Key Takeaways
- GoodLeaf Farms opens a new $52 million vertical farming facility in Calgary, set to create over 90 jobs.
- The facility will produce over two million pounds of fresh greens annually, enhancing food security in the region.
- This development is a part of Calgary’s broader strategy to become a hub for agricultural technology and innovation.
Expansion Enhances Calgary’s Agribusiness Landscape
GoodLeaf Farms, one of Canada’s largest vertical farming companies, recently inaugurated a $52 million facility in Calgary. Projected to generate over 90 jobs, the farm utilizes innovative technology to produce more than two million pounds of fresh greens each year, significantly boosting the local food supply.
Local Economic Impact
Brad Parry, President and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, praised the expansion: “GoodLeaf Farms’ expansion to Calgary is a prime example of what’s possible in our city. An innovative company leveraging technologies to enhance food security is another testament to the momentum happening within Calgary’s agribusiness sector and demonstrates that our city is the place where global challenges can be solved.”
The farm operates using a hydroponic system to grow micro and baby greens, aligning with Calgary’s economic strategy to advance innovation. This method not only supports local food supply but also utilizes research to directly benefit the community.
Strategic Location Benefits
Calgary’s position as Western Canada’s inland port enhances its appeal for agricultural operations, offering excellent connectivity by air, road, and rail. This strategic advantage aids in distributing agri-food products globally. Jeff McKinnon, GoodLeaf’s senior vice president of network development, noted, “Calgary has the strongest agtech ecosystem in Canada, and people don’t recognize it as much as they should.” The city’s access to labor, distribution networks, and expansion support were pivotal in choosing it for GoodLeaf’s expansion.
Educational and Provincial Support
Local post-secondary institutions are actively collaborating with industry partners like GoodLeaf to address and fill talent gaps as the sector evolves and embraces digital transformation. The Calgary-Olds Smart Agri-Food Corridor, unique in the world, offers hands-on research opportunities, further enhancing Calgary’s agtech capabilities.
Additionally, the vertical farm was the first to secure funding through the Government of Alberta’s Investment and Growth Fund in November 2021, underlining provincial support for such innovative ventures.
Future Outlook
The agtech sector in Calgary is poised for significant growth, with projections suggesting it could add $229 million to Alberta’s GDP by 2030. GoodLeaf Farms is at the forefront, leading the charge in digital agriculture monitoring and sustainable food production. This initiative is part of a broader move towards a net-zero future, with the agtech sector contributing to the global energy transition, valued at $61 billion for the province.
GoodLeaf Farms Latest News
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Secures $78M For Expansion of Indoor Vertical Farms (2023/05/19)
GoodLeaf Farms, Canada’s leading vertical farming company, has acquired $78 million in syndicated debt financing from CIBC and Farm Credit Canada. This is in addition to the $150 million capital financing round. They plan to use this investment to expand their indoor farms across the nation, with new facilities planned for Calgary and Montreal. The company’s advanced hydroponic systems and energy-efficient LED lighting enable year-round cultivation of microgreens and baby greens, independent of seasonal or climatic challenges.
GoodLeaf Integrates Microsoft Solutions (2023/02/16)
GoodLeaf Farms, Canada’s leading commercial vertical farm, has been at the forefront of this movement, using cutting-edge technology and innovative growing methods to provide fresh, locally grown produce year-round. One of the critical advantages of vertical farming is that crops are shielded from extreme weather conditions, making them less vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, storms, and droughts. In addition, vertical farms do not require the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, which can make the products healthier and safer for consumption.
Actemium Canada Partners With GoodLeaf For Two New Sites (2023/02/14)
Actemium, with its extensive experience in engineering design and project management, is partnering with GoodLeaf Community Farms in Guelph, ON, Calgary, AB, and Longueuil, QC to help them achieve peak efficiency and alignment between their vertical farming sites. Actemium will manage the overall integrated construction and startup schedules using its own in-house project management software METRIX. GoodLeaf Community Farms will benefit from Actemium’s services and solutions, which include master schedule integration, project management services, Metrix software, equipment installs, and asset care program creation.
Nets a $150M Capital Round From McCain Foods & Power Sustainable Lios (2022/12/08)
A successful funding round for GoodLeaf Farms has been completed. McCain Foods has committed more funds to the $150 million capital round, and Power Sustainable Lios has entered into a new collaboration. In addition to its current 50,000-square-foot farm in Guelph, Ontario, GoodLeaf will construct other farms in Calgary and the Montreal region to expand throughout the country. The newest technology in controlled-environment agriculture will be used on GoodLeaf’s new farms in Calgary and Montreal. Late Q2 and early Q3 of 2023 will see the start of microgreens and baby greens production at both sites. Each will have the capacity to generate about two million pounds of locally grown, fresh leafy greens annually. They can fast double that capacity and are extensible as well. Products from GoodLeaf are sold in the majority of well-known stores in Ontario.
GoodLeaf Farms To Inaugurate A Vertical Farm in Quebec (2022/11/30)
GoodLeaf Farms, a leading vertical farming company, plans to open a climate-controlled indoor farm in Longueuil by mid-2023. The 100,000-square-foot vertical farm will supply 1.9 million pounds of microgreens and baby greens to grocery retailers and the hospitality industry in Quebec. GoodLeaf Farms aims to create a nationwide network of vertical farms to provide Canadians with year-round access to fresh, sustainably produced leafy greens. The hydroponic system consumes 95% less water than an open-field farm and reduces carbon emissions. Montréal International sees vertical farming technology as an opportunity to create a sustainable, green economy. GoodLeaf’s farms provide a reliable source of green food all year round, reducing the need for imported food.
Goodleaf Farms Partners With Well Juicery (2022/06/03)
Canadian juice brand Well has partnered with indoor farming industry leaders GoodLeaf Farms to provide fresher juices to Canadians. GoodLeaf’s super spinach will be delivered from Guelph to Well’s processing facility in Toronto, resulting in a fresher end product with higher nutritional values. Well ‘Greens’ cold-pressed juice is chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, and GoodLeaf’s Ontario Baby Spinach will boost the Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C making this healthy option even more nutritionally dense.
Growing Healthy & Tasty Food Year-Round | Q&A With GoodLeaf Farms (2022/05/19)
GoodLeaf Farms is Canada’s largest commercial vertical farm and the only one with the scale to supply major grocery chains with safe, fresh, and healthy greens. They grow microgreens and baby greens with sustainable practices and have a favorable carbon footprint. GoodLeaf announced an aggressive growth plan to build a national network of vertical farms, and their Calgary farm is under construction. They are also working on R&D projects with the University of Guelph to enhance yields, plant science, and new product development. GoodLeaf is constantly innovating and pursuing growth into the restaurant and hospitality sector.
GoodLeaf Partners With Toronto AI Firm (2022/05/12)
GoodLeaf Farms has partnered with Adastra to develop an AI “smart platform” that will optimize crop growth conditions at its farms in Bible Hill and Guelph, Ontario. The platform will capture measurement and image-based data to enhance crop yields and quality and assist “upstream partners” in developing optimized substrates and seeds. GoodLeaf is a subsidiary of Truleaf and specializes in growing fresh, eco-friendly greens, herbs, and vegetables indoors using vertical indoor hydroponic growing systems. The company will also receive $1 million in funding from Scale AI, a Montreal-based AI supercluster.
