Agrifood next 60: Mapping Italy’s Food Innovation

A new report developed by *beeco with ESCP and InnovUp profiles 60 Italian agrifoodtech startups, revealing a strong innovation ecosystem still struggling to attract investment

Italy leads the European Union in agricultural added value, yet it failed to rank among Europe's top ten countries for agrifoodtech startup investment in 2025. Agrifood next 60, a new annual report developed by *beeco in collaboration with ESCP and InnovUp, explores this gap by identifying 60 startups developing technologies across the Italian agrifood value chain.

The first edition was presented on 8 October 2026 at ESCP Turin Campus, during an official side event of Wave by Vento.

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60 startups, six areas of innovation

The report profiles startups from 14 Italian regions, selected by a multidisciplinary panel of experts using ten assessment criteria. Rather than ranking companies, it examines their distinctive technologies, business models and growth potential.

The findings reveal an ecosystem with considerable technological expertise but limited access to capital:

• 53% of the selected startups have filed or been granted at least one patent.
• 70% have technologies already deployed in the field or on the market.
• €82 million has been raised collectively through equity and non-equity funding.
• €400,000 is the median amount raised among startups that have secured funding.

The report covers six areas: Deep Tech, Biological Systems, Industrial, Data, AI & Digital Infrastructure, Circular & Climate, and Food & Ingredients.

Discussing the future of Italian agrifoodtech

During the launch event, Marco D’Angelo, CEO of beeco, presented the project and its ambition to make Italian agrifood innovation more visible to investors, businesses and institutions.

A roundtable discussion featuring Andrea Galassi (Maia Ventures), Marco Gaiani (Linfa, Riello Investimenti SGR), Giovanni Ferri (ToSeed) and Wilma Tesio (LaGemma Venture) addressed the investment gap in Italian agrifoodtech and the opportunities offered by the country's established agricultural and food industry.

Through its collaboration on the report, ESCP contributes its perspective on the relationship between technological innovation, business development and the future of the food industry.

“The future of food is being built today through the convergence of technology, science, entrepreneurship and new approaches to sustainability,” says Prof. Francesco Venuti, Academic Director of the MSc in International Food & Beverage Management and Associate Dean of the Executive MBA.

In his contribution to the report, Professor Venuti also examines the role of business education in preparing future leaders to assess emerging technologies and translate research into practical solutions.

Agrifood next 60 provides investors, businesses, researchers and institutions with an overview of the technologies and companies contributing to the future of Italy's agrifood sector.

Explore Agrifood next 60 and access the full 2026 report.