CropTalk Kyle Barnett

In this episode of #KyleTalksAgtech, I have the pleasure of chatting with Kris Nightengale, the VP of Sales at AdeptAg. We delve into the captivating story behind the company's origins, where a group of seasoned players in the horticulture field came together. Kris sheds light on the hidden complexities of the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) industry, drawing a parallel to an iceberg with unexplored depths. We also gain his valuable insights and predictions regarding the future path of the industry.

Tyler Baras is the Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder of Area 2 Farms, a CSA vertical farm serving the greater D.C metro area. On this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech. Tyler sheds light on the secrets behind his farm's exceptional efficiency, shares his insights on recent industry closures within the vertical farming realm, and offers his predictions for the future landscape of Controlled Environment Agriculture.
 

Andrew Brooks is the Business Development Manager for the Southeastern USA at Priva. A South Carolina native, Andrew is passionate about CEA and developing the southeast, one state at a time. In this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech Andrew and I discuss the separating factor that leads some states to be leading the CEA charge while others are slow to adopt, the collective challenges we face within horticulture and stigmas associated with the industry within conventional farmers, and how we can collectively do better by working together. 
 

Stephanie Cruz is the R&D Lead Crop Specialist at 80 Acres. From her initial aspirations of managing an independent organic farm to her newfound passion for data and technology, Stephanie is at the forefront of driving progress in maximizing value through her endeavors in experimenting with a diverse array of Cultivars. In this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech Stephanie and I discuss the value of cultivar selection and trialing how her journey through horticulture exemplifies the continuous cycle of learning and personal growth the CEA industry provides.

Craig Carlson is the CEO of Carlson Produce Consulting, where he is supporting the growth of high-performance products and services within the fresh produce supply chain. Craig has had extensive experience working with giants such as Walmart and US Foods, now with a consultative focus on large scale CEA endeavors. In this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech Craig and I discuss the importance of mastering distribution in order for any CEA producer to win,  the importance of having a unified message that transcends all growers and resonates with consumers, along with what the future landscape of CEA may look like.

Matt Lingard is the Senior Vice President of Agriculture and Science at BrightFarms. On this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech I speak with Matt about some of the key challenges CEA leafy green growers are experiencing, his strategies for overcoming obstacles, and how we are in the business of people as much as we are in the business of plants.