Page 23 - AWA Vol.41-No.9 issue

AGRICULTURE EXPORT

Netherlands Commercial Greenhouse Market

The Netherlands Commercial Greenhouse Market size
is estimated at USD 2.66 billion in 2025, and is expected
to reach USD 3.72 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.90%
during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The integration of advanced technology in agriculture
has enhanced farming practices and resource utilization
efficiency. Glass remains a primary material for green-
house glazing, valued for its high light transmission
properties and durability. These characteristics have
made glass greenhouses a preferred choice among ag-
ricultural practitioners globally.
Modern greenhouses incorporate advanced technol-
ogy to optimize plant growth across various species,
including vegetables, flowers, trees, cannabis, and
shrubs. These structures feature either transparent
roofs for natural sunlight utilization or artificial lighting crease crop yields. As a result, farmers are increasingly
systems. Commercial greenhouses create tempera- adopting commercial greenhouse farming methods to
ture-controlled environments by trapping warm air from achieve higher productivity.
sunlight, protecting plants from adverse weather condi- The loss of arable land through erosion and pollution
tions. The commercial greenhouse market expansion is over the past 40 years threatens food security. Rising
driven by population growth, increasing food demand, temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, and extreme
climate change impacts, and the need for enhanced crop weather events, including droughts and floods, have
productivity. The Netherlands demonstrates extensive made many areas unsuitable for conventional farming.
implementation of advanced greenhouse techniques, This situation has increased the demand for climate-re-
with substantial areas dedicated to controlled environ- silient crops and adaptation technologies, particularly
ment agriculture.
heat-resistant commercial greenhouses, which are pro-
The declining availability of arable land is accelerating jected to see higher adoption during the forecast period.
the adoption of greenhouse farming. In the Netherlands, Horticulture Crops Dominates the Market
agricultural land decreased from 18.1 million hectares
in 2022 to 17.4 million hectares in 2023. This reduction Horticulture crops maintain the largest market share in
has necessitated maximizing crop yields within limited the Netherlands greenhouse sector, driven by strong
spaces to meet food requirements, driving greenhouse demand for fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers. The
farming market growth. Fluctuating climate variations primary greenhouse-grown produce includes leafy
are also compelling farmers to adopt greenhouse cul- greens, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, squash,
tivation methods. However, the market faces growth strawberries, peaches, coriander, chilies, and raspber-
constraints, including substantial initial investment re- ries. Major retail chains in the country, including Albert
quirements and insufficient technical knowledge among Heijn, Jumbo, and Lidl, source high-quality greenhouse
farmers during the forecast period. vegetables from producers such as Agro Care and Kop-
pert Cress.
Declining Agricultural Land Drives Growth in Com-
mercial Greenhouse Farming Cucumber cultivation has increased in the country due
to its lower energy requirements than tomatoes. Statis-
Agricultural land continues to decrease as urban ex-
pansion and infrastructure development encroach on tics Netherlands reports that the greenhouse cucumber
fertile areas. This reduction in available farmland strains cultivation area expanded from 0.58 thousand hectares
existing agricultural resources, leading to soil degrada- in 2019 to 0.66 thousand hectares in 2023. The rising
tion and reduced food security. Therefore, investments energy costs have encouraged higher cucumber culti-
in commercial greenhouse farming and controlled-envi- vation, further solidifying the dominance of horticulture
ronment agriculture (CEA) are increasing. crops in the greenhouse market.
The Netherlands has experienced a consistent decline The Netherlands has adapted to its geographical
in agricultural land over the past decade. According to constraints of limited land and rainy climate by imple-
World Bank Data, In the Netherlands, agricultural land menting efficient and innovative production systems to
decreased from 18.16 million hectares in 2019 to 17.4 maximize yields. Duijvestijn Tomatoes exemplifies this
million hectares in 2023. According to the EU Agricul- innovation, producing approximately 100 million metric
ture Outlook, the country's total arable land will de- tons of tomatoes annually on 14 hectares using geother-
crease further by 2030 due to urbanization, highlighting mal energy. These advanced greenhouse farming meth-
the importance of efficient land utilization. Population ods continue to strengthen the market growth.
growth and urban development create pressure to in- Circle 27 on enquiry card
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