Ag Tech Talk Podcast: Bob Trogele on Trends, Timing, and Technology
28 July 2025 In this episode of Ag Tech Talk, AgriBusiness Global sat down with Bob Trogele, CEO of Verdelis Investments / ProAgInvest LLC and President of two investment entities, AMAG Farms LLLP and Trogele Energy and Consultancy LLC, to explore which ag technologies are gaining the most investor attention and why. From robotics and AI to digital tools and biorationals, Trogele discusses the innovations driving interest in the crop input space. He also shares insights on what’s fueling this momentum, including global competition, labor shortages, and the growing need for scalable, sustainable solutions on the farm.
Podcast Transcript:
* This is an edited and partial transcript of this podcast.
ABG: How has ag tech investment evolved over the past few years, particularly in relation to ag tech involved in regenerative ag practices? Are we seeing more momentum or has it plateaued?
Bob Trogele
Bob Trogele: Ag tech investment has seen both evolution and recent contraction. Currently, ag tech represents about 2.5% of all venture deals and only 1.64% of total venture capital dollars. For every one exit, there are roughly 14 investments, which shows how tough the landscape is.
In Q2 alone, 149 ag tech startups raised around $1.55 billion — but that’s a 16% drop from Q1 2025 and a 20% decline in the number of deals. There were 11 exits, primarily through acquisition, so while there’s still activity, we’re seeing more caution in the market.
There’s a clear shift toward smaller deals, bolt-on acquisitions, joint ventures, and collaborations between large and small players. Larger companies want to move away from low-margin, commodity-heavy models — especially in fertilizers and chemicals — and are seeking to diversify through technology.
That said, the pressure on startups has intensified. Investors now expect profitability sooner, which is a big ask in agriculture, where tech adoption takes time. There’s more demand for financial discipline, and VCs — especially strategic ones — are risk-averse. They prefer to invest once there’s evidence of profitability, strong working capital, and demonstrated on-farm adoption.
As for regenerative ag, the interest is growing, but economics drive farmer behavior. Profit and yield remain the top priorities, followed by cost savings. If a regenerative solution delivers those benefits, farmers will adopt.
A good example is when we implemented connectivity technology at Terranova Farms in California. That project saved them $65,000 annually and reduced water use by 30% — clearly hitting all three marks: yield, cost efficiency, and sustainability.
In summary, investment hasn’t plateaued entirely — there’s still capital available — but it’s more selective, and the bar for success is higher. Momentum exists, but it’s tempered by caution.
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