Lufa Farms
Lufa Farms co-locates hydroponic greenhouse infrastructure atop commercial and industrial buildings across Montréal, including shopping districts like Le Marché Central.
Lufa Farms’ first greenhouse construction, Montréal, QC. Image: Lufa Farms (Creative Commons).
At-A-Glance
Company:
Lufa Farms
Established:
2009
Location:
Montréal, QC, Canada
Growing System:
Controlled Environment Agriculture: Greenhouse Strategy
Lufa Farms, Montréal, QC. Image: Lufa Farms (Creative Commons).
The Lufa Farms approach maximizes urban space efficiency while integrating closed-loop irrigation and advanced climate control to significantly reduce water consumption.
The Food Distribution System
Produce is processed and packaged on-site, then distributed through a direct-to-consumer model via a subscription-based "Lufavore" basket system or one-off online purchases. The report credits this approach with strong customer retention and deep community involvement.
The Business Case
According to the company, Lufa achieved profitability in 2016, five years after launching it. By that time, it employed over 500 people and supplied fresh produce to roughly 2% of Montréal's population.
The report highlights Lufa's hybrid growth strategy—scaling up (enhancing production and processing capacity) while scaling out (replicating the rooftop model across four distinct sites)—as proof that BIA can be both economically viable and community-focused on a true commercial scale. This proven framework has directly inspired similar urban agriculture initiatives, including Brooklyn Grange in New York City.