Sustainable Year-Round Agriculture

GoodLeaf Farms' Calgary facility, located in the industrial hub along 108 Avenue S.E., is a cutting-edge, 74,000-square-foot indoor vertical farm that began operations in early 2024. This facility not only provides 70 full-time jobs but also represents a significant advancement in sustainable agriculture.

Revolutionizing Agriculture with Vertical Farming

This state-of-the-art indoor farming facility allows GoodLeaf to meticulously control growing conditions from seed to harvest. The vertical farming approach eliminates the need for pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, resulting in some of the safest produce available. By utilizing height and stack technology, the facility optimizes output while drastically reducing water consumption—using about 95% less water than traditional farming methods. This innovative model also yields approximately 50 times the output capacity due to the integration of LED lighting, advanced water management, precise airflow, and automation. Immune to weather disruptions, this facility ensures a consistent, clean, and safe growing environment, eliminating the need for chemicals.

From the exterior, the facility resembles a standard industrial warehouse. However, inside, it’s a high-tech marvel dedicated to growing fresh, nutrient-rich, and delicious greens for Canadians year-round.

Seamless Production Flow

GoodLeaf meticulously designed the facility’s production flow—from growth and harvest to packaging and shipping. The goal was to create a seamless process that ensures the freshest product reaches the market. Every minute counts after harvest, so it was essential to streamline the operation for maximum efficiency and freshness.

Preventing Cross-Contamination

Ensuring the safety and quality of the produce was paramount, and preventing cross-contamination within the facility was a critical aspect of the design. For example, delivery drivers picking up products cannot interact with facility workers or enter certain areas to prevent potential contamination, such as bugs or other harmful elements that could devastate a crop.

To achieve this, various measures were implemented, including physical barriers, separate zones, and air showers. Access is strictly controlled, with only authorized personnel allowed to move between different areas. Security measures and thorough training for employees and visitors further reinforce these protocols, ensuring the highest standards of safety and cleanliness.

Designing for Future Expansion

The Calgary facility was designed with future growth in mind. We planned for a seamless Phase 2 expansion, allowing for an additional 74,000 square feet of space. This forward-thinking design includes fire-rated exterior corridors that can be converted into interior spaces in the future. The building’s steel structure has been engineered to accommodate the expansion without the need for significant modifications, ensuring that the facility can grow to meet future demands with minimal disruption.

Riddell Kurczaba is proud to support GoodLeaf Farms in their mission to provide Canadians with greater access to local, fresh, and sustainable produce.