In this article, we will discuss the 7 Best Small Cap Agriculture Stocks to Buy Now.
The agricultural sector sustains life. It provides food for humans and animals while driving global economies. The sector also provides feedstock for bio-energy.
The agriculture, food, and related industries contributed more than $1.5 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In 2024, food purchases amounted to 12.9% of US household budgets. The expanding global population and rising household incomes are fueling food demand.
According to UN estimates, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, up from around 7.6 billion currently. This calls for increased food production to feed the expanding population. At the same time, increasing purchasing power due to rising household incomes is driving dietary upgrades to higher-value foods. There is also the transition from animal-based foods to plant-based alternatives amid the growing focus on health and environmental benefits.
All this puts the spotlight on agricultural companies. The White House announcement on May 17 that China has committed to buying at least $17 billion of US agricultural products annually has only brought more attention to agriculture stocks.
The options for investors range from companies growing food to those supplying farm inputs and those processing food. That said, let’s explore some of the best small-cap agriculture stocks to buy now.
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Our Methodology
To compile the list of the 7 best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now, we used the Finviz stock screener, sifted through various ETFs, and scanned financial media reports to identify companies in the agriculture industry. We looked for companies that grow food, provide farm inputs, advance farming innovations, or process food. Next, we selected companies with a market cap of $2 billion or lower. We ended up with dozens of stocks in our initial list and applied additional filters to pick out the best. We looked for stocks with a positive upside potential and that are favored by hedge funds. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q4 2025. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on their price upside potential (as of May 19).
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research shows we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
Best Small Cap Agriculture Stocks to Buy Now
7. Dole PLC (NYSE:DOLE)
Market Cap: $1.35 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
Upside Potential: 1.83%
Dole PLC (NYSE:DOLE) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. Dole PLC released its Q1 2026 results on May 11. The results showed revenue increased by roughly 12% YoY, or $242.8 million, supported by robust demand, higher fruit prices, and favorable forex impact. However, net income dipped to $37.7 million from $44.2 million a year ago. The management tied this decrease to higher expenses.
In light of this, Dole looks to invest in automation and other technologies to enhance distribution and logistics efficiency. The company plans to pump around $100 million into automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced warehouse solutions in Sweden.
The company is also making bolt-on acquisitions. It has currently identified acquisition opportunities in Italy, Sweden, Spain, and Ireland.
For 2026, Dole has identified several strategic priorities as it targets at least $400 million in adjusted EBITDA. These include continued focus on cost control and operating efficiency, strengthening market position in core business areas, and pipeline development with disciplined capital allocation.
Dole closed Q1 2026 with $273.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $256 million at the of the year-ago quarter.
Dole PLC is an agricultural multinational corporation. The company produces a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits and sells them in more than 80 countries. Dole’s portfolio includes more than 300 product lines.
6. Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings Inc (NYSE:DNA)
Market Cap: $456.2 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
Upside Potential: 10.25%
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings Inc (NYSE:DNA) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. Ginkgo Bioworks is developing an autonomous lab that it calls Nebula. Biotech companies can use this lab to develop biological solutions for farms as alternatives to traditional chemicals and fertilizers. With Nebula, Ginkgo Bioworks offers robot-powered laboratories that can run nonstop throughout the day and week.
On May 7, Ginkgo Bioworks outlined its growth plan for Nebula and highlighted its market opportunity. The company said that Nebula has already become the world’s largest autonomous lab, and it aims to double its size in 2026.
According to Ginkgo Bioworks, Nebula helps laboratory operators save on space and operating costs. Besides, it allows for around-the-clock operations to increase productivity. In light of this, Ginkgo Bioworks CEO Jason Kelly said they see a large market opportunity ahead, considering that the lab space “remains overwhelmingly manual today.” According to the executive, the Nebula platform is getting better as they continue to use it to run their other offerings, such as Cloud Lab and Datapoint.
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings Inc operates as a research and development partner of biotech and agricultural companies. It provides tools and services that support the development of biological solutions as alternatives to traditional synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
5. Adecoagro SA (NYSE:AGRO)
Market Cap: $1.97 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
Upside Potential: 11.17%
Adecoagro SA (NYSE:AGRO) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. The stock has gained roughly 67% year-to-date and is still expected to rise.
In its Q1 2026 report, released on May 11, Adecoagro SA said gross revenue increased 21.6% YoY to $393.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA soared 138.7% to $85.8 million.
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The quarter showed that the food and agriculture segment contributed 41% of revenue, but only 1% of adjusted EBITDA. The sugar, ethanol, and energy segment contributed 31% of revenue and 43% of adjusted EBITDA. The fertilizers segment contributed 28% of revenue and 56% of adjusted EBITDA.
The management said the sugar, ethanol, and energy segment benefited from strong ethanol and energy prices. The fertilizer segment benefited from strong urea sales and lower production costs. The food and agriculture segment was hurt by lower product prices and higher costs. Looking ahead, Adecoagro anticipates margin improvement in the food segment throughout the year as it harvests the new crop and sells it.
The Q1 results showed how Adecoagro’s business has become more diversified, allowing the company to reduce exposure to any single market. The ethanol business accounted for 24% of the company’s gross revenue, followed by the urea business at 23%, the dairy business 17%, and the rice business at 14%. The remainder came from various other products.
