In this episode of CropTalk, Kyle Barnett sits down with Anton Bellot, Director of Agribusiness and Agri-Food at ATB Financial, to break down the realities of CEA investment. With nearly a decade in agricultural finance, Anton shares insights on the shifting investment climate, lessons from the 2021 funding surge, and why some startups struggled while others thrived.

They discuss the key financial challenges facing CEA today, the differences between greenhouses and vertical farms from a lender’s perspective, and what investors should realistically expect in terms of returns. Anton also shares his outlook on the future of CEA financing and what it will take for the industry to secure sustainable growth in an increasingly cautious financial market.