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Indoor growing could feed Canadians — and others — year-round

Canada relies heavily on imports for produce
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A red pepper grows on a vine in a greenhouse in Delta, B.C., Friday, Oct. 26, 2018. With rising food and energy costs and more frequent extreme weather, the indoor agriculture industry has the potential to feed Canadians more reliably and maybe more sustainably, using greenhouses, vertical farms and hydroponic technology. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Whether it was pandemic-driven supply chain delays, a war in Europe causing grain prices to spike or flooding in British Columbia disrupting rail lines and highways, the past two and a half years have shone a light on how vulnerable Canada’s food system is to climate change and other global factors.

Amid rising food and energy costs and more frequent extreme weather events, experts and sector insiders say the indoor agriculture industry has the potential to feed Canadians more reliably and maybe more sustainably by using greenhouses, vertical farms and hydroponic technology to grow food even in the winter, in remote communities, urban centres and everywhere in between.

“The

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