Strategist. Connector. Insider.
FOR CEA COMPANIES THAT NEED AN INSIDER, NOT AN OBSERVER
"12 years inside the industry on both sides of the table. Hundreds of leaders interviewed on CropTalk. Conference programming at Indoor Ag-Con. The experience is deep. The network is real. The advice is grounded in both."
Kyle Barnett works with CEA suppliers and operators to cut through an industry full of noise, understand how growers actually make buying decisions, and build the strategies and systems that hold up in this market.
Let's start with a conversation. kyle@kbcea.com
Empowering CEA Businesses
I help companies navigate the CEA industry with clarity and confidence. My work is grounded in real-world experience and trusted relationships built over 12 years in the field.
From technology evaluation and operational strategy to market positioning and partnerships, I provide practical insights that turn complexity into opportunity.
Business Development & Growth Strategy
Acting as an extension of your team, providing practical guidance on scaling operations, forging partnerships, and driving sustainable growth tailored to CEA businesses’ unique challenges.
Technology & Supplier Integration
Expert guidance on selecting and implementing the ideal technologies and suppliers for your CEA operation
Strategic Market Insights
Custom market analysis and strategic positioning to help you identify opportunities and overcome obstacles in the evolving CEA landscape
Industry Connections
Access to a trusted network of CEA leaders, tech providers, and industry experts built through over a decade of relationships.
Trusted by Growers, Industry Leaders, and Innovators in CEA
About Kyle Barnett
Kyle Barnett has spent 12 years inside CEA, from early production roles to closing multimillion-dollar deals with suppliers and operators across North America. He leads panel development for Indoor Ag-Con and hosts CropTalk, now over 275 episodes since launching in 2019.
His consulting work sits at the intersection of deep industry knowledge and a network built at every level of this market. Whether a company is entering CEA, evaluating technology, or trying to build a strategy that actually holds up, Kyle brings the experience and the relationships to move it forward.
Backed by Industry Experience
12+ years of ground-up experience in CEA, combining hands-on work with leading companies across North America and Europe. Focused on delivering strategic insights that drive the industry forward.
Continental Organics
Managed aquaponics greenhouse operations, overseeing harvesting, transplanting, system maintenance, staff supervision, yield forecasting, and harvest logistics. Additionally, represented the company at regional farmers markets, helping build community engagement and strengthen brand presence within New York’s local food scene.
Heermance Farm
Managed operations and quality control at Heermance Farm, an organic farm with multiple greenhouses and over 20 field crops. Ensured high-quality produce for premium Manhattan clients, including Daniel Boulud and Jean Georges. Oversaw daily farm activities, maintaining standards that supported supply to top-tier restaurants and storefronts.
Bright Farms
Early team member at BrightFarms, starting as a Greenhouse Associate handling hydroponic production tasks such as harvesting, seeding, packaging, and system maintenance. Advanced to Key Account Manager, managing national retail accounts, forecasting, order fulfillment, and in-store marketing. Later rehired as a consultant to support ongoing business growth.
Hort Americas
Built out the Northeast region for Hort Americas, consistently doubling sales annually over a 3 year tenure. Supported commercial CEA growers with lighting, substrates, and system solutions across crop types. Secured a $3M lighting deal with the late Fifth Season vertical farm, and drove strong market growth through technical sales and strategy.
WestRock
Managed key accounts with leading floriculture operators including Metrolina Greenhouses, Altman’s, and Garden State Growers on packaging and label solutions. Supported market research and development of sustainable packaging alternatives tailored specifically for controlled environment agriculture.
CarbonBook
Led sales and provided strategic insights for CarbonBook, a startup focused on carbon footprint measurement in CEA. Supported efforts to promote sustainable practices while evaluating market fit. Ultimately determined the business model was not viable for long-term growth within the controlled environment agriculture industry.
Cultivatd
Provided early-stage consulting to Cultivatd, managing partner relationships and supporting foundational growth. Briefly served as VP of Partnerships, overseeing technology brokerage and collaboration efforts during startup phase. Focused on building initial connections and establishing operational processes in the evolving CEA technology market.
