Medicine Hat, Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) — A major greenhouse operation near Medicine Hat, Alberta, is installing more than 5,000 LED grow lights. The project is supported by a $2.2-million provincial grant aimed at reducing emissions and boosting food production.
Big Marble Farms is investing more than $3 million total in the lighting upgrade. The project will replace high-pressure sodium fixtures with energy-efficient LED systems across its facilities.
The project is supported through Alberta’s Emissions Reduction program. It will increase light output by 50 per cent while using the same amount of electricity, said Big Marble Farms CEO Ryan Cramer.
“We’re replacing every second high-pressure sodium light in one quarter of our growing area,” Cramer said in an interview. “The new LED fixtures put out nearly twice the light with the same electricity input.”
The company conducted an 18-month trial on 1.5 acres. The trial resulted in a 15 per cent increase in production, he said.
The upgrade will strengthen year-round food security for Western Canada. It will also reduce the operation’s environmental footprint.
Big Marble Farms currently houses more than 496,000 cucumber plants and 385,000 tomato plants. The operation runs 47,000 grow lights across its greenhouse facilities.
The project aims to support agricultural innovation while meeting emissions reduction targets.
