The Challenge

Lufa Farms wanted to produce food closer to consumers. Not on new farmland outside the city, but on top of existing buildings. This calls for greenhouse solutions that are lightweight, efficient and reliable, and that can perform year-round in Québec’s climate.
The challenge was not only in cultivation, but also in the location. A rooftop greenhouse has to fit within the technical limits of the building, use energy and water efficiently, and still deliver enough yield to make local food production scalable. This is especially difficult in an urban environment, where space is limited and demand for fresh produce remains high. 

The Solution

KUBO supported Lufa Farms in developing high-tech rooftop greenhouse solutions, including the  3.994,83 m². positive-pressure Ultra-Clima® greenhouse in Laval. This project helped Lufa Farms expand its rooftop production with a greenhouse designed for controlled cultivation and efficient use of natural light.
Lufa Farms’ fifth rooftop greenhouse is located on top of the Marché Central Walmart Supercentre and Decathlon in Montréal. This 1200 m² hydroponic greenhouse is designed for local production above an active retail location. Fresh produce grown on the roof can be sold in the Walmart store directly below, in as fast as one hour after harvest.
That makes the supply chain exceptionally short: grown upstairs, sold downstairs. No long-distance transport, no complex distribution route, just fresh produce harvested where people shop.
The image shows a rooftop greenhouse in an urban setting. The glass structure is built on top of an existing building, with greenhouse technology supporting controlled, year-round vegetable production close to the city. The setting reflects a modern approach to local food production, efficient land use and sustainable cultivation.

The Results

Lufa Farms now operates five rooftop greenhouses in Montréal. Its greenhouse locations include Ahuntsic, Laval, Anjou, Ville Saint-Laurent and Marché Central.
The newest 1200 m² greenhouse strengthens Lufa Farms’ local production capacity and brings food production and retail closer together. Some of the fresh vegetables grown on the rooftops are sold in the Walmart store below. This creates a direct rooftop-to-retail model that helps reduce transport, shorten the time from harvest to shelf and deliver fresher produce to consumers.
According to Lufa Farms, their rooftop greenhouses use around half the energy of a conventional ground-level greenhouse and recycle up to 90% of their water. The project shows how rooftop growing can contribute to urban horticulture: smart use of existing space, local production close to consumers and a shorter route from greenhouse to plate.