ESG & Urban Farming: The New Way to Increase the Value of Your Property 

In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives have become a top priority in the commercial real estate sector because they can help build resilience to the environmental crisis.

Harvests from our urban farm located on Yorkdale Centre’s rooftop in Toronto.

1 – Improving the Appearance of Your Property: A well-maintained and beautiful urban farm can significantly enhance the appearance of your property. The addition of lush greenery and vibrant flowers can add to the aesthetic appeal of the property and make it stand out from the surrounding area.

2 – Adding Amenities to Your Property: Urban farming can also provide additional amenities for your property, such as a community garden for residents or a rooftop farm that can be used for events and gatherings. These additional amenities can increase the value of your property by providing residents with a unique and enjoyable space to spend their time.

3 – Reducing Environmental Footprint: Urban farming can also help reduce the environmental footprint of your property by reducing the amount of energy needed to transport food from farm to table. Additionally, the use of sustainable farming practices, like composting and rainwater harvesting, can reduce the carbon footprint of your property.

4 – Attracting Pollinators to Your Property: Supporting biodiversity in urban areas is the best way to protect pollinators and maintain healthy ecosystems. Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, play a crucial role in the reproductive process of many plants, as they help to ensure the continued production of food crops, flowers, and other vegetation that are important for human well-being. MicroHabitat urban farms contribute greatly to the development of a healthy pollinator environment, which represents a further step in the protection of biodiversity.

5 – Attracting Eco-Conscious Tenants: With the growing concern for environmental sustainability, properties that incorporate eco-friendly initiatives like urban farming are becoming increasingly attractive to tenants. These properties are seen as socially responsible and environmentally conscious, which can lead to a higher demand for rental units and a more valuable property.

6 – Increased Property Resilience: Urban farming can also increase the resilience of your property by reducing its dependence on traditional food sources, which can be affected by factors like natural disasters and economic downturns. With an urban farm on your property, you can ensure a steady supply of fresh, locally-sourced food, regardless of external factors.

In conclusion, urban farming is a practice that is here to stay and can offer numerous benefits for your property. Whether you are a property owner, investor, or tenant, incorporating urban farming into your property can help increase its value and provide a more sustainable and enjoyable living environment.

One way to do this is to incorporate urban agriculture into the design or programming of a property, as this practice offers several benefits to both tenants and owners. Urban farming is an ESG driven experience, considering it provides a number of benefits to not only the environment but also to society. Growing fresh produce is an environmental action that increases the value of your property in many ways.

In its ESG 2021 report, Crown highlighted how its MicroHabitat farm has helped the company create greener, more sustainable communities.
Team members and tenants that love getting fresh grown produce on site.

Are you ready to focus on sustainability in order to meet sustainable certification requirements, attract tenants, and reduce operating costs? Reach out to discuss your green initiative!