Urban agriculture in Montreal

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with companies shaping the future of urban agriculture in Montreal, bringing projects to life in both small and large formats. A common goal at the heart of these initiatives is to produce ultra-local food, including on rooftops, in order to bring fresh produce closer to urban centres and reduce transportation.

Microhabitat is one of the companies breathing new life into underused urban spaces by transforming them into living, productive ecosystems. Their mission is to encourage people to reconnect with vegetable gardening and the joy of growing food, while also collaborating with local businesses to help feed communities through their harvests. This educational and social mission, along with their turnkey service offering, gives the project international reach.

We cannot talk about urban agriculture without mentioning one of the pioneers in Montreal, Lufa Farms. In 2026, the company celebrated its 15th anniversary. What began as the ambition to build the world’s first commercial rooftop greenhouse has grown into six urban farms spread across the city’s rooftops. Over the years, a true independent food system has emerged.

In their urban farms, they produce a wide variety of vegetables, such as their famous Lebanese cucumber and the ever-popular kale. In partnership with local producers, Lufa Farms, Montreal-based urban agriculture company offers local products online and maintains an impressive distribution network, making local and eco-responsible food more accessible. Their farms are at the cutting edge of technology, with an almost futuristic atmosphere.

For me, these two companies seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, yet they meet in a surprisingly similar vision. One flourishes through a multitude of small projects, while the other takes shape as a single large-scale initiative. Together, they illustrate two different paths leading to the same ambition: rethinking our relationship with food and bringing production closer to where we live.

In short, while the current global food system, marked by vast monocultures and excessive pesticide use, eems difficult to sustain, these more eco-responsible and human-centered solutions offer a renewed sense of hope.