Lufa Farms, Canada, inaugurated its third urban greenhouse atop an existing building in Anjou, Quebec, Canada. Built to meet a growing need for its products, the 63,000-square-foot facility is made possible thanks in part to a $3 million investment by Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Canada.

"Backing innovative companies like Lufa Farms is really what the Fonds' strategic planning is all about. And, the reason we can make these types of investments is because of the Trudeau government's reinstatement of the labor fund federal tax credit in 2016,” says Gaétan Morin, president and CEO of Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

"Companies in the agri-food can and must innovate to ensure their growth. A novel model from the start, Lufa continues to innovate by adopting new practices and technologies for their third greenhouse in Anjou to grow even more fresh products," adds Janie Béïque, senior vice president, natural resources, industry, entertainment and consumer goods, Fonds de solidarité FTQ.

"Being able to finance this project in Quebec has been an important milestone for us. It's testimony that commercial-scale urban farming is truly economically viable, and that a sustainable economy is possible. It also represents an important sustainability milestone for a city. Urban growing centers like Lufa, employing local workers in concert with local farmers that provide fresh, responsible and locally-produced goods to thousands of local residents every day, that's a model for every city in the world," says Mohamed Hage, president and founder of Lufa Farms.

This is the company's third greenhouse in Anjou. More than 40 fresh products are grown and distributed in 10,000 baskets weekly in Québec. Lufa Farms uses responsible agricultural methods, including:

• Water conservation—recirculation of irrigation water and rainwater capture;
• Pest control—biological control of harmful pests;
• Energy efficiency—uses 50% less energy;
• Waste reduction—on-site composting; and
• Freshness—same-day delivery of harvested crop.