Foodtech founders, scientists and investors gathered on January 12, 2026, at the Future of Food Innovation Day hosted by Tufts University in Boston, where they openly acknowledged that the sector is undergoing one of its most challenging periods in recent years. According to reporting by AgFunderNews, shrinking access to private capital is forcing startups in alternative proteins, biomanufacturing and cellular agriculture to rethink business models, scaling strategies and market positioning.