Community Builders Awards: This year’s Economic Development award winner is strengthening local agriculture

Through dedication, vision and teamwork, the Mnogin Greenhouse has proved that sustainability and economic progress can go hand in hand. 

The indoor growing facility - located on Nipissing First Nation in the Jocko Point community - uses the latest technology to grow high quality lettuces, leafy greens and herbs to serve the North Bay area year-round, all while remaining environmentally friendly. 

“The Mnogin Greenhouse is an innovative leader in sustainable agriculture. It uses 90% less water and 95% less land than traditional agricultural practice, while yielding the same number of crops,” said Scott McLeod, Chief of Nipissing First Nation. 

From an economic standpoint, the greenhouse promotes shopping locally and boosting the local economy, while reducing environmental impacts. 

The Mnogin Greenhouse also guarantees highly nutritious produce that stays fresh, as they are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or herbicides.

Genevieve Couchie, Nipissing First Nation business operations manager, was delighted to hear about the Mnogin Greenhouse’s Community Builders award win for Economic Development. 

“We're honoured to be recognized with this award. This means a great deal to our team. It affirms the need and appetite for innovative projects like ours,” she shared. “It's also a validation of the project's vision to enhance food security on Nipissing First Nation and for the surrounding regions. Given the ongoing disruptions to supply chains and rising food costs, local food production is becoming increasingly important.”

“This award highlights the power of collective effort in driving positive change,” Couchie added. “We hope it will serve as inspiration for other projects that strengthen local food production and continue pushing the boundaries of sustainable economic development.”

The Mnogin Greenhouse hopes to continue to focus on optimizing its operations to achieve the highest quality products. 

“We're also always looking for unique new products to introduce to our customers, both individual consumers and our restaurant and retail customers. In time, we hope to expand our operations and look at growing other crops beyond lettuces, leafy greens and herbs,” Couchie said.

“‘Mnogin’ means ‘Grow Well’ in Nishnaabemwin, Nipissing First Nation's dialect of Ojibwe. We are environmentally friendly and fully embrace the ‘Grow Well’ philosophy in everything we do,” she added.

The Economic Development award goes to an individual or group that has had an important impact on the economic well-being of the community. They have chaired or led a committee, helped bring new business to town, or are responsible for putting in place positive infrastructure.

Congratulations, Mnogin Greenhouse!

This award is proudly sponsored by North Bay Plastic Molders Ltd.