Festive agrifoodtech vox pop part 1: From GLP-1 to continuous fermentation, what trends are founders tracking as we head into 2026?

What are agrifoodtech start-ups tracking as we head right into 2026? To learn, we discharged off some e-mails to firms we have actually covered on AgFunderNews this year.

Unsurprisingly, AI was high up the checklist, which extends whatever from MAHA to mushrooms to GLP-1 medications, ultra-processed foods, constant fermentation and biologicals …

Have A Look At part two of our vox pop, which is everything about what’s maintaining owners awake during the night.

Frank Jaksch, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Ayana Bio: In 2026, the fast-moving change far from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is the fad to enjoy. The current San Francisco claim versus UPFs and The Lancet’s record connecting UPFs to hurt throughout virtually every body organ system are producing boosted customer understanding leading to stress for reformulation. We’re currently seeing the very first wave: significant brand names like PepsiCo are getting rid of artificial colorants, as received their NKD Doritos and Cheetos launch. I think the wave to re-design UPFs is coming quickly with artificial chemicals as the market’s following significant target. Technologies that supply all-natural, scalable, and supply-chain-secure choices will certainly specify that wins in this brand-new landscape, and plant cell society is distinctly placed to supply.

David Mazar, primary earnings police officer, SiFly: The wide application of AI is the item that remains to be so interesting, with design developments throughout all domain names, the usage is genuinely common. We see the worth of AI in our airborne procedures remaining to increase. Whatever from enhanced self-governing trip to onboard formulas making it possible for genuinely side decision-making.

Robotics is one more location that links right into AI and increases throughout operating domain names from ground to air and past. We see chance in the partnership in between various sorts of robot systems. Visualize a circumstance where a ground robotic is released to give functional assistance and upkeep [for an] airborne robotic, which subsequently can finish various air-borne jobs making it possible for a genuinely self-governing usage instance. This is where we see points entering 2026 and past.

Mike Messersmith, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Lasso: I believe GLP-1s will certainly remain to have an enormous influence on the customer packaged excellent area, just how customers focus on cases and dietary material, just how higher availability via reduced rate factors and medication distribution devices enhance the expanding base of individuals. There are classifications throughout the shop that are being basically improved in substantial manner ins which develop massive chance for opposition brand names.

Michelle Ruiz, cofounder and chief executive officer, Hyfé: The active ingredient sales gamers highly think that fiber need will certainly increase, and I am keeping track of indicators of customer sales information that can sustain those assumptions. I’m additionally enjoying just how CPG firms are coming close to item method in a GLP-1 globe and surveillance regulative restrictions on chemical ingredients in food, individual treatment, and farming.

Tony Martens, cofounder and chief executive officer, Plantible: AI is undoubtedly huge, specifically when it involves making automation and sustaining drivers in ending up being much more effective.

Viraj Puri, cofounder and chief executive officer, Gotham Greens: I am watching on whether customer fads around GLP-1s are below to remain. Numerous GLP-1 individuals desire ready-to-cook or pre-made dishes, easy-to-prepare treats, and grab-and-go alternatives. Preference, section dimension and convenience of food digestion are additionally factors to consider. We’re taking all these customer understandings right into factor to consider as we draw up our item profile.

Beth Zotter, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Bluekey Bio: Patterns I’m enjoying consist of the Bühler collaboration with Pow.Bio for constant fermentation modern technology application. Relocating from set to constant production has actually for years been the target for accomplishing a significant expense decrease in the device business economics of bioproducts made by means of fermentation. I forecast that with this modern technology, we will certainly begin to see bioproducts completing on rate in classifications from food to biobased products where they were formerly specific niche or evaluated.

