A growbed for agrifood startups: How Spain attracts foodtech & agritech founders

Year after year, Spain finds itself among the top investors in foodtech. It should come as no surprise, given that Spain is the fourth agrifood power in Europe and tenth in the world, with agrifood amounting to almost 20% of the country's total exports. Spain ranks second in the European Union in terms of arable land area, and its agricultural production is extensive and diverse.

Since 2014, Spain’s foodtech sector has maintained a staggering 20% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), demonstrating incredible resilience in the face of global economic and geopolitical turbulence, as it relates to the Covid-19 pandemic, rising production costs, and the war in Ukraine.

The threat of climate change also looms large, as the country is likely to be among the most impacted. It's already dealing with recurrent adverse weather conditions and droughts, which are affecting crop production.

Despite these challenges, Spain is setting new export records.

And to continue staying ahead of these challenges, the country is actively developing a world-leading agrifood innovation ecosystem.

In recent years, the country has overseen a concerted effort to develop a solid business ecosystem across its entire agrifood value chain, with a strong emphasis on innovation and connecting industry players both domestically and internationally.

A support network spanning the entire value chain

Spain's 400+ agrifood startups are in an enviable position. They're at the heart of an extensive and growing cluster of industry stakeholders geared toward supporting every stage of growth – incubation, research, development, and scaling. This includes everything from 20+ technological parks and centers to 50+ specialized universities and well over €1B allocated for public investment in the form of accelerator programs, collaboration initiatives, and other support mechanisms.

These opportunities are also attracting international founders who recognize Spain's unique position in the agrifood sector. The country is actively welcoming global talent, offering them a chance to tap into its established agricultural expertise and extensive market connections. ICEX-Invest in Spain leads this international outreach, serving as a gateway for foreign founders entering the Spanish ecosystem.

ICEX-Invest in Spain is a publicly owned business-oriented entity of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business that supports foreign founders in their ventures within the Spanish tech ecosystem, offering strategies and assistance for a successful startup.

One of its flagship initiatives is the Rising Up in Spain program that seeks to attract international founders and plug them into its prolific ecosystem by assisting with legalities, connecting them with local partners, offering market guidance and visibility, and more. The program is bilingual, ensuring accessibility for both Spanish and English speakers.

Rising Up in Spain: Grow and help grow

Now in its 7th edition, Rising Up in Spain is welcoming interested applicants until year's end.

The program has already helped numerous agrifood startups from all over the world find their footing and rise up, including:

• Nu Terra Labs – A Canadian startup working on two solutions critical for the agrifood industry. The first is an agritech control system for helping farmers boost crop yield and efficiency through analyzing various vital environmental conditions and leveraging machine learning to provide farmers with actionable data and self-optimize various. The second is an AI-powered wildfire detection solution called Firesafe AI that addresses the critical need for real-time, reliable wildfire detection, risk assessment, and proactive management.
• Agrusdata – A Brazilian agritech startup enabling data-driven agriculture by implementing IoT infrastructure and systems, making a farm’s field operations more targeted and efficient. The company is continuously collecting data and leveraging machine learning to transform the wealth of knowledge into actionable insights.
• Bluana Foods – A foodtech startup from Romania, is on a mission to alleviate the pressure on overfishing by creating plant-based alternatives for tuna and salmon. Founded in 2022, Bluana leverages its patented High Moisture, High Nutrient Injection (HMHNI) technology to produce sashimi-grade plant-based fish with unparalleled taste, texture, and a 12-month shelf life. Rich in protein and omega-3, their products offer eco-conscious consumers a nutritious and ethical choice. Bluana is expanding globally and actively pursuing partnerships to fuel further growth.

As evidenced by the diversity of the alumni, Spain's agrifood industry spans farm to table and extends to every corner of the world, offering ample room for innovation across its extensive supply chain and many markets.

Become a key part of tomorrow’s agrifood value chain

Spain offers a unique opportunity for foodtech and agritech startups to become part of a burgeoning innovation ecosystem, while taking advantage of its well-established agrifood industry and talent pool.

ICEX's Rising Up in Spain program is your chance to get your foot in the door – apply today.