May 18, 2020

By Lynda Kiernan

Less than three months after announcing a $1.8 million investment led by Brightspark Ventures, tech-based vertical farming company Elevate Farms announced that it has secured a $10 million investment from North Star Agriculture Corp. to bring Elevate’s proprietary vertical farming tech to the Yukon and other isolated northern territories of Canada. 

This initial build-out commitment speaks to the development and construction of a series of automated, large-scale facilities designed to mass produce leafy greens and other crops using patented LED lighting, moving grow boxes, and controlled growth environments, among other technologies.

Based in Toronto, Elevate Farms’ novel business model uses hydroponics and a proprietary automation system, partnered with photobiology and blockchain to cost effectively grow leafy green vegetables, such as arugula, kale, and basil, at mass scale.

“The world’s resources are decreasing and our population is increasing and we feel technology and research need to keep up,” said Amin Jadavji, CEO of Elevate Farms, on the company website. “Elevate has the highest plant density we know of in the vertical farming space and we believe with our tech, IP and 25 years of research we will push forward to everyday consumers at wholesale market prices, something no one is talking about…getting food to actual consumers across the globe.”

Through its production methods, Elevate is the first vertical farming operation to commercially implement a robotically-automated, climate-controlled environment for growing produce that requires significantly less labor than other indoor farming models. Its system allows for optimal  growing conditions to produce sustainable, zero-pesticide greens that are tracked by blockchain from seed to sale. 

“North Star Agriculture is committed to #FeedtheNorth by developing a variety of food security based projects and initiatives,” said Sonny Gray, CEO, North Star. “Our partnership with Elevate perfectly unites with our goal of developing agriculture ‘north of 60’ with the aid of modern technology and sustainable farming practices.”

The terms of the agreement bring together financing and operations and retail experience from North Star, which is based in the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon territory, with industrial and technical support of the CEF (controlled environment farming) facilities from Elevate. 

Once completed, each CEF facility is expected to produce 10 tons of leafy greens and vegetables per week, or the equivalent of more than 1 million pounds of produce per year. This will not only provide much needed fresh food to people in remote, northern  regions, but will also localize supply chains, and mitigate risks associated with global crises such as the current pandemic.

“Food security, as defined by the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life,” said Travis Kanellos, chief strategy officer, Elevate Farms.

“As we have become aware, broken links in supply chains, at home and abroad, have become all-too-real as communities implement travel and supply restrictions to combat COVID-19. The underlying causes of food insecurity are not only drought and conflict in far away lands, but also distribution and access concerns in the end user’s locality.”

“Our vertical farming solution provides fresh and healthy leafy green vegetables – the only vegetables that cannot be frozen for later consumption – by securing availability, access, use and utilization, as well as increased general stability with the potential for years-long self-sufficiency during uncertain times which may include events such as government mandated quarantine and self-isolation,” said Amin Jadavji, founder and CEO, Elevate Farms.”Elevate’s patented food production solution goes a long way to solve the issues facing the North, and other dependent environments affected as they may be difficult to reach regions or fragile ecosystems.”

Jadavji added, “We are extremely excited to partner with North Star to bring food security and nutrition to a particularly isolated and vulnerable region of Canada. This is Elevate Farms’ second Canadian million-pound facility for which Elevate has secured financing commitments – with significantly larger faculties already financed in New Jersey, USA and in Hamilton, New Zealand. Elevate is making excellent progress in executing our plan on creating a global brand in the area of food security and local sustainability.”

– Lynda Kiernan is Editor with GAI Media and daily contributor to the GAI News and Agtech Intel platforms. If you would like to submit a contribution for consideration, please contact Ms. Kiernan at lkiernan@globalaginvesting.com.