The greenhouse, proclaimed to be a landmark of innovation in Indigenous food sovereignty, will be, when completed, one of the largest greenhouse projects in the world, according to MHA Nation information.

The indoor growing space will eventually span the area of 14 football fields and is powered by reclaimed flare gas from the tribe’s oil wells. Otherwise, the oil wells would be polluting waste. At the greenhouse, the reclaimed flare gas is captured for heat, carbon dioxide and electricity to power the growing operation, according to the information.

In a presentation to the Minot City Council in early November, Mark Fox, chairman of the MHA Nation, said, in a Nov. 4, edition of The Minot Daily News, that Minot grocery shoppers could soon be buying produce grown in the new tribal greenhouse, based on the tribe’s marketing vision.

The greenhouse is proposed to have 412,000 feet of growing space when fully built out.

Randy Lindemann, originally from Minot and owner of RML Architects of Minneapolis, took part in the grand opening activities of the MHA Nation’s Native Green Grow (NGS) greenhouse near Parshall Nov. 26. RML Architects is the architectural firm for the project. Photo by Karen LoneFight.

“This is just phase one. We will do close to 2 million pounds of food annually in that as well,” Fox told the council members.

He said the hope is grocery stores will be stocked with strawberries, cucumbers, lettuce and other produce from the greenhouse, which will grow food year-round.

The unique greenhouse project to use flared gas to generate power and heat for the greenhouse growing operation, was Fox’s idea.

He got the idea when he read a story a few years ago about The Netherlands, its innovative agricultural technology and how it feeds the country, according to the April 2, 2022, edition of The Minot Daily News. To plan for the greenhouse venture, Fox and a delegation from the tribe made a trip to The Netherlands in March 2019, where they met with the Dutch Ministry and operators of The Netherlands. They toured food production facilities and commercial greenhouses. During another trip a few months later, Fox, a tribal delegation and architect Randy Lindemann visited Houweling’s greenhouse in Mona, Utah.

RML Architects of Minneapolis, owned by Lindemann, originally from Minot, is the architecture firm for the project. Ground breaking was held at the site April 19, 2021.

Mark Fox, chairman of the MHA Nation, speaks at the grand opening of the tribe’s new Native Green Grow (NG2) greenhouse near Parshall Nov. 26. Photo by Karen LoneFight.

According to MHA Nation information, the greenhouse will help the MHA Nation reclaim its agricultural heritage; feed people far beyond Fort Berthold Reservation; enhance the symbiotic relationship between agriculture and energy; educate young people about food sustainability practices; and provide numerous job opportunities for tribal members.

Tom Joyce, Minot city manager; Col. James Schlabach, commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base; and Mark Jantzer, Minot mayor, from left to right, were among many who attended the MHA Nation’s grand opening of the Native Green Grow (NG2) greenhouse near Parshall Nov. 26. Photo by Karen LoneFight.