Meet the Partners Who Helped Us Grow
Every great idea grows faster when it's nurtured by the right people. At Just Vertical, our journey in vertical farming, indoor farming, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) has been built on partnerships that help innovation flourish.
From research institutions to humanitarian organizations, we've worked side by side with leaders across Canada and beyond to rethink how and where food is grown. These collaborations have shaped the way we design our hydroponic systems, expand sustainable food access, and create scalable indoor farming solutions for communities around the world.
In this article, we'll explore the power of partnership in the vertical farming industry, how shared knowledge, research, and real-world application drive results that benefit people and the planet. You'll also meet five of our key partners:
- District Ventures -- supporting agtech growth and entrepreneurship.
- Seneca Polytechnic -- advancing vertical farming research and development.
- NuLeaf Farms -- scaling real-world commercial growing systems.
- GlobalMedic -- bringing food security through hydroponic innovation.
- The University of Toronto -- fueling research and innovation in sustainable agriculture.
Together, these collaborations demonstrate that meaningful change happens through cooperation. Each partnership shows a different side of the same goal: a more resilient and sustainable food system built through vertical agriculture and sustainable agriculture innovation.
Let's dive into how these collaborations are shaping the next generation of indoor farming solutions.
What Is Vertical Farming and Why Does It Matter?
What exactly is vertical farming, and why is it becoming so important today?
Vertical farming is a modern way of growing food that stacks crops in layers rather than spreading them across fields. It uses controlled environment agriculture (CEA), a system where everything from light to temperature and humidity is carefully managed to give plants the best conditions to thrive. In other words, it allows food to grow anywhere, anytime, regardless of season or climate.
These farms rely on hydroponics, a soil-free method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water. Combined with LED lighting, automation, and monitoring technology, hydroponic vertical farms produce higher yields using less space and up to 90% less water than traditional farming.
Vertical farming tackles some of our biggest global challenges.
- Climate change: By reducing water and land use, CEA minimizes agriculture's environmental footprint.
- Food miles: Produce can be grown close to where it's eaten, cutting transport emissions.
- Food insecurity: Controlled systems create reliable harvests even in extreme climates or urban settings.
Why is this approach the future of farming?
Because controlled environment agriculture provides stability in an unstable world, it ensures a consistent food supply, even when the weather, soil, or water are limited. Most importantly, progress in this field depends on collaboration. That's why partnerships between innovators, researchers, and organizations are so vital.
1. District Ventures: Growing AgTech Entrepreneurs
Who Are District Ventures, and What Do They Do?
District Ventures is one of Canada's top accelerators and venture capital funds, helping food and wellness companies scale sustainably. They help provide investment to up-and-coming food and bev organizations, providing them the financial resources to grow successfully and sustainably. For us at Just Vertical, this partnership became a cornerstone in our vertical farming journey, giving us the resources and connections to grow within the agtech industry and beyond.
How Did We Collaborate with District Ventures?
District Ventures has helped provide expertise and financial resources to help execute on our strategy to grow our products in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) space.
Through this partnerships, we've gained:
- Mentorship and strategic guidance from leading food and agriculture experts, including Arlene Dickinson, one of the most recognizable names in entrepreneurship in Canada.
- Access to investors who value sustainable, scalable technologies.
- Networking opportunities with innovators in hydroponics and sustainable agriculture.
Each step helped us scale strategically while staying true to our mission of making local food production accessible everywhere.
What Were the Impacts and Outcomes?
This partnership has strengthened our internal strategies, operations, and industry presence. It helped position us as a leading vertical farming company, therefore preparing us for new markets and collaborations.
- Greater visibility: Raised awareness of our mission across Canada's innovation ecosystem.
- Investor confidence: Improved tools for pitching and reporting.
- Strategic focus: Ensured every initiative supports sustainability and growth.
Why Does This Partnership Matter?
District Ventures showed us that growth doesn't happen alone. Innovation in indoor agriculture depends on collaboration, mentorship, and belief in the mission and purpose of indoor farming. By having trusted investors and partners, companies like ours can bring new technologies to market faster.
2. Seneca Polytechnic: Advancing Hydroponic Research
Who Is Seneca Polytechnic, and Why Are They Important to Vertical Farming?
Seneca Polytechnic is a leading Canadian institution recognized for its hands-on approach to innovation. By combining classroom learning with applied research, Seneca helps students and partners explore sustainable solutions in vertical farming, hydroponics, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
How Did We Collaborate?
