Construction and installation has begun on North America’s first VertiCrop urban farming system, on the top level of a downtown Vancouver EasyPark parking lot at 535 Richards St., Alterrus Systems Inc. announced this morning.
Alterrus’ VertiCrop vertical-farming technology uses hydroponic technology to grow leafy green vegetables and herbs in a greenhouse, without pesticides or herbicides. Its produce will be transported directly to local Vancouver markets, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.
The produce, to be sold under the Local Garden brand, will be available in Vancouver in October.
Christopher Ng, CEO of Alterrus, said, “The VertiCrop technology represents a radical shift in sustainable food production.
“Current food-production methods are ineffective in dealing with the challenges of growing populations and decreasing amounts of farmland. VertiCrop’s high-density urban farming is an effective way to grow nutritious food using fewer land and water resources than traditional field-farming methods.”
The produce will be packaged on site and can be delivered to markets in the city the same day as they are harvested.
Alterrus expects the VertiCrop facility to produce more than 150,000 pounds annually.
The facility will be 5,700 square feet, with 4,000 square feet devoted to growing the produce in trays, stacked 12 high and circulating on conveyer belts.
The remaining 1,700 square feet will be used for picking and packaging. It will use less than 10% of the water required for traditional field agriculture, while producing significantly higher yields compared with field-farmed produce. All of the excess water used will be recycled.
Alterrus’ urban farm will operate year-round. Its controlled growing environment shelters its produce from contamination, natural disasters and irregular weather patterns that are challenges for growers of traditional field produce.
“That reliability offers benefits to the retailer and consumer,” said Ng. “Produce can be grown and delivered to our customers any time throughout the year.”