Ross Milne, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Leaft Foods: The worldwide demand for healthy protein has actually been gradually boosting with the surge in worldwide populace. While this brought about a flurry of efforts to locate alternate healthy protein resources, couple of have had the capacity to relocate the needle in the short-term. The intro of GLP-1 medications has actually just enhanced the need for healthy protein, which has actually brought about a significant rise in item advancement of high healthy protein items. Regardless of the adverse headings that constant the alt healthy protein information web pages, this is a location of the field that has substantial need and is chasing after cutting-edge services.

Paul Shapiro, cofounder and chief executive officer, The Better Meat Co: Fungis remain in. Alt-protein might still remain in the very early rounds, however mycelium is the Rocky Balboa of the field: taking the hits and still moving on. For instance MyBacon and Prime Roots ( both mycelium-based) are amongst the alt-meat brand names that are expanding now, and the uncommon fundraising news–Better Meat Co, Protein Brewery, Matr Foods, as a couple of instances– appear focused in the mycelium edge also.

Renuka Karandikar, cofounder and chief executive officer, BioPrime: We’re carefully tracking just how biologicals can come to be the foundation of regenerative farming and unlock validated carbon credit scores at range for farmers. The merging of biology + electronic MRV + carbon markets is the fad with the best transformative possibility.

Louise Parlons Bentata, cofounder and chief executive officer, Bluemethane: Like everybody else, we are carefully checking out AI to recognize just how we can enhance procedures and enhance task by minimizing rubbing. We are additionally keeping track of just how carbon markets connect with methane and just how a lots of methane is valued when it is alleviated from fluids. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Bosco Emparanza García, creator and chief executive officer, MOA Foodtech: By 2026 and past, the mix of AI, commercial fermentation, and round bioeconomy concepts will basically improve just how food components are made and generated.

Po Bronson, basic companion SOSV: The reshoring boom will certainly delay in 2026 as restored steel tolls make United States making excessively pricey. Projects when hailed as icons of commercial resurgence will certainly be postponed or terminated, requiring firms to keep or perhaps increase manufacturing in China instead of bring it home.

In 2026, the following wave of essential source advancement will certainly concentrate on drawing out beneficial products from thin down resources, also known as transforming waste streams and low-concentration down payments right into feasible supply. From lithium in salt water to methane and copper in trace settings, innovations in splitting up and healing will certainly lower reliance on international mines like those in Chile.

By 2026, next-generation plant food will certainly be half the expense and half the dimension, changing today’s inefficient, high-emission formulas that slow down plant efficiency. Farming will ultimately begin dealing with nutrients like precision-engineered products, not assets.

Buddy Johan From, creator and chief executive officer, Saga Robotics: We maintain a close eye on what services have most traction on the market, as an example in what locations self-governing systems appear to function best and where tractor carries out appear to have far better adjustment. We are specifically curious about just how AI– even more conventional AI, not a lot huge language designs– can be utilized in improved safety and security systems for self-governing procedure.

Julia Streuli, cofounder and chief executive officer, FUL Foods: Among one of the most substantial changes we’re enjoying is the worldwide shade shift, sped up in the United States by the MAHA motion. We’re entering what is most likely to be among the biggest reformulation cycles in modern-day food background, as brand names relocate far from petroleum-derived man-made shades and towards all-natural choices throughout grocery store, ease, and pharmacy racks.

We’re additionally carefully tracking supply-chain localization and durability, specifically boosted focus on US-based manufacturing. The interruptions previously this year were a wake-up phone call, and in 2026 we anticipate brand names to focus on even more vibrant, varied supply chains that can generate within the USA.

Lastly, I believe we get on the cusp of “alternate healthy proteins 2.0.” The need for healthy protein has actually never ever been more powerful, however this following wave of healthy protein advancement will certainly be formed by hard-earned lessons from the previous 5 years– concentrating on preference, cost, and regulative stability, not simply unique scientific research.

Dan Also, creator and chief executive officer, Asterix Foods: We’re carefully enjoying the growth of bioactive healthy proteins right into brand-new usage situations, specifically at the junction of food and health and wellness. As healthy protein manufacturing systems like plant cell society grow, we see a significant chance to reconsider food not equally as nourishment, however as an individualized, useful device for boosting human health and wellness, with numerous brand-new bioactive targets arising in the years in advance.