Our partnership with Seneca centered on exploring how hydroponic technology could improve plant growth efficiency and nutritional quality --- and putting that research into practice. Together, we built a container farm on Seneca's campus, creating a hands-on research environment where students could study everything from light intensity to nutrient delivery in a real-world farm setting.
Key areas of focus:
- Nutrient optimization: Boosting plant vitality through balanced solutions.
- Environmental control: Adjusting humidity, CO₂, and light for better yields.
- Automation integration: Using data tools to analyze growth performance.
What Were the Impacts and Outcomes?
Our collaboration led to new insights that enhanced our systems' efficiency and reduced resource use. Therefore, Seneca students also gained practical experience in the agtech industry.
- Better yields: Faster, more uniform plant growth.
- Improved data: New environmental benchmarks for CEA systems.
- Education meets innovation: Students applied science directly to sustainable farming.
Why Does This Partnership Matter?
Seneca proved that when academia and business work together, innovation accelerates. These partnerships create smarter, more efficient food systems for the future. Research partnerships like this ensure that vertical farming companies continue evolving, producing not only healthier crops but smarter, data-driven systems.
3. NuLeaf Farms: Partnering for Real-World Implementation
Who Is NuLeaf Farms, and What Makes Them a Key Partner?
NuLeaf Farms is a Calgary-based company building sustainable agricultural solutions through hydroponics and vertical farming. Like Just Vertical, they use technology to make local food production more efficient and sustainable. Their expertise in modular farm design helps turn innovation into a practical reality.
How Did We Collaborate?
Together, we co-developed modular farms and scalable commercial systems for clients such as schools, community groups, and businesses. By integrating CEA technologies like smart sensors and automated lighting, we bridged the gap between research and real-world use.
Key outcomes included:
- Joint product design: Creating adaptable, modular indoor farms.
- Knowledge exchange: Sharing expertise in hydroponic design and control systems.
- Pilot testing: Turning urban spaces into productive farms.
What Were the Impacts and Outcomes?
Our work expanded access to indoor farm collaborations and created a shared technology model replicable across the world.
- Scalability: Simplified adoption for organizations at any size.
- Efficiency: Reduced resource waste while optimizing yields.
- Shared learning: Faster development through joint innovation.
Why Does This Partnership Matter?
The partnership with NuLeaf Farms is proof that Canadian innovation thrives when vision and values align. By combining engineering expertise with environmental purpose, we're creating new opportunities for sustainable indoor agriculture that can serve communities year-round.
4. GlobalMedic: Scaling Social Impact Through Indoor Farming
Who Is GlobalMedic, and What Do They Do?
GlobalMedic is a humanitarian organization providing disaster relief and food security programs. Their mission --- to help communities rebuild and thrive, aligns perfectly with our belief in technology as a force for good. Together, we're proving how indoor farming and CEA can empower vulnerable communities.
How Did We Collaborate?
We partnered to build a container farm in Moldova, supporting displaced families from Ukraine. This hydroponic system grows fresh produce year-round using 90% less water than traditional farming.
Key highlights:
- Fast deployment: The modular design was easy to transport and set up.
- Sustainable harvests: Reliable yields regardless of weather or soil.
- Local training: Employment and education for community members.
What Were the Impacts and Outcomes?
The project delivered both humanitarian aid, technical insights and also became a model for our future initiatives in crisis zones.
- Food access: Thousands of servings of vegetables distributed locally.
- System resilience: Operated continuously despite external challenges.
- Global potential: Inspired new container farm deployments worldwide.
Why Does This Partnership Matter?
Our work with GlobalMedic proves that indoor farming can do more than produce food. By merging humanitarian goals with sustainable agriculture innovation, we've shown that CEA can thrive anywhere, from major cities to crisis zones. In summary this partnership demonstrates that the future of food security isn't just technological, it's human.
5. University of Toronto: Bridging Knowledge and Community Growth
Who Is the University of Toronto, and Why Is It a Leader in Sustainable Agriculture?
The University of Toronto is recognized as one of the worlds leading instituitions for research and innovation, known for connecting education with real-world impact. Its collaboration with Redbird Circle and Just Vertical showcases how sustainability, technology, and culture can come together to advance food security and community well-being.
How Did We Collaborate with the University of Toronto?
