Andalusia’s greenhouse belt
Southern Spain’s Andalusia hosts the world’s largest concentration of greenhouses — so extensive they’re visible from space — and it’s now a testbed for vertical‑garden and controlled‑environment agriculture feeding Europe. The scale makes it central to innovations in year‑round vegetable production. (theguardian.com)
Estimates of the greenhouse footprint in the Poniente Almeriense vary by source: NASA imagery has been cited as showing “more than 40,000 hectares” of plastic-covered greenhouses in the Almería area. (science.nasa.gov) Spanish industry data for the 2024/25 campaign report roughly 2.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables exported from Almería and a sector export value of about €3,716 million for that season. (hortidaily.com) Regional water infrastructure has been expanded: the Campo de Dalías desalination facility is reported with an annual production capacity of about 30 hm³ (30 million cubic metres) to supply municipalities and farms, and the Mar de Alborán plant began supplying water to farmers in September 2024. (lavozdealmeria.com) (inspain.news) Environmental pressures are documented: studies and reporting estimate roughly 33,500 tonnes of plastic waste generated annually from greenhouse materials in the province, and academic work describes long-standing aquifer overexploitation and salinisation linked to intensive irrigation. (foodunfolded.com) (researchgate.net) Labour statistics show the sector’s social scale: reporting identifies roughly 40,000 workers in Almería’s greenhouse sector specifically, while combined greenhouse employment in Almería and nearby Granada has been estimated at about 110,000 jobs. (publico.es) (fhalmeria.com) Local innovation hubs are already active: the University of Almería opened AgroConnect, a full‑scale demonstration greenhouse using renewable energy, robotics, digital control and AI for precision greenhouse production (inaugurated February 2024), and the Junta de Andalucía awarded €16.5m in 2024 to modernise 261 Almería greenhouses as part of a push toward more efficient, controlled production. (news.ual.es) (juntadeandalucia.es)
