Rooftop greenhouses are changing the way we think about urban and other densely populated areas. We are seeing cities redefine themselves by supporting and implementing alternative methods of agriculture to bring people closer to their food. This movement started with small community farms in empty lots and rooftop gardens or “green roofs” sprouting on the tops of buildings and has evolved into the construction of large-scale rooftop greenhouses that are more successful in reducing food miles by producing local food for urban communities year-round. 

When food production comes to the city, we change the perspective from food being something that is purchased at the supermarket to something that is grown. We create awareness that food is life-giving instead of just another good we purchase.

Common placements for rooftop greenhouses include the tops of restaurants, grocery stores, apartment buildings, hospitals, warehouses, and more. In this article, Ceres Greenhouse Solutions will go over all the rooftop greenhouse benefits and applications and explain how Ceres fits into this growing trend. 

Advantages of rooftop greenhouses

Creating local food systems
Energy savings for the structure underneath
Water savings by collecting and using rainwater
Improved air quality in cities
Land savings
Transportation savings – fewer food miles
Increased property value for all properties around the greenhouse
Reduced heat island effect
Helping to create and sustain a local (food) community
Increased food quality – year round

Creating local food systems
In 2020 Lufa Farms opened up what was then considered the world’s largest rooftop greenhouse on top of a warehouse facility in Montreal, Canada. In an article by Agritecture, it was reported that this farm harvested enough vegetables each week to feed 20,000 nearby families, at an affordable price. While this seems like a very small portion of the city’s population, it still demonstrates that this type of food production is possible and adequately supplements traditional forms of agriculture.

Bringing greenhouses into cities brings people closer to their food, which allows them access to fresh produce and increased knowledge about how their food is grown. Rooftop greenhouses build local food systems, which improve the health of our communities and decrease our …