An industry leader in the area of urban agriculture, Lufa Farms opened its second rooftop greenhouse last fall in Montreal.

The greenhouse uses state-of-the-art agriculture technology and design, allowing Lufa to continue to make its model more sustainable, efficient and economically viable. The company currently has 3,000 Montreal subscribers and has plans to expand both in Montreal and other cities.

Lufa Farm’s urban rooftop greenhouse uses state-of-the-art technology and design to use 50 percent less energy than a ground-level greenhouse. (Photo courtesy of Lufa Farms)The second greenhouse is 43,000 square feet and located in Laval, Quebec. Lufa Farms, Le Groupe Montoni Division Construction, Inc. of Laval, and KUBO, a greenhouse manufacturing company from the Netherlands, collaborated on the construction.

“The structure uses an innovative venting system to control pests and temperature and to optimize vital sunlight. The greenhouse also has a recirculating irrigation system for water and surface condensation,” said Lufa Farms spokeswoman Lisa Figlioli.

The company applied the lessons they learned from opening the world’s first commercial rooftop greenhouse in 2011, particularly in the areas of greenhouse design, efficient resource consumption, polyculture crop management and alternate distribution channels. Lufa’s rooftop greenhouses use controlled environment agriculture and hydroponic growing methods. One hundred percent of water is recirculated, no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides are used and greenwaste is composted on-site.

The urban rooftop greenhouse uses 50 percent less energy than a traditional greenhouse.

The business model is equally innovative. Customers sign up on the company’s website for weekly delivery of customized baskets to a local pick-up point. They can choose from over 30 varieties of Lufa-grown produce and micro-greens, supplemented by local products like root vegetables and bread. Freshness is a key selling point. The produce is delivered within 12 hours of being harvested.

Lufa’s urban agriculture model is paying off.

“We’re building a third greenhouse in Montreal starting this year. By the end of 2014, we’re hoping to feed 7,000 people each week in the greater Montreal area. We’re planning to deliver to more than 200 locations, including new pick-up points within a 30 mile radius of the farm,” said Figlioli. “Our next Montreal project will allow us to feed an additional 4,000 people year-round, and we are looking to expand to several new cities in the next few years.”

The company is considering Boston as the site of the first Lufa Farms greenhouse in America.

The company also continues to invest in innovation, currently working on a technology platform for controlled agriculture. In May 2012, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Hage gave a TEDX talk titled “How rooftop farming will change how we eat,” outlining his belief in the need for an urban agriculture industry.

Lufa has been successful in delivering that vision of fresh, local and responsible produce to Montreal.