The Most Important Takeaway from Indoor AgCon 2025

After three years away from Indoor Ag-Con —usually spending this time of year in the GCC working on Agritecture projects—it was incredible to return, reconnect with so many familiar faces, and get a renewed zeitgeist check on North America’s indoor agriculture market. The energy at the event was different this year: less about hype, more about momentum. The industry has consolidated, learned from past mistakes, and is now firmly focused on scale and optimization.

And if there was one undeniable takeaway from the event, it’s this: CEA-grown leafy greens are in high demand and scaling rapidly—and that’s a win for everyone in the industry.

A Market Ready for Expansion

Several industry leaders echoed this sentiment across key discussions:

• Pierre Marc de Champlain (Sobeys, at the CEA Alliance annual meeting) noted that "CEA-grown salads are trending upwards and have tripled their share in recent years." While still from a small baseline, this growth signals strong consumer and retailer demand—clear signs the industry is ready for its next phase.
• Abby Craig Prior (Chief Commercial Officer, BrightFarms ) emphasized that "indoor-grown greens is the only category growing and will do $500 million this year—over 20% of the Northeast market." This transformation has happened in just a decade, an impressive pace in the agricultural sector.
• Tisha Livingston (CEO, Infinite Acres ) highlighted how demand is so strong that acquiring Kalera was a necessary step to increase supply, reinforcing that growth in the sector is both real and needed.

The takeaway? The demand for fresh, local, CEA-grown greens is no longer a question—it’s a fact. The challenge now is ensuring the industry can scale sustainably and profitably.

Little Leaf Farms: Scaling the Future of CEA

One company leading the charge is Little Leaf Farms , the largest producer of CEA-grown packaged lettuce in North America. While many at Indoor AgCon were discussing how to reach scale, Little Leaf is already there—operating multiple 10-acre greenhouses, including its newest site in McAdoo, Pennsylvania. They are dominating when it comes to vision of disrupting leafy greens production in the United States which mostly comes from field farms in California and Arizona and their products already are available to 50% of US households.

During my recent visit to their newest facility, I saw firsthand how Little Leaf Farms is defining what real sustainability and efficiency look like at scale:

• Pesticide-free production through advanced biological controls
• Renewable energy integration, with solar power and energy-efficient LED lighting
• Rainwater collection & closed-loop irrigation, using 90% less water than traditional field farming
• Local-first distribution, ensuring fresher greens with a lower carbon footprint

With so many players in CEA struggling with profitability, I asked Little Leaf Farms’ Chief Development Officer, Matthew Meisel , directly: Are you profitable?

His answer—and the company’s strategy for long-term success—offers critical insights for everyone in the industry. Watch my full interview with Matthew here:

?? Watch the Interview: How Little Leaf Farms is Leading CEA’s Next Chapter

A Turning Point for CEA

The optimism at Indoor AgCon was unmistakable. Yes, the industry has gone through its “trough of disillusionment,” but as I argued in my 2021 article (Vertical Farming Is Headed for the Trough of Disillusionment—Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing), this phase was necessary. Now, we are moving up the slope of enlightenment—where smart, resilient companies are figuring out how to make CEA work at scale.

For entrepreneurs, investors, and operators, the message is clear: CEA-grown greens are thriving, the demand is strong, and those who can meet it efficiently will win. This isn’t just good for one company—it’s good for the entire industry.

Indoor AgCon 2025 confirmed that the future of CEA is bright. The question now is: Who’s ready to rise to the challenge?

Let me know your thoughts after watching the interview—I’d love to hear from you!