chains with autonomous micro-factories.

Chinova Bioworks (#92 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Upcycles the stems of white button mushrooms to develop natural and clean-label ingredients.

Livestock Water Recycling (#93in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Robotics & Machinery | Recycles waste from food production into valuable feedstock and clean reusable water.

Crush Dynamics (#104 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Upcycled Ingredients, Food Surplus & Waste Efficiency | Transform grape derivatives into highly nutritious food ingredients through a patented biomechanical process.

Croptimistic Technology (#178 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Offers the world’s only all-in-one variable-rate solution for precision agriculture to maximize profitability and sustainability.

BinSentry (#183 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Utilizes IOT technology, combined with Artificial Intelligence, to help customers in the swine and poultry production space accurately depict feed inventory levels in 3D renderings

Verdi (#286 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Makes modern automation tools accessible to every farm on the planet.

Maia Farms (#292 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Protein Fermentation | Provides pure and blended mushroom-based protein ingredients, enhancing taste and texture for food manufacturers.

Biofect Innovations (#374 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Biotech/ Synthetisation | Creates natural analogues of ingredients using advanced microbial fermentation technology.

Vivid Machines (#391 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Farm Management & Precision Farming | Develops computer vision and machine learning technology to digitize and improve crop load management, yield, and product quality in fruit production.

Opalia (#435 in the 2024 FoodTech 500) | Cellular Agriculture | Creates transformative technology that enables the production of cell-cultured dairy.

Download the full 2024 FoodTech 500 list here.

Looking Ahead

With robust institutional backing, growing investor confidence, and a mature innovation infrastructure, North American AgriFoodTech companies are strategically positioned to tackle the world’s most critical food system challenges while generating sustainable economic value.

The companies recognized in the 2024 FoodTech 500 exemplify the region’s pivotal role in driving the transformation of global food systems toward a more sustainable and resilient future.

 

Ready to make your mark on the future of food? The Forward Fooding FoodTech 500 2025 is calling for applications from groundbreaking companies. Don’t miss your chance to be recognized. APPLY NOW!

 

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