The Growcer

Ottawa-based company Growcer, founded by Alida Burke and Corey Ellis, aims to tackle the high cost and poor quality of produce in remote areas. They have developed hydroponic farms housed in 40-foot containers that can adapt to a range of climates, from Arctic tundra to urban parking lots. These innovative systems use just 5% of the water needed in traditional farming and can produce enough vegetables to feed up to 110 people a day. The company's network has already grown about 5 million servings of vegetables as of June 2023. The hydroponic farms serve multiple purposes, from providing fresh produce in isolated communities to helping existing farmers diversify their income. They have also attracted interest from small grocery chains, which have set up these container farms in their parking lots to reduce transportation costs and prices for consumers. Community groups are using the technology to engage youth, reintegrate marginalized individuals, and stock local food banks with fresh produce. Initially bootstrapped and later backed by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Growcer has evolved from licensing another company's technology to developing its original product. The company has been cautious in its financial planning, even turning down a $250,000 investment offer from CBC’s Dragons' Den in 2019. By 2022, however, they had attracted 25 angel investors and expanded into new farming technologies. The primary challenge Growcer faces is the $300,000 financial barrier for prospective clients, as the technology doesn’t fit easily into traditional financing categories. Despite this, the founders remain committed to their mission of reducing food insecurity in remote communities, and they expect that the technology will become more financially accessible as it gains broader recognition.