Adecoagro SA produces food, fertilizer, sugar, and renewable energy in a circular system. It owns more than 210,000 hectares of farmland across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, producing more than 3.1 million tons of agricultural products. It produces over 1 million MWh of renewable electricity.
4. Alico Inc (NASDAQ:ALCO)
Market Cap: $303.4 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 8
Upside Potential: 12.02%
Alico Inc (NASDAQ:ALCO) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. The stock has risen almost 30% over the past six months, and analysts see more upside potential.
Alico Inc is winding down its citrus production business, which has been its main operation. In the March quarter results reported on May 11, revenue from the citrus business declined 78% to $3.8 million. The business made a loss of $5.1 million, though that was sharply down from a loss of $150.3 million in the same period last year.
While the citrus business continues to shrink, the land management business continues to expand. Alico said revenue from its land management and other operations grew 113.1% YoY to $1.5 million. This business segment includes leasing land for grazing, hunting, farming, and mining activities. The company has leased land to third-party citrus growers, sugarcane producers, and cattle operators.
Alico’s management says that the land management business has diversified the company’s revenue streams and reduced operational complexity. The company’s overall revenue of $5.3 million exceeded analysts’ expectations of $900,000. EPS of $1.49 surpassed the anticipated $1.21.
Alico Inc is engaged in agribusiness and land management operations. Alico has been a leading citrus producer, but it is pivoting to other businesses that it considers more promising, including leasing its vast land to other agricultural operators.
3. FMC Corp (NYSE:FMC)
Market Cap: $1.61 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42
Upside Potential: 17.08%
FMC Corp (NYSE:FMC) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. On May 4, BMO reiterated its Market Perform rating on FMC Corp stock with a price target of $15 on the shares. The firm based its decision on FMC Corp’s 2026 guidance and asset sale plans.
The company reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for revenue in the range of $3.60 billion to $3.80 billion. BMO noted that the guidance indicates that FMC Corp expects the second half of the year to be stronger than the first half.
While reporting Q1 2026 results on April 29, FMC Corp said that it was making progress on its operational priorities for 2026. These priorities include strengthening the balance sheet by reducing debt by around $1 billion. The company also aims to strengthen its core portfolio to make it more competitive.
As part of these efforts, FMC Corp is undertaking a strategic review of its business, and multiple options are on the table. According to BMO, FMC Corp appears close to announcing asset sales and AI licensing as part of the deleveraging measures.
Notably, BMO’s price target on FMC Corp stock implies roughly 7.5 times 2026 estimated EV/EBITDA.
FMC Corp is a global agricultural sciences company focused on crop protection. It provides insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other products intended to increase farm productivity and resilience.
2. Oatly Group AB (NASDAQ:OTLY)
Market Cap: $308.5 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 4
Upside Potential: 31.31%
Oatly Group AB (NASDAQ:OTLY) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. On April 29, Oatly released its Q1 2026 results and outlined the main focus areas for 2026.
The results showed revenue increased 15% to $228.3 million. The company said the topline growth was supported by strong performances in Europe and North America, though the business struggled in China. Oatly posted adjusted EBITDA of $5 million, compared with a loss of $3.7 million a year ago.
Looking ahead, Oatly plans to focus on three main areas in 2026 as it pursues more growth and improved profitability. The first is doubling down on the existing playbook that the management says has proved successful. Oatly CEO Jean-Christophe Flatin commented that the Q1 results give them confidence that they have the right strategy in place.
The second area of focus is completing the strategic review of the China business. Greater China sales accounted for 13% of Oatly’s revenue in Q1, but the company struggled with pricing pressures in this market. The third area of focus is minimizing the impact of the Middle East conflict.
Oatly anticipates revenue growth between 3% and 5% in 2026. It sees full-year adjusted EBITDA coming in the range of $25 million to $35 million.
Oatly Group AB is a Swedish food company founded in 1994. The company manufactures plant-based alternatives to dairy products from oats. Its product range includes oat-based milk, yogurt, and cooking cream.
1. Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL)
Market Cap: $380.8 Million
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36
Upside Potential: 73.16%
Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL) is one of the best small cap agriculture stocks to buy now. The Street expects Vital Farms shares to soar around 73% over the next 12 months.
Vital Farms, Inc. reported its Q1 2026 results on May 7, and the management said the results fell short of expectations as the company faced pricing pressures in its eggs business. Revenue rose 15.4% to $187.2 million on higher volume sales as product demand accelerated. The company posted a net loss of $1.5 million, compared with a net income of $16.9 million in the same period a year ago.
Looking ahead, Vital Farms has outlined initiatives intended to improve performance. These include streamlining the cost structure and reducing capital expenditures for 2026. The management said these steps would better align the company’s operating model with the current environment.
In addition to tightening cost controls, Vital Farms has decided to wind down its butter business. Vital Farms said exiting the butter business would allow it to sharpen its focus on the egg business, where it has the greatest competitive advantages and sees the strongest path to long-term value creation.
Texas-based Vital Farms, Inc. sells eggs and other farm products. It partners with family farms that give hens outdoor access to roam and forage. Vital Farms’ products include shell eggs, hard-boiled eggs, liquid whole eggs, and butter.
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