Frankfurt – November 05, 2026 -- 72% of decision-makers in Germany's agricultural and food sector say their company performed as expected or better in 2026, yet 58% see the opposite for the industry as a whole, according to a new study from RSM Ebner Stolz and the Agrar- und Ernährungsforum Nord-West (AEF).
The "Kursbestimmung Agrar & Ernährung 2026" was published on November 5, 2026, timed to the EuroTier trade fair. A year earlier, four in ten companies had described their situation as critical in the predecessor study, the Zukunftskompass. The feared slump did not materialize, but the structural problems remain.
Financing is available, but only 24% want to invest more
82% of respondents rate their access to financing as good or sufficient. Only 24% plan to increase investment regardless.
79% report rising regulatory pressure while 1% feel relief
Relief measures have been adopted but are not reaching companies in practice. Just 1% of respondents report a reduced regulatory burden.
Asian suppliers push cheaper stable technology and farm machinery into Europe
In stable technology and agricultural machinery, Asian providers are catching up quickly and entering the European market with significantly cheaper products. Only 5% of German companies name internationalization as a priority, which leaves the sector's own strategy out of step with an increasingly international competitive field.
Study combines 90 executive responses with 15 expert interviews
The study draws on a survey of more than 90 decision-makers, 15 expert interviews and a round table with senior figures along the value chain.