Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited

What Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited does

Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited, operating as Boreal Farms, is a King City, Ontario-based controlled environment and regenerative agriculture operator founded in 2015 by Brandon Hebor out of the Seneca College HELIX incubator. The company cultivates microgreens (including Spicy Radish and Pea Shoots) and specialty mushrooms (Lion's Mane, Blue Oyster) on indoor and outdoor production footprints, with an extension into value-added processing via Lion's Mane Powder.

The company's commercial model is multi-stream and combines physical-product sales with knowledge-based services. Fresh produce is distributed via direct-to-consumer subscriptions, farmgate, and a company e-commerce shop; the Lion's Mane Powder and authored books extend the assortment into higher-margin packaged and content SKUs. A recurring indoor/outdoor food and farm training academy generates teaching revenue and has reached 3,500+ individuals to date, supported by consulting engagements with academic, social-services, and commercial-grower clients including Seneca College, Progress Place, Thornbury Acres (in partnership with Castlepoint Numa), and The Stop Community Food Centre.

A fourth revenue vector is infrastructure delivery through the Farm Drop joint venture with Container Built, which packages turnkey container-farm projects for external customers. Speaking engagements, including appearances at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), extend brand reach to over 100,000 attendees. No external funding rounds, headcount figures, or financial disclosures are present in the available data, indicating a founder-led operating entity with multi-channel monetization but limited disclosed scale.

Name

Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited

Legal name

Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited

Website

https://borealfarms.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited is a King City, Ontario controlled-environment and regenerative agriculture operator that produces microgreens, specialty mushrooms, and value-added food products, and runs a food and farm training academy serving consumers, community organizations, and educational partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Agriculture & Agritech Services

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Mushroom Production (111411), Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Equipment Operation & Rental with Operator (Tractors, Implements) (AFACAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural Production & Farm Operations (EDAOAOAA), Tillage & Field Preparation Services (Plowing, Cultivating, Bed Prep) (AFACAAAF)

Keywords

• Controlled environment agriculture
• Agricultural consulting services
• Vertical farming operations
• Microgreens and mushrooms
• Urban farming training

Headquarters

HQ city

King City

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce and Microgreens Sales: Sale of locally grown microgreens (Spicy Radish, Pea Shoots, Sunflower Sprouts, Broccoli, Mustard Greens), mushrooms (Lion's Mane, Blue Oyster), and market garden crops through e-commerce and farmgate sales with subscription basket option
2. Agricultural Consulting Services: Farm consulting and design services for indoor and outdoor growers, specializing in hydroponics, aquaponics, plant propagation, greenhouse operations, community agriculture design and food safety programs
3. Agronomy Consulting: Agronomic analysis and crop performance optimization services for academic, development and industry partners at commercial scale
4. Teaching, Training and Workshops: Immersive workshops, vocational training programs, and educational events for students, entrepreneurs, community leaders and young professionals
5. Speaking Engagements: Speaking engagements focusing on The Future of Food and Local Food Systems topics, with audiences ranging from 20 to 500 people
6. Farm Drop Infrastructure Projects: Collaborative venture with Container Built that designs, installs and supports agricultural infrastructure projects across Canada
7. Book Sales: Sale of agricultural books including The New Organic Grower, No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture, and Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening
8. Value-Added Mushroom Products: Processing of locally grown mushrooms into Lion's Mane Powder sold in packaged form

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Boreal Farms operates an indoor/outdoor food and farm training academy in King City, Ontario, producing and selling microgreens, mushrooms (Lion's Mane, Blue Oyster), and seasonal market garden produce, while providing agricultural consulting, agronomy services, community farm development, and immersive training/workshops. Its Farm Drop joint venture with Container Built designs, installs, and supports agricultural infrastructure projects across Canada for community and commercial clients.

Product overview

Boreal Farms is an agtech enterprise operating as an indoor/outdoor food and farm training academy in King City, Ontario. The company operates a multi-faceted portfolio combining (1) a cooperative of smallholder farmers using indoor farming systems (vertical farm, mushroom farm) and regenerative farming practices (market farm), (2) infrastructure and consulting services including Farm Drop (agricultural infrastructure design and installation) and agronomy consulting, and (3) education and training through teaching programs, workshops, and speaking engagements. Products sold include microgreens (Spicy Radish, Pea Shoots), fresh mushrooms (Lions Mane fresh and powder, Blue Oyster), and agricultural books. The company positions itself as strengthening regional food security through hybrid farming solutions that support community food security 365 days a year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Farm Drop: A collaborative venture between Boreal Farms and Container Built that designs, installs and supports agricultural infrastructure projects across Canada.

Products and services

• Farm Drop A collaborative infrastructure venture with Container Built that designs, installs, and supports agricultural infrastructure projects across Canada, including transforming outdoor spaces into market farms. Target customers are community organizations and commercial clients undertaking agricultural infrastructure projects.
• Agriculture Consulting Consulting services for indoor and outdoor growers, specializing in hydroponics, aquaponics, plant propagation, greenhouse operations, community agriculture design, and food safety programs. Designed for community organizations, schools, and commercial partners.
• Teaching & Training Immersive workshops, STEAM-curriculum programs, and vocational training in indoor farming delivered to students, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and young professionals. Over 3,500 individuals have been trained to date.
• Speaking Engagements Presentations delivered by the founder on topics including Controlled Environment Agriculture, Regenerative Agriculture, The Future of Food, and Urban Farming Innovations, for audiences ranging from 20 to 500 people.
• Fresh Produce (Microgreens) Living trays and flats of microgreens — Spicy Radish, Pea Shoots, Sunflower Sprouts, Broccoli, and Mustard Greens — grown year-round in indoor vertical farming systems. Sold via Shop Local e-commerce and farmgate sales.
• Lion's Mane Mushroom Fresh Ontario-grown Lion's Mane mushrooms sold in 1/2lb, 1lb, and 3lb quantities. Starting from CA$11.50.
• Blue Oyster Mushrooms Ontario-grown Blue Oyster mushrooms available in 1/2lb, 1lb, and 3lb quantities. Starting from CA$10.00.
• Lion's Mane Powder Powdered supplement made from 100% fruiting body of locally grown Lion's Mane mushrooms, processed in small batches. Priced at CA$35.00 per bag.
• Local Food Baskets Subscription Weekly subscription service providing nutrient-rich functional foods including microgreens and market garden produce, available through farmgate sales at the King City location.
• Community Farm Development Co-creation of indoor farms with community organizations to address food security, mental health, and social enterprise through hybrid hydroponics systems and immersive training workshops. Delivered for clients including Progress Place and The Stop Community Food Centre.
• Agronomy Consulting Data gathering and agronomic analysis services for partners in academia, development, and industry to optimize crop performance and operational dynamics at commercial scale.
• Agricultural Books Retail sale of agricultural reference books selected from Boreal Farms' recommended reading list, including The New Organic Grower 3rd Edition, No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture, and Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening. Priced at CA$40.75 each.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,500 individuals trained through teaching and training events
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Progress Place - Toronto, ONcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Boreal Farms began working with Progress Place in 2021 to co-create an indoor farm for community engagement. The team designed, installed and conducted eight immersive workshops to start-up the vertical farm. Ongoing support includes supply drops, monthly check-ins and technical troubleshooting.
• Seneca College / Seneca Urban Farm - North York, OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Boreal Farms founder is a Seneca Alumni who leveraged the College's on-campus HELIX incubator to start Ripple Farms. Since 2015 Seneca has been a supporter and collaborator including The Seneca Urban Farm - a custom built modular farming unit with upcycled shipping container and greenhouse. Applied research and training continues at the facility.
• Container BuiltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative venture between Boreal Farms and Container Built called 'Farm Drop'. This partnership designs, installs and supports agricultural infrastructure projects across Canada. Container Built provides the infrastructure/build expertise while Boreal Farms provides agricultural expertise and ongoing operational support.
• Castlepoint NumaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with values-based developer Castlepoint Numa for Thornbury Acres project - Ontario's first human-scale community agricultural cooperative. Castlepoint Numa is the developer while Boreal Farms serves as lead agricultural consultant.
• Thornbury Acres - Clarksburg, ONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoreal Farms serves as lead agricultural consultant for Ontario's first human-scale community agricultural cooperative. The project envisions a self-sustaining community of homesteaders with dynamic agricultural program where homesteaders work together as neighbors and business partners.
• The Stop Community Food Centre - Toronto, ONcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoreal Farms collaborated with The Stop's operations team at the 2,500 sq ft Green Barn (Wychwood Barns) to provide operational and technical guidance improving yields while aligning with best practices for production and food safety.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gotham Greens: US-based indoor greenhouse farming company producing leafy greens and herbs at commercial scale. Operates in the same controlled environment agriculture category as Boreal, but with national distribution and significantly larger footprint.
• AeroFarms: US-based commercial indoor vertical farming company operating large-scale facilities. Broader incumbent in the same controlled environment agriculture category as Boreal, but with significantly larger capital base and scale.
• Plenty: Well-funded indoor vertical farming company building large-scale production facilities. Operates in the same CEA category as Boreal but at a much larger scale with broader retail distribution.
• BrightFarms: US-based indoor greenhouse farming company supplying regional retailers with locally grown produce. Comparable indoor agriculture category, but at significantly larger commercial scale than Boreal.

Direct peers

• Ripple Farms: Toronto-based urban aquaponic farming company founded by Brandon Hebor (Boreal's founder). Same founder DNA, similar vertical/aquaponic farming approach, and overlapping customer base in Ontario.
• GoodLeaf Farms: Canadian vertical farming operator producing microgreens and leafy greens using hydroponic technology. Directly comparable to Boreal's vertical farm and microgreens production with similar Canadian food-security narrative.
• Elevate Farms: Canadian vertical farming operator building production-scale indoor farms for greens and microgreens. Comparable to Boreal's vertical farm operations and food security thesis in the Canadian market.
• Lufa Farms: Montreal-based urban rooftop farming company operating commercial greenhouses and direct-to-consumer produce subscriptions. Closest Canadian analog to Boreal's hybrid of controlled environment agriculture, local food sales, and community education focus.
• Just Greens: Canadian vertical farming company producing leafy greens via hydroponic systems. Comparable production technology, Canadian market focus, and direct-to-restaurant/retail distribution model.
• The Growcer: Canadian modular vertical farming company using upcycled shipping containers, similar to Boreal's Farm Drop infrastructure approach. Operates with community/enterprise clients including schools and Indigenous communities, mirroring Boreal's customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boreal Agri-Innovation Limited