The report, Nebraska and the Midwest Agtech Ecosystem: Benchmarking Innovation Investment and Translation Gaps, analysed $736m of agtech venture capital investment across eight Midwest states between 2021 and 2025. The state raised $76m in agtech funding over the period, compared with an expected $121.1m, leaving what the authors describe as a $45.1m “innovation translation gap”. Why some states outperform agricultural benchmarksThe study argues that Nebraska’s shortfall is not due to a lack of agricultural assets. Building the infrastructure for agtech growthBy contrast, states such as Missouri and North Dakota significantly outperformed their agricultural benchmarks. “Successful agtech ecosystems are built, not inherited,” the study suggests.