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7 Vertical Farming Trends Poised to Reshape Urban Agriculture in 2026
7 Vertical Farming Trends Poised to Reshape Urban Agriculture in 2026
7 Vertical Farming Trends Poised to Reshape Urban Agriculture in 2026
Rapid advances in automation, energy systems, and controlled-environment design are pushing vertical farming into a new era. These emerging trends reveal how cities could soon produce more food with less land, fewer resources, and year-round precision—all while supporting a more resilient, tech-driven agricultural ecosystem.
Bringing Farming Back to the Heart of the City
7 Vertical Farming Trends Poised to Reshape Urban Agriculture in 2026
7 Vertical Farming Trends Poised to Reshape Urban Agriculture in 2026
A new wave of innovation is reimagining agriculture as a central part of urban life, with researchers and city planners exploring how farms integrated into dense neighborhoods could strengthen food security, reduce emissions, and support local economies. Emerging models point to a future where food production is woven directly into the urban fabric.
CAN URBAN FARMING REALLY FEED THE WORLD?
7 Vertical Farming Trends Poised to Reshape Urban Agriculture in 2026
CAN URBAN FARMING REALLY FEED THE WORLD?
As cities grapple with population growth and climate pressures, the question of whether urban farming can scale into a meaningful global food source is gaining urgency. New models of hyper-local agriculture, vertical farms, and technology-driven growing systems are reshaping the conversation—and challenging long-held assumptions about what cities can produce.
Urban Agriculture in 2025: Trends Shaping More Sustainable Cities
PHOTOS: Victoria urban garden proves productivity of contaminated land
PHOTOS: Victoria urban garden proves productivity of contaminated land
Urban farming is moving beyond community gardens and rooftop planters as new technologies, policies, and climate-driven priorities reshape how cities produce food. From vertical growing systems to local composting networks, this year’s trends highlight a shift toward more resilient, resource-efficient urban ecosystems.
PHOTOS: Victoria urban garden proves productivity of contaminated land
PHOTOS: Victoria urban garden proves productivity of contaminated land
PHOTOS: Victoria urban garden proves productivity of contaminated land
FED Urban Farm proves the growing value of contaminated soil sites, growing above ground in the heart of Victoria.
For the last year, they’ve proven it on a “storefront” site: a patch of land in Dockside Green between two bridges, adjacent to industrial land and a working waterway alongside the Galloping Goose Regional Trial.
An Urban Oasis in Toronto’s Northwest Sets Its Sights on Expansion
PHOTOS: Victoria urban garden proves productivity of contaminated land
Toronto declared a food insecurity emergency. This urban farmer wants to be part of the solution
A thriving community farm in Toronto’s northwest is transforming unused land into a vibrant hub for food growing, learning, and connection. Now, with demand rising and local impact growing, the team is preparing for its next chapter—scaling up to reach even more residents and strengthen neighbourhood food resilience.
Toronto declared a food insecurity emergency. This urban farmer wants to be part of the solution
Toronto declared a food insecurity emergency. This urban farmer wants to be part of the solution
Toronto declared a food insecurity emergency. This urban farmer wants to be part of the solution
Toronto city council declared a food insecurity emergency last month, and now one of the city’s urban farmers is calling for a more active role for local agriculture in tackling the crisis.
Even gardens have a carbon footprint. Here's how to reduce the climate impact of urban farming
Toronto declared a food insecurity emergency. This urban farmer wants to be part of the solution
Even gardens have a carbon footprint. Here's how to reduce the climate impact of urban farming
Urban gardening might seem fairly innocuous when it comes to its overall carbon footprint, but when compared to conventional agriculture, a study released earlier this year would suggest otherwise.
Growing Community: How Urban Farming Is Strengthening Vancouver’s Neighbourhoods
Toronto declared a food insecurity emergency. This urban farmer wants to be part of the solution
Even gardens have a carbon footprint. Here's how to reduce the climate impact of urban farming
A Vancouver nonprofit is proving that urban farming can do far more than grow food. Through shared gardens, education programs, and community-building initiatives, the organization is using agriculture as a tool to improve local resilience, deepen social connections, and create more sustainable neighbourhoods across the city.
City of Edmonton exploring potential urban farming project on public land
Additive, not extractive: how vertical farming fits into the future of agriculture
City of Edmonton exploring potential urban farming project on public land
The City of Edmonton is considering developing an urban farming program to build healthier communities and gain better access to underutilized urban land.
Online surveys are being conducted by the city to gauge interest in an urban farming program where locals can cultivate fruits and vegetables and raise chickens or bee-keep to sell the products commercially.
Is vertical farming winter’s answer to the high cost of imported produce?
Additive, not extractive: how vertical farming fits into the future of agriculture
City of Edmonton exploring potential urban farming project on public land
Vision Greens, a vertical farm in Welland, Ont., believes it has a solution to the high cost of green vegetables in winter-bound Canada – grow up.
Vertical farming proponents say these farms can supply greens all year to Canadians at prices that compete favourably with foreign-grown products, helping to keep grocery costs stable and making the country less reliant on imported food.
Additive, not extractive: how vertical farming fits into the future of agriculture
Additive, not extractive: how vertical farming fits into the future of agriculture
Additive, not extractive: how vertical farming fits into the future of agriculture
"Often we get the question "Will this be the way we farm in the future?" and the answer is "yes, AND." Here at Planted Detroit, and I think we speak for many other controlled environment ag (CEA) farms, we don't intend to take the place of traditional agriculture - instead, we want to help improve the overall picture of an agricultural future by adding a different, sustainable method of growing to our foodshed."