Philips
Managed key accounts at Signify (Philips Horticulture) serving greenhouse and vertical farm operations. Closed a $1M+ lighting deal within 60 days of onboarding. Supported large leafy greens producers, developed strategic partnerships, and contributed to planning high-impact industry events in the CEA sector.
Indoor Ag-Con
Since 2021, has led speaker programming and panel development for Indoor Ag-Con, the premier event for CEA. Responsible for curating keynote speakers, shaping educational content, and managing industry partnerships. Also supports sales strategy, including booth and sponsorship sales, helping expand the conference’s reach and impact across the sector.
IUNU
Served on IUNU’s advisory board from 2021 to 2023, providing strategic guidance on industry engagement and communication. Partnered with the company to develop and expand the CropTalk Podcast, using the platform to spotlight CEA innovations, strengthen brand awareness, and connect IUNU with key voices across the sector.
CropTalk
Host and producer of the CropTalk Podcast, launched in 2019 in partnership with IUNU. Now with over 250 episodes, the show features real, practical conversations with leaders across the CEA industry. Oversees all aspects including guest sourcing, interviews, editing, and marketing, with a focus on facts over fluff.
Profile
Consulted for Profile Products to support the launch of their CEA substrate line, with a focus on lettuces and tomatoes. Developed a competitive analysis of leading suppliers and identified market gaps. Led target and lead generation efforts, building the initial customer pipeline and go-to-market strategy.
Zayndu
Supporting Zayndu, a plasma seed treatment technology company, in expanding its North American market. Providing strategic guidance, marketing support, and key industry introductions. Successfully facilitated trial opportunities with leading CEA operators, driving partnership development and accelerating growth.
Microclimates
Advising Microclimates on North American market growth by shaping marketing messaging and developing distribution partnerships. Assisting with brand positioning, audience engagement, and connecting with key distributors to drive product adoption and expand presence within the controlled environment agriculture sector.
Proven in Practice
Testimonials from industry leaders, highlighting real collaboration and measurable outcomes
“Kyle was an incredible asset to our team. In a few months he identified channel partners, built lead lists with us, and made warm introductions that opened doors to new clients and partners. He also helped shape our case studies and strategy. Even after our agreement ended, he kept sending referrals. He knows CEA inside and out and is a true partner."
"For those of you who know Kyle, you know he's everywhere—always encouraging the industry to prosper. He has a huge network and can get to anyone within a few calls. With his problem-solving mindset, he'll probe until you give him something to run with. If you're looking for someone to introduce you to the industry, Kyle’s been in it a long time and knows everyone. From selecting all speakers and education topics for Indoor Ag-Con to working with growers from every corner of CEA, he’ll bring you up the learning curve fast."
“We started working with Kyle to support our scaleup in the US market and help us maximise the impact of our activities. Budgets are always tight so we had to make sure we achieved a strong return from our investment. We’re delighted with the return; Kyle’s guidance and market knowledge has accelerated our sales activity, helping us be more focussed and efficient to achieve our wider goals. We wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Kyle for companies looking to accelerate growth in this highly challenging market.”
“Kyle's industry knowledge runs deep, and it shows in the way he builds a conference program that’s not just current but thoughtfully tailored to the needs of our audience. Year after year, he brings together an exceptional roster of speakers and engaging sessions that elevate the entire event. But what truly sets him apart is how deeply he cares about the success of our show, our attendees, and the community we serve.”
KB CEA Resources
Specialized services and platforms created to support the Controlled Environment Agriculture industry.
CropTalk
Since 2019, The CropTalk podcast has interviewed over 250 guests. Hosted by Kyle Barnett interviewing leaders, stakeholders and growers in CEA
CEA Newsletter
Bi-weekly insights on CEA trends, greenhouses, jobs, and strategy built for industry leaders and growers.
Let's Connect
From solving today’s challenges to shaping tomorrow’s vision, let’s start a real conversation about your CEA goals.
kyle@kbcea.com
Kyle Barnett
CEA industry leader focused on driving growth and solving complex challenges. Open to connections, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact in controlled environment agriculture. Let’s partner to turn your vision into success.