Enhancing food security through cultural and environmental alignment

Indigenous communities, especially in remote areas, face significant challenges with food security due to limited access and high transportation costs. Alberta Food Security (AFS) aims to collaborate with Indigenous communities to leverage vertical farms as a transformative solution.

Vertical farms provide a sustainable solution by growing food indoors year-round, ensuring a consistent supply of fresh, healthy produce. Vertical farming also respects Indigenous cultural values of environmental stewardship by using less water and land and reducing carbon footprints.

Generating employment and empowering self-sufficiency

Establishing vertical farms creates local job opportunities. This employment helps build economic stability and allows community members to develop valuable agricultural skills. By producing food locally, vertical farms reduce dependency on external sources, fostering self-sufficiency and resilience.

Strengthening community bonds

Vertical farms offer educational benefits, especially for youth, through hands-on learning. This knowledge transfer supports long-term community development. Collaborative farming projects enhance social bonds by creating a shared sense of purpose and achievement. These efforts build stronger community connections and a collective vision for a sustainable future.

Growing employment opportunities

Alberta Food Security (AFS) is not just about sustainable agriculture; it's about creating meaningful employment opportunities for diverse communities. With a focus on training, fair wages, and inclusivity, our indoor vertical farms serve as catalysts for social and economic empowerment.

On average, each vertical farm creates approximately one full-time equivalent job per 1000 square feet of farming space. This means that as vertical farming expands, so too does its potential to generate employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth in communities across Canada.

Livable wages and flexible hours

Vertical farms prioritize paying living wages along with benefits. AFS also addresses barriers to employment by offering flexible hours and opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds and circumstances. This ensures financial security for employees and their families, fostering stability and well-being.

Inclusive employment opportunities

Our farms welcome a broad spectrum of individuals into the workforce, including stay-at-home parents, caregivers, students, new immigrants, those on the autistic spectrum, and Indigenous community members. Through comprehensive training programs and supportive work environments, vertical farms empower individuals with limited skills or experience to build rewarding careers.

Post-pandemic challenges for building owners

Office building owners across Canada face challenges finding tenants as a direct result of the post-pandemic work-from-home transformation, rapidly increasing interest rates and the reality that “more than 50% of the $2.9 trillion in commercial mortgages will need to be renegotiated in the next 24 months,” according to Morgan Stanley’s wealth management Chief Investment Officer, Lisa Shalett. Alberta Food Security (AFS) offers a strategic solution to diversify revenue by using empty spaces.

Repurposing spaces for indoor farms

By leveraging empty urban offices and other idle spaces into high-tech indoor farms, AFS presents a solution that not only mitigates risks but also boosts revenue streams for building owners. These farms not only hedge against financial risks, but also benefit local customers and the community.

Diversification can mitigate risks and generate revenue

Beyond risk mitigation, AFS introduces a new dimension to revenue generation. Residual income from our vertical farms serves as a financial buffer, offsetting potential challenges of rental uncertainty. This diversification enhances financial stability and long-term sustainability.

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has left many buildings vacant, offering an opportunity for building owners seeking to expand or diversify. This repurposing not only revitalizes unused spaces but also unlocks new revenue streams for everyone involved.

North American families face growing challenges

With many North American families facing food insecurity and struggling with living affordably, Alberta Food Security (AFS) empowers families to uplift themselves by establishing small-scale family businesses.

Growing household income while strengthening communities  

With AFS, families can create a thriving business that not only addresses household challenges but also strengthens the fabric of their community. The prospect of increased income at home offers a solution to various household challenges, from rising living costs to the aspiration for greater financial security. With more resources at their disposal, families can better support their children's education, invest in community initiatives, and build a more stable future for themselves and their neighbors.

Alberta Food Security gives you the tools you need

AFS provides families with the necessary tools and support to embark on this journey together. Through shared goals and collective effort, families cultivate not only crops but also strong bonds and lasting memories.

Communities are faced with growing social challenges.

Traditional charities struggle to secure donations, homelessness rises, and food prices soar, leaving many unable to afford basic necessities. Alberta Food Security (AFS) is a multifaceted approach to address these issues head-on.

Repurposing spaces to provide nutritious & affordable food

Using vertical farming, AFS repurposes underutilized buildings into thriving hubs of agricultural productivity. These farms not only produce fresh, affordable food but also create employment opportunities, revitalizing neglected neighbourhoods and fostering economic development.

By making nutritious produce accessible to all year-round without fluctuating prices, AFS tackles food insecurity at its root. Our commitment to affordability ensures that no one has to choose between putting food on the table and paying bills.

Supporting charities and cultivating local communities

We actively support charities by channeling a portion of our profits back into the community. Our investors can choose to donate a percentage of their annual dividends to charities that support AFS’ mission to address food insecurity and support local economies. Through these residual donations, charities receive the crucial support they need to continue their vital work.

Farmers face increasing economic uncertainty

Fluctuating livestock and commodity prices and unpredictable weather for outdoor crops can create financial challenges for farmers.

Through indoor vertical farms, Alberta Food Security (AFS) offers a strategic approach to complement traditional farming operations, tailored for resilience and profitability. By converting underutilized spaces like barns into productive indoor farms, farmers can create a reliable revenue stream without abandoning their primary agricultural practices.

Farming in stable indoor conditions

Indoor farming operates independently of external conditions, providing a controlled environment for year-round crop production. This stability ensures a steady income even when outdoor yields suffer due to adverse weather. For farmers engaged in livestock and outdoor crop production, vertical farming serves as a strategic diversification. It complements their main activities, offering a new revenue stream that mitigates the financial risks.

Financial security through diversification

If livestock prices drop or outdoor crops fail, revenue from indoor farming provides a safety net, ensuring continued profitability. This diversified approach means farmers can still make money even when traditional farming operations face challenges. Vertical farming also maximizes the use of existing infrastructure, turning idle spaces into productive assets. This enhances farm efficiency and profitability without requiring significant new investments in land or equipment.

Investments that make a meaningful difference

Alberta Food Security (AFS) offers investors a unique chance to reap financial rewards while making a meaningful difference. By leveraging indoor vertical farming innovation, our model projects dividends as early as the second year, averaging 10-20% annually. Investors can reinvest for growth, receive dividends, or donate percentages of their profits through tailored options to suit their objectives.

Residual donations to maximize impact

Through residual donations, investors can allocate a portion or all of their dividends to charitable causes each year. This approach aligns with the rising trend of impact investing, allowing investors to support sustainability and community development initiatives while maximizing their financial gains.

Our streamlined approach to charitable giving enables investors to support numerous charities with a single investment, maximizing the impact of their contributions. Additionally, investors can benefit from tax deductions on their charitable donations, enhancing the overall financial attractiveness of their investment.

Alignment with social impact standards

As institutional investors face mounting pressure to meet higher standards and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AFS stands as a beacon of socially responsible investment. By backing sustainable agriculture and community development projects, investors contribute to multiple SDGs while securing their financial future.