In 2023, Just Vertical partnered with the University of Toronto Scarborough and the Redbird Circle Indigenous group to build four 510-square-foot indoor farms inside geodesic dome greenhouses. These farms were designed to provide fresh food, hands-on learning, and a space for cultural connection.
Together, we:
- Built and equipped four dome-style indoor farms using Just Vertical's hydroponic systems.
- Trained community members to operate and maintain the farms sustainably.
- Integrated the farms into university programs and local markets to maximize impact.
What Were the Impacts and Outcomes of the Partnership?
Within months, the farms became vibrant hubs for education, empowerment, and sustainable production. Today, they now serve as living classrooms for students and community members while also supporting local markets with fresh produce.
Key outcomes include:
- Community leadership: Redbird Circle now manages daily farm operations.
- Educational access: Students use the space to study sustainable agriculture and food systems.
- Local food impact: The farms supply produce for community markets and food initiatives.
Why Does This Partnership Matter?
This collaboration demonstrates how partnerships can bridge innovation and inclusion. By combining Indigenous leadership, academic research, and modern farming technology, the University of Toronto project proves that sustainability thrives through shared purpose.
How Collaboration Drives Innovation in Controlled Environment Agriculture
Why Are Partnerships Essential for the Growth of Vertical Farming?
In the world of controlled environment agriculture (CEA), collaboration isn't just helpful; it's essential. Every advancement in vertical farming technology, from LED lighting systems to automated irrigation, has come from shared knowledge between research institutions, businesses, and community organizations. When we work together, we accelerate innovation, improve sustainability, and create systems that make food production more efficient and accessible.
How Does Just Vertical's Partner Ecosystem Support Innovation?
At Just Vertical, collaboration sits at the core of everything we do. Our partners, from universities and startups to humanitarian organizations, form an interconnected ecosystem that drives sustainable change in the indoor farming and agtech space. By sharing insights and resources, we connect technology, research, and community impact to create meaningful outcomes.
Some ways our ecosystem helps accelerate innovation include:
- Technology integration: Combining expertise in hydroponics, lighting, and automation to enhance performance and efficiency.
- Research collaboration: Partnering with academic institutions to test, validate, and refine CEA systems.
- Community impact: Working with organizations to deploy farms that address food insecurity and create local jobs.
- Knowledge sharing: Exchanging data and best practices across industries to fuel the next generation of sustainable agriculture.
What Does Collaboration Mean for the Future of Sustainable Agriculture?
These partnerships demonstrate that the future of farming is rooted in connection. Together, we're developing scalable, future-proof solutions that respond to climate change, urbanization, and the growing demand for local food. Moreover, collaboration ensures that innovation in indoor farming systems is not limited to labs or test sites, it reaches real people and real communities.
FAQ
Q1. What makes vertical farming partnerships important for innovation?
Partnerships bring together expertise, funding, and creativity. By collaborating, we accelerate advancements in controlled environment agriculture and ensure sustainability in local food systems.
Q2. How does hydroponic farming support sustainable food systems?
Hydroponics uses less water and land while reducing the need for pesticides. It allows crops to grow anywhere, from schools to warehouses to remote regions.
Q3. Who benefits from Just Vertical's partner ecosystem?
Communities, researchers, governments, and commercial growers benefit from our collaborations, which expand food access and support economic growth.
Q4. What is the future of indoor farming partnerships?
We see a future where innovation happens across borders. Where public and private sectors unite to create more resilient global food networks.
Q5. How can organizations partner with Just Vertical?
Organizations can reach out through our contact page to explore partnership opportunities in R&D, implementation, or social impact initiatives.
Conclusion
In the world of vertical farming, innovation doesn't happen in isolation, it thrives through partnership. At Just Vertical, our growth has always been fueled by collaboration, not competition. From research with Seneca Polytechnic to impact projects with GlobalMedic, each relationship has taught us something new about the future of sustainable agriculture.
Through these experiences, we've seen how technology, compassion, and community can come together to solve global challenges. Whether it's enhancing hydroponic systems, advancing education, or feeding families in need, partnerships make progress possible.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on deepening partnerships that drive meaningful innovation. By connecting research, technology, and community, we're building systems that make food production more resilient and accessible for everyone.
Let's Have A Conversation.Ready to explore how partnerships with Just Vertical can help you grow sustainable solutions in your community? Whether you're a researcher, organization, or business looking to scale indoor farming systems, we're here to collaborate and make an impact together. |