In this episode of CropTalk, Kyle Barnett sits down with Adam Bergman, Managing Director of EcoTech Capital and a seasoned agtech investment expert, for a candid conversation about the hard truths and future opportunities in Controlled Environment Agriculture.

Adam unpacks the aftermath of the $8 billion investment surge that flooded into indoor farming from 2017 to 2023, analyzing why many startups failed to deliver on bold promises and what the industry needs to do differently moving forward. From the overfunding of vertical farms to the scalability challenges of biology-based systems, Adam shares why CEA must be treated as industrial agriculture—not tech—and how that mindset shift is key to future viability.

The two dive into the need for standardization, the role of project finance, the importance of experienced growers, and why profit—not hype—will determine the next chapter of CEA.