B.C. entrepreneurs see sky as limit for vertical farming
VERTICAL FARMERS SAY THEY CAN PLAY BIGGER ROLE AS ONTARIO FARMLAND DISAPPEARS
Additive, not extractive: how vertical farming fits into the future of agriculture
Entrepreneurs in B.C.’s vertical-farming sector envisage opportunity in their niche to be sky-high, thanks to the B.C. government changing regulations, labour shortages in traditional agriculture and crumbling supply chains between the province and California.
can vertical farming help to provide alternative protein?
VERTICAL FARMERS SAY THEY CAN PLAY BIGGER ROLE AS ONTARIO FARMLAND DISAPPEARS
VERTICAL FARMERS SAY THEY CAN PLAY BIGGER ROLE AS ONTARIO FARMLAND DISAPPEARS
Growing crops used for alternative protein in a controlled environment, such as a vertical farm or greenhouse, is largely unexplored. As one example, propagating peas within a controlled environment could be explored as a way of increasing the amount of peas grown without diverting the supply from existing sources - while minimizing the resources used.
VERTICAL FARMERS SAY THEY CAN PLAY BIGGER ROLE AS ONTARIO FARMLAND DISAPPEARS
VERTICAL FARMERS SAY THEY CAN PLAY BIGGER ROLE AS ONTARIO FARMLAND DISAPPEARS
VERTICAL FARMERS SAY THEY CAN PLAY BIGGER ROLE AS ONTARIO FARMLAND DISAPPEARS
Vertical farming is defined as growing plants indoors in a stacked formation and a controlled environment. Vision Greens is equipped to grow 700,000 pounds of food a year and its produce is available to consume within 24 hours of harvesting.
Could vertical farming solve Canada's food supply chain issues?
“In a greenhouse, you have to water multiple times a day. We water twice per week. Our crop success rate is 99.5 per cent in terms of the yield we expect versus what we get, every harvest. That makes vertical farming very predictable.”
Province puts vertical farms on horizon to boost B.C. food security
B.C. to include so-called vertical farm buildings on list of allowable farm uses permissible on ALR land without Agricultural Land Commission permission.
StrongerBC Economic Plan helps agritech grow
Vertical farming on the rise in B.C. but facing challenges for land
British Columbians will soon be able to enjoy more locally produced food, while farmers will have new opportunities to grow, thanks to regulatory supports from the B.C. government.
Vertical farming on the rise in B.C. but facing challenges for land
GoodLeaf Farms Vertical farm under construction in Alberta receives CAD$2.7 mn grant
Vertical farming on the rise in B.C. but facing challenges for land
Vertical farming in B.C. is a growing sector of agriculture known as agritech. B.C.'s Ministry of Agriculture said there are currently 150 agritech companies in the province, which produce microgreens, leafy greens and herbs using fewer resources such as water.
GoodLeaf Farms Vertical farm under construction in Alberta receives CAD$2.7 mn grant
GoodLeaf Farms Vertical farm under construction in Alberta receives CAD$2.7 mn grant
GoodLeaf Farms Vertical farm under construction in Alberta receives CAD$2.7 mn grant
A vertical farm being built in southeast Calgary, Alberta, by GoodLeaf Farms has been chosen as the first project to receive funding from the Alberta government’s new investment and growth fund.
HOW FLOATING AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES CAN HELP ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
GoodLeaf Farms Vertical farm under construction in Alberta receives CAD$2.7 mn grant
GoodLeaf Farms Vertical farm under construction in Alberta receives CAD$2.7 mn grant
In the face of climate change, architects everywhere are making both the bizarre and the futuristic possible by taking food production to the waters.
7 URBAN FARMS CREATING A MORE CIRCULAR FOOD SYSTEM
Feds to spend $4.95M on vertical farming project, research in northern Manitoba
The rise of indoor farming is exploding, but Canada is lagging behind
One popular belief is that a more efficient, more sustainable, and less wasteful food system must be more circular in nature. Here are seven urban farms that are helping to accelerate circularity in the global food system.
The rise of indoor farming is exploding, but Canada is lagging behind
Feds to spend $4.95M on vertical farming project, research in northern Manitoba
The rise of indoor farming is exploding, but Canada is lagging behind
Major investors and governments in Canada haven't fully bought into the promise of vertical farming, or the technology that enables it.
Feds to spend $4.95M on vertical farming project, research in northern Manitoba
Feds to spend $4.95M on vertical farming project, research in northern Manitoba
Growing up: The next frontier in farming is vertical and it could cut Canada's reliance on imported
The federal government says it will spend nearly $5 million on a partnership that will see food growing smarter in several communities.
Growing up: The next frontier in farming is vertical and it could cut Canada's reliance on imported
Growing up: The next frontier in farming is vertical and it could cut Canada's reliance on imported
Extreme drought and wildfires threatening crops in California latest example of a glaring vulnerability in Canadian food chain.
Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Make $9.8 Million Investment Into Crop Research
Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Make $9.8 Million Investment Into Crop Research
Despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s crop sector has continued to work hard to ensure Canadians and families around the world have access to high-quality products. Investing in research helps producers grow the food the world needs in the most efficient and sustainable way possible. These applied research projects will help producers innovate and create growth.
Vertical Farming Market to Garner Growth 25.2% by 2027
Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Make $9.8 Million Investment Into Crop Research
The vertical farming market is expected to garner growth at a CAGR of 25.2% from 2021 to 2030 and to reach US$ 31.6 billion by 2030, according to Precedence Research.