Canadian ROOTS Farms™

Building Canada’s vertical-farm network—AI-powered, climate-resilient, sovereign by design

Why It Matters

Food Sovereignty – Grown in Canada, For Canadians, By Canadians
90% Less Water – Compared to traditional farming
97% Less Land – With higher year-round yield
Indigenous Co-Ownership – Building reconciliation into the food chain

New Partnerships for Canada’s Food Future

Launching in partnership with First Nations and major grocers, we are rewriting Canada’s food future - from dependency to resilience

For First Nations Leaders

Our Vision

To end Canada’s dependence on foreign produce and build a sovereign, AI-driven food system from the ground up.

Canadian ROOTS Farms™ is pioneering climate-resilient vertical farming powered by advanced biosensors and precision agriculture — built by Canadians, for Canadians.

The Problem

Canada still imports nearly half its produce.

While global players are investing billions into food resilience, Canada remains vulnerable to:

Climate shocks
Trade disruption
Energy volatility
Long-distance supply chains

This isn’t just unsustainable — it’s a national risk.

Our Solution

Canadian ROOTS Farms™ delivers reliable, scalable local food supply using AI-powered controlled environments—sustainable and climate-proof.

Proprietary Technology
Project Vitalis™ fuses quantum biosensors, electroceuticals, and adaptive AI to monitor plant biochemistry in real time — optimizing nutrients, reducing stress, and accelerating growth. This is intelligent cultivation, not mere automation.
Traction
Canadian ROOTS Farms™ is earning early momentum through active dialogues with major grocery retailers, provincial governments, and agriculture innovation hubs. Our infrastructure-scale model has begun attracting attention from national and global capital allocators focused on food security, climate resilience, and agri-tech innovation.

Meet The Core Team

Our leadership unites deep expertise in agriculture, biosciences, engineering, and AI. With decades of experience across food systems, innovation, and Canadian policy, we’re aligned by a shared mission: reimagining Canada’s food future — one resilient vertical farm at a time.

From grassroots to global strategy, our team includes scientists, tech entrepreneurs, and community leaders across the country — ensuring regional insight with national coordination.

Richard Leblanc
Founder & CEO | LinkedIn

Visionary entrepreneur, biosensor innovator, and social enterprise leader. Richard brings a national vision for food sovereignty, backed by decades of experience launching bold, impact-driven ventures at the intersection of agriculture, health, and innovation.
Lauren A. Nickel, ICD.D
Senior Advisor, Governance & Public Strategy | LinkedIn

Corporate director, former CFO, and board strategist with extensive leadership in finance, public policy, and stakeholder alignment. Lauren guides Canadian ROOTS Farms™ on governance, funding strategy, and national and institutional engagement.
Eric Bergeron
Strategic Advisor – CEA & Capital Markets | LinkedIn
Co-founder of Cultivatd and vertical farming capital advisor. Eric contributes sector-level CEA intelligence, institutional investor access, and disciplined growth strategy to CRF’s national gigafarm platform.
Brian Harper, Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer | LinkedIn

Pioneering expert in bio-electrical sensing and applied health technologies. With 35+ years of experience translating science into real-world solutions, Brian leads Canadian ROOTS Farms’ AI and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) platform development.
Brian Holl, P.Ag.(ret'd)
Director of Plant Sciences | LinkedIn

Professor Emeritus of Plant Science and leading authority in nitrogen fixation and turfgrass systems. Brian brings deep academic rigor and applied agricultural expertise to optimize high-yield vertical farming across Canada’s diverse climates.