The Agrifood Economy Index Q2 2025 (June) by Purdue DIAL Ventures documents a cautious recovery from historic lows, with the overall industry index rising 10 points to 92—the strongest quarterly gain to date—yet remaining 13 points below June 2024 levels and 8 points below neutral. This ninth quarterly survey of over 220 industry executives reveals a sector with closely aligned current (92) and future (91) sentiment, signaling sustained strategic hesitation as investment confidence remains flat at 92-93 for three consecutive quarters. The report captures divergent segment performance: Agricultural Production reached its highest-ever sentiment level (114), while Food Manufacturing and Support Services both plummeted to series lows of 75, reflecting persistent downstream pressures. Including a thematic research on "Food as Health," the survey finds that 72% of industry leaders demonstrate familiarity with health-driven food trends, yet only 13% treat it as a core strategic priority, with data infrastructure (57%), unclear consumer demand (46%), and regulatory ambiguity (46%) emerging as key considerations—revealing an industry navigating recovery unevenly while grappling with transformative health-oriented market shifts.

The Agrifood Economy Index Q1 2025 (March) by Purdue DIAL Ventures captures a downturn in industry sentiment, with the overall index plummeting to 82—the lowest recorded since the index's inception. This eighth quarterly survey of 220 industry executives reveals a sector under mounting pressure, as both current conditions and future expectations converged at historic lows, driven by inflation, elevated interest rates, labor constraints, and policy uncertainty. The report documents sharp declines across key segments, with Agricultural Product Processing and Handling experiencing a dramatic 29-point drop and Support Services posting its steepest decline after months of stability. Including a thematic research on macroeconomic impacts, the survey finds that 45% of companies are delaying major investments due to market volatility, 49% face moderate inflationary cost increases, and increased input costs from tariffs rank as the top concern, painting a picture of an industry navigating extraordinary headwinds while adopting increasingly cautious strategic postures.

The Agrifood Economy Index December 2024 Survey Results by Purdue DIAL Ventures reveals a significant divide across the agrifood value chain, with sentiment recovering to 94 from August's low of 86. This seventh quarterly survey of 225 industry executives highlights contrasting views: upstream segments, including input manufacturers and distributors, face persistent pessimism and long-term concerns, while downstream sectors—particularly agricultural product processing and handling, which achieved its highest-ever sentiment score of 110—demonstrate robust optimism. The report also features a thematic research on regenerative agriculture, finding that 82% of industry professionals are familiar with the concept and 70% support its adoption, though maintaining farmer profitability remains the top priority for successful implementation across U.S. farms.

The Agrifood Economy Index Baseline Report by Purdue DIAL Ventures marks the culmination of a year-long effort to establish a foundational benchmark for tracking economic sentiment across the agrifood industry. Based on six bi-monthly surveys conducted from October 2023 to August 2024, this report provides a comprehensive analysis of industry sentiment trends and introduces a baseline to adjust future survey results. By eliminating systematic biases, the baseline enables more accurate sentiment tracking, offering valuable insights for strategic decision-making across the agrifood value chain.

The August 2024 Agrifood Economy Index, the sixth and final installment in this year-long baseline series by Purdue DIAL Ventures, highlights a significant decline in industry sentiment, marking the lowest near-term, future, and overall indices observed to date. With responses from 285 executives, this report reflects widespread challenges but notes resilience in the agricultural product processing and support services segments. This installment establishes a critical baseline for tracking economic sentiment trends in the agrifood sector, providing valuable insights to inform strategic decision-making amidst evolving market conditions.

The June 2024 Agrifood Economy Index, the fifth installment in Purdue DIAL Ventures' series, continues to capture evolving sentiment across the agrifood value chain. With responses from 262 executives, this report highlights sustained long-term optimism but reflects mixed short-term sentiment across segments. Notable trends include increased positivity in downstream segments like food processing, while upstream sectors remain more cautious. This survey reinforces the importance of tailored strategies and the value of tracking sentiment over time to guide decision-making in a dynamic agrifood landscape.

The April 2024 Agrifood Economy Index, the fourth installment in this series by Purdue DIAL Ventures, provides fresh insights into the agrifood industry's sentiment. With responses from 306 executives across six value chain segments, this report highlights continued optimism about long-term prospects despite ongoing short-term challenges. Comparisons with prior surveys reveal mixed sentiment changes across segments, emphasizing the evolving dynamics within the industry. This installment marks a critical step in building a comprehensive understanding of the agrifood sector’s economic outlook through ongoing bi-monthly surveys.

The February 2024 Agrifood Economy Index, the third in this survey series by Purdue DIAL Ventures, offers updated insights into the agrifood industry's sentiment. With responses from 315 executives across six value chain segments, this installment reflects a slight decline in overall sentiment compared to previous surveys but highlights optimism about the industry's long-term outlook. This survey reinforces the importance of tracking evolving perspectives to provide industry professionals with actionable insights for navigating an ever-changing economic landscape.

The December 2023 Agrifood Economy Index, the second installment of this ongoing survey series by Purdue DIAL Ventures, continues to assess economic sentiment across the agrifood value chain. With responses from key industry executives, this report builds on the inaugural survey, providing fresh insights into both short-term and long-term outlooks. By capturing evolving perspectives through bi-monthly surveys, the Index aims to foster informed decision-making and strengthen the industry's resilience.

The October 2023 Agrifood Economy Index, developed by Purdue DIAL Ventures, provides a comprehensive analysis of the agrifood industry's economic sentiment. This inaugural survey, with 115 responses from executives across six value chain segments, highlights optimism about the industry's long-term outlook despite short-term challenges. The Index aims to guide strategic decision-making through bi-monthly surveys, capturing diverse perspectives and trends over time to foster a more resilient and thriving agrifood sector.