<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-12-06</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001653821</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CEN BIOTECH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENBF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001860030</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Purdy Rick Leigh</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300-3295 QUALITY WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WINDSOR, ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>N8T 3R9</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP of Deals and Acquisitions</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2809470</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">2,500,000 shares of common stock of the issuer were granted to Rick Purdy (the &quot;Reporting Person&quot;) on December 6, 2021, pursuant to a restricted stock agreement pursuant to the issuer's equity compensation plan and the issuance was approved by the issuer's full board of directors. 700,000 shares vested as of December 6, 2021, and the remainder vest in accordance with the agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Persons holds 309,470 shares of the Issuer's common stock in the name of Herc Holdings Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rick Purdy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