Daan Raemdonck, cofounder, Koppie: I’m keeping track of capability generally. Healthy protein, power, mind, state of mind, skin … what is the winning active ingredient?

Simo Ellilä, cofounder and chief executive officer, Enifer: I believe the heading at this year’s Future Food-Tech occasion in London caught it well: “Healthy and balanced and resistant food systems.” Sustainability as a top priority has actually plainly decreased while safeguarding supply chains and offering items to progressively health-conscious customers has actually come forward.

Elén Faxö, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, OlsAro: AI and progressively easily accessible multi-omics are increasing biology in manner ins which really felt difficult simply a couple of years earlier. The merging of AI-driven attribute exploration and progressed molecular devices is positioned to open the future generation of genuinely climate-resilient plants.

Throughout the worth chain, the energy behind climate-smart grains is materializing. It’s no more a vision declaration– it’s forming both client need along with supply-chain dedications. That placement in between technical opportunity and market pull is what thrills me most. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Francisco Martin-Rayo, cofounder and chief executive officer, Helios: In 2026 I’m enjoying just how verticalized AI improves farming projecting and supply-chain durability from hyper-granular climate-risk modeling to AI-driven purchase co-pilots that alter just how customers choose. The silent fad is that venture fostering is ultimately reaching the modern technology, and the firms matching exclusive information with domain-specific AI will certainly specify the following years.

Alexia Akbay, creator and chief executive officer, Symbrosia: I’m tracking bioactive capability, mineral chelation methods, and customer discouragement with artificial ingredients.

Thijs Bosch, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, The Protein Brewery: I think that throughout 2026 durability nourishment will certainly acquire additional energy. As our populace remains to expand and age, customers are searching for nourishment with tried and tested health and wellness advantages. It is no more practically broadening life-span, however much more regarding health and wellness period.

George Peppou, creator and chief executive officer, Vow: GLP-1s are a fad I’m enjoying carefully, it progressively appears like it’s below to remain and cultured meat appears like a possibly fascinating buddy food for both macronutrient and micronutrient optimization.

Michael Fox, cofounder and chief executive officer, Fable Food: I’m unbelievably thrilled by the rate of interest and occupy from customers, stores and food solution drivers for hamburger combined with shiitake mushrooms. In networks where our shiitake mushrooms achieve success and we after that introduce our beef with shiitake mushrooms items, the last are commonly marketing over 10x the quantity of the previous. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Dr. Gabe Sibley, cofounder, Verdant Robotics: We remain to track and press breakthroughs in ML/AI that enable far better efficiency, decreased functional expense, and decreased time-to-deployment.[Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

David Brown, COO, Chinova Bioworks: We have actually been maintaining a close eye on the MAHA motion and just how it’s overlapping with the tidy tag motion. What’s mattered for us is that it has actually boosted the stress on food and drink manufacturers to quit making use of dangerous chemical preservatives. We’re remaining to progress our all-natural active ingredient profile to change chemical preservatives throughout the F&B market as we see that this will just remain to be a significant subject in 2026 and past. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Douglas Martin, Chief Executive Officer and Creator, MiAlgae: Among the greatest changes I’m enjoying is the shift of pick food and active ingredient modern technologies from laboratory and pilot range right into very early business manufacturing. After years of R&D, an expanding variety of services are currently getting to a factor where they can be produced accurately, at range, and incorporated right into existing supply chains.

A clear instance of this is lasting omega-3 manufacturing. Worldwide need remains to climb throughout pet food, tank farming, and human nourishment, while dependence on wild-caught fish oils is positioning boosting stress on currently breakable aquatic communities.

David Henstrom, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Unibio: With the obstacles dealing with committed single-cell healthy protein manufacturing hard to overlook, I am motivated that the greatest effect in 2026 and past will certainly originate from a couple of tried and tested gamers with one of the most feasible business designs, that are genuinely prepared to range and address worldwide food safety obstacles. We will ultimately see actual development forming, with the Center East as the beginning factor.

At the very same time, it is motivating to see energy structure around revealing the useful health and wellness advantages of biomasses from microorganisms. We are making solid progression in this area, and it is ending up being a distinct ability for us: the capacity to optimize the worth of any kind of microbial biomass.

Eric Smith, creator and chief executive officer, Edacious: I’m keeping track of the action from amount to high quality: complete healthy protein and complete fat to healthy protein high quality and fat high quality. This underlies whatever from the effects of GLP-1 on customer acquiring to the discussion around seed oils and influence on human health and wellness.

Aviv Wolff, cofounder and chief executive officer, Remilk: GLP-1s have actually finished quantity development in United States food, focusing on healthy protein over vacant calories. As heritage incumbents battle to pivot to this ‘much less however much better’ fact, anarchical brand names are recording the development.

Eben Bayer, cofounder, MyForest Foods: I’m carefully enjoying useful foods, fiber, and environment control– not environment adjustment. On useful foods, I’m attempting to see when the junction with clinically sustained cases and advertising and marketing may converge– or otherwise– in customer view.

Owen Ensor, creator and chief executive officer, Meatly: I’m enjoying just how food rate volatility, driven by environment adjustment, zoonotic condition danger and geopolitics, will certainly remain to intimidate conventional food supply chains. 2026, I wish, will certainly be the year that huge brand names and producers begin to buckle down regarding checking out alternate methods to make essential foods that use higher security, safety and security and predictability.

On the technology side, we can anticipate much more 2nd wave firms to proceed in establishing low-priced bioreactors, budget-friendly media and even more durable cell lines. We’re currently at a factor where we have actually addressed a great deal of the huge concerns and the effort depends on demonstrating how to scale this with larger manufacturing runs, to obtain this to customers to attempt and acquire.

Gerit Tolborg, cofounder and chief executive officer, Chromologics: Initially, we are carefully adhering to the market’s action to the current restriction of Red 3 in the United States. This has actually sped up the necessity amongst food producers to recognize all-natural, steady, and future-proof choices. It’s a significant regulative change, and it’s forming food active ingredient methods throughout numerous classifications.

2nd, we’re seeing a swiftly expanding need for substitutes for carmine, which is driven by the demand for vegan and insect-free colorants along with the need for higher supply security.

Ibrahim Ashqar, cofounder and chief executive officer, Lumi AI: I’m unbelievably thrilled regarding our upcoming H1 roadmap. The rollout of real self-service, broadened information organizing, and our brand-new “Goals” ability will certainly be outright video game changers. Individuals will certainly have the ability to onboard without our participation, attach to among 700 sustained data sources (up from 7 today), and appoint Lumi self-governing jobs e.g., “Alert me when you locate problems or chances in our stock information”. This will basically alter just how clients remove worth from their information. [Disclosure: AgFunderNews’ parent company AgFunder is an investor.]

Nathan Rosenberg, cofounder and chief executive officer, Farmblox: Every person’s discussing tolls, dry spell, and labor lacks, however burglary is silently turning into one of the costliest dangers to American ranches. Copper, pumps, and fence are being taken at document prices, and numerous ranches being in remote locations with little connection or police existence. Farmers are standing in the center of an ideal tornado: financial stress, ecological stress and anxiety, and currently, criminal danger. Modern technology will certainly play a definitive function in assisting them shield their procedures, secure their incomes, and maintain their ranches running.

Read part 2 of our vox pop.

Enjoy the content group’s festive roundup video.

The article Festive agrifoodtech vox pop part 1: From GLP-1 to continuous fermentation, what trends are founders tracking as we head into 2026? showed up initially on AgFunderNews.