In Q1 2026, agtech startups secured $1.89 billion across 163 deals, according to a Crunchbase data analysis by CropLife. This marks a 9% decrease in capital and an 8% reduction in deal volume compared to Q4 2025. The average round size was $11.6 million.
The broader venture capital landscape saw Q1 2026 global investments of $330.9 billion across 8,464 deals, heavily influenced by AI. AgTech’s share of global VC dollars fell to 0.57%, despite maintaining 1.9% of global deal volume.
This decline in AgTech's share was due to a significant concentration of investments in AI, including OpenAI's $122 billion round. However, key 'mega-deals' like Halter's $220 million Series E round in Animal Health provided a substantial boost within the AgTech sector.
The AgTech exit market remained quiet, with 8 strategic acquisitions in Q1 2026, a 33% decrease from 12 in Q4 2025. This indicates established agricultural players continue seeking tactical technology additions from the startup ecosystem.