Report

Global commercial greenhouse market is projected to witness a CAGR of 9.61% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 37.37 billion in 2023 to USD 77.86 billion in 2031. The market is expanding rapidly due to increased demand for sustainable agriculture and the rising need to grow food in controlled surroundings. Greenhouses provide the best conditions for plants to flourish and, therefore, guarantee maximum production levels within a short period regardless of other environmental factors such as rainfall or sunshine. It is important, especially when adverse climatic changes and uncertain weather occurrences affect conventional farming methods.
Increased productivity is being experienced due to technological progressions in greenhouse automation, including climate control systems, LED grow lights, hydroponics, and others. Labor costs have been greatly reduced while crop quality and quantity have improved remarkably as a result of these innovative methods. There is an increase in demand by consumers for organic and locally produced food, hence farmers and agro-based enterprises are encouraged to engage in greenhouse farming practices.
Regionally, owing to its advanced agricultural infrastructure and high adoption of greenhouse technologies, Europe dominates the share of the global market. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the fastest growth due to rising population, urbanization, and increasing need for food security.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and leafy vegetables are the primary crops found in commercial greenhouses. Moreover, greenhouse systems include floriculture and medicinal plants in high demand.
Even though several challenges such as high start-up capital and operational expenses persist, the market is being extended by the long-term advantages and growing governmental support in terms of subsidies and other incentives.
In August 2024, Heliospectra AB. collaborated with Tomatoworld to deploy cutting-edge LED lighting in greenhouse farming with the goal of encouraging sustainability. As a part of this collaboration, Tomatoworld will replace its antiquated HPS lighting systems with helioCORE control system and MITRA X LED fixtures from Heliospectra.
Increasing Occurrence of Extreme Weather Events and Shifting Climates Catalyze Market Expansion
Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns have become serious challenges to traditional agricultural practices, thus making the market for commercial greenhouses crucial. Open field agriculture has been disrupted by extreme weather events such as droughts, extreme floods, and storms, these have led to produce failures and reduced yields. Farmers find it hard to deal with this unpredictable nature, which results in uncertainties of production, affecting global food security. In fact, in May 2024, due to unfavorable weather reducing yields for the maturing crop in Russia, the largest wheat exporter, wheat prices worldwide surged to a 10-month high. Moreover, during the same time period, the Midwest region in the United States was more concerned about excessive rain than heat, causing floods in places that grow corn and soybeans.
In such an environment, temperature, humidity, light, and other growth factors can be controlled to shield crops from external climatic factors. This control over extreme conditions enables farmers to produce good harvests all year round, irrespective of the outside climate. Moreover, since they protect against climate change, commercial greenhouses are more stable to enable steady production in adversity.
As global warming becomes more severe, the use of greenhouse farming is expected to increase. It offers a sustainable solution for farmers in dealing with the escalating challenges resulting from unpredictable weather patterns, contributing towards ensuring food security and minimizing the ecological effects of agriculture through effective water and energy management systems.
Government Incentives and Support Fuel the Market Growth
Government incentives include offering grants, tax breaks, or subsidies to farmers to encourage greenhouse farming, as many countries find sustainable and resilient food production significant. The aim of these measures is to compensate for the high initial costs involved in setting up and operating commercial greenhouses, thus making it more affordable for farmers and agri-business enterprises to set up. For instance, farmers who build polyhouses are eligible for subsidies from the Indian government. The subsidy may equate to 80% of the project's total cost.
In conjunction with financial assistance, certain nations offer technical help and research financing, which serve to encourage the growth of sophisticated greenhouse technologies such as climate control systems, automated irrigation, and energy efficient lighting. Productivity is enhanced by these inventions while minimizing their impact on the environment, hence promoting greater sustainability objectives in agriculture. In October 2023, St. Kitts and Nevis' Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Cooperatives introduced its Greenhouse Village Initiative, emphasizing reducing the country's Food Import Bill. In the project's initial phase, fifteen advanced greenhouses were built, focusing on producing priority crops in large quantities, such as melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens.
Greenhouse farming is being considered by many countries as a part of their agricultural development strategies, especially in areas experiencing food security problems or extreme climatic conditions. Regions that can no longer support traditional farming due to water shortages and erratic weather are looking at greenhouses as one possible long-term measure for ensuring stable food supplies.
Plastic Greenhouses are Expected to Hold the Dominant Market Share
As plastic greenhouses are inexpensive, adaptable, and simple to install, they dominate the share of the global commercial greenhouse market. In addition, compared to glass, polyethylene and polycarbonate plastic materials are lighter and less costly making them a preferred option for small-scale and larger scale farming enterprises. Their lightweight nature allows them to be moved around with great ease, thereby lowering the capital needed to start up a greenhouse. In fact, in September 2024, J. Huete Greenhouses began the construction of a semi-closed plastic greenhouse in Colombia. This project, which is supposed to be launched for a university in the last semester of 2024, will make use of advanced machinery to ensure that crops flourish to their full potential while preventing pests from appearing using a positive pressure system.
Plastic greenhouses are flexible in design, allowing growers to adapt them according to their specific crop needs. These structures are long-lasting and resistant to diverse climatic conditions including hailstorms and strong winds. Moreover, recent developments in plastic technology such as UV-resistant coatings have enhanced their lifespan and ability to transmit light, thus making them closer to glass, performance wise.
Despite the fact that glass greenhouses have a superior transmission of light and long-lasting properties, they cost much more to construct and maintain. Moreover, the heavier weight and fragility of glass complicates the processes of installations and repairs. Hence, most people prefer plastic greenhouses, especially for budget-conscious farmers.
Europe Holds a Substantial Market Share
Europe holds a significant share in this market due to its modern agricultural setup, ideal weather patterns for glasshouse farming, and introduction of government aids for environment-friendly farming. Countries such as Netherlands, Spain, and Italy tend to lead the greenhouse business when it comes to cultivation of flowers, vegetables, and fruits. The Netherlands which is commonly known as the greenhouse capital of the world has most sophisticated greenhouses with high-tech systems and features such as automation, climate control systems, and hydroponics.
Moreover, in response to the increasing demand for fresh organic locally-grown food worldwide, European countries have subsidized greenhouse technology use among their farmers through tax breaks and funding research in that regard.
Additionally, an emphasis on decreasing CO2 emissions and curbing excess water use has resulted in Europe adopting energy-efficient greenhouse designs and precise agricultural methodologies. In July 2024, to support green transition, European commercial greenhouses tested latest technologies that are energy and water efficient, under the project, The Greefa. The project is working on regaining pure water from the surplus moisture, thus saving both energy and water.
Future Market Scenario (2024 � 2031F)
� In the future, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven technologies are likely to enhance the prominence of commercial greenhouses.
� As concerns about the environment continue to grow, there will be more focus on environmentally friendly greenhouses. It is anticipated that technologies such as using renewable sources of energy (solar panels), recycling systems for water, and constructions using biodegradable materials will become readily accepted options.
� With increasing population, urbanization, and climate issues resulting in surging food concerns, greenhouse infrastructure investment will increase in developing nations to enhance local food production and decrease consistent reliance on the import of foods.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The commercial greenhouse market features a competitive landscape with numerous key players offering advanced solutions to meet the growing demand for sustainable and efficient agriculture. These companies are driving the adoption of technologies such as automated climate control, precision irrigation systems, and hydroponic techniques to optimize crop yields and reduce resource consumption. They provide tailored greenhouse solutions across various sectors, including agriculture, floriculture, and horticulture, ensuring adaptability to different crop needs. In May 2024, Berry Global Inc. launched two agricultural films, Baletite and SilotitePro, providing farmers with a more intelligent way to preserve silage. Crops and plants in greenhouses are covered with these films, improving the overall quality of the crop by lowering the danger of crop spoiling caused by weather, pests, and weeds.
As the market evolves, key players invest heavily in research and development to enhance energy efficiency, increase productivity, and incorporate sustainable practices such as water recycling and renewable energy. The trend toward larger, fully automated greenhouse facilities is becoming more prominent, allowing for year-round production and minimizing labor costs.
In the future, market players are expected to focus on expanding their global reach, particularly in emerging regions, such as Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where demand for advanced greenhouse solutions is rising. The overall outlook for the commercial greenhouse market remains positive, driven by technological innovation, sustainability goals, and the need to address food security challenges.