economy
'Visible from space': why Spain has the world’s biggest concentration of greenhouses
Andalusia houses ‘Europe’s vegetable garden’ – a laboratory of development and innