Ottawa, ON – Ottawa-based vertical farming innovator Growcer was honoured today at Rideau Hall as a recipient of the 2026 Governor General’s Innovation Award, marking a milestone moment in the company’s 10th year.

Co-founders Corey Ellis and Alida Burke were in attendance to accept the award, recognizing their leadership in advancing community-driven solutions to food security, climate resilience and local food production.

Presented as part of Canadian Innovation Week, the award is one of Canada’s highest distinctions for innovation, recognizing work by organizations that is creating meaningful impact both here in Canada and around the world.

Growcer was one of five recipients selected nationally for the 2026 Governor General’s Innovation Awards, and the recognition and the award highlight a decade of advancing community-driven solutions to food security, climate resilience and local food production.

From Ottawa startup to global impact

Founded in 2016, Growcer has grown from a student-led venture into an internationally recognized agri-tech company. Today, its modular vertical farming systems support more than 120 installations across Canada and over 1,000 globally, helping communities grow fresh food year-round, in regions where traditional agriculture can be challenging.

Working alongside Indigenous communities, municipalities, schools and non-profit organizations, Growcer’s approach focuses on enabling local, community-led food systems that reduce reliance on complex supply chains and improve access to fresh produce. The company’s systems are designed to operate in a wide range of climates, from northern and remote regions to urban environments, using significantly less water than traditional farming methods.

A milestone moment for Canadian food innovation

In announcing the award earlier this spring, Growcer emphasized that the recognition the company is receiving reflects the broader movement toward developing and building more resilient and locally driven, sustainable and sovereign food systems across Canada.

“This award belongs to that movement, and we intend to use that spotlight to illuminate what they are building, and what Canada still needs to do to back them,” said Corey Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Growcer.

• Read Growcer’s April announcement here.

Built within Ottawa’s innovation ecosystem

Growcer’s journey is closely connected to Ottawa’s innovation ecosystem.

The company received early-stage support through local entrepreneurship programs and later scaled its growth through Invest Ottawa’s IO Venture Path, graduating in 2021 following a period of rapid expansion.

Invest Ottawa and MaRS Discovery District jointly nominated Growcer for the 2026 Governor General’s Innovation Award, a reflection of the company’s impact and the strength of the ecosystem supporting its growth. Today, Growcer’s recognition at Rideau Hall is a proud moment for the local innovation community.

More recently, Growcer has continued collaborating with local partners on community-based initiatives, including a vertical farming project supporting The Ottawa Mission and local food resilience efforts.

Looking ahead

As Canada continues to focus on food security and supply chain resilience, Growcer’s recognition highlights the growing role of homegrown innovation in addressing global challenges.

Now in its 10th year, the company’s work demonstrates how solutions developed in Ottawa can support stronger, more self-sufficient communities across Canada and around the world.

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Learn more about Growcer

• https://www.thegrowcer.ca
• https://www.thegrowcer.ca/news-opinions/food-security-takes-centre-stage-in-canada-growcer-receives-2026-governor-generals-innovation-award
• https://ottawamission.com/ottawa-missions-launches-vertical-farm-to-feed-thousands-rbc-growcer/
• https://obj.ca/growcer-urban-vertical-farm-area-xo-support-ottawa-mission/