Greenhouses on Montreal roofs?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
This month, a Montreal company plans to start planting in the world's first commercial-scale rooftop greenhouse atop a leased two storey office building. The first harvest could be in six weeks.
Lufa Farms (http://www.lufa.com/) spent nearly $2 million on the 31,000 square foot project. According to the Montreal Gazette, hydroponic techniques will create an optimal growing environment for pesticide-, herbicide- and GMO-free produce, year-round. Lufa will sell directly to the public and restaurants.
Because the customers are local, the greenhouse operators say more fragile and tastier varieties, chosen under consultation with McGill University, can be grown.
The Gazette says Lufa Farms is owned by Kurt Lynn and Mohamed Hage. Lynn founded the Listen Up! chain of hearing aid companies and Hage founded a Montreal technology firm. Lynn and Hage want to "partner" with other building owners and set up similar facilities elsewhere, including in Ontario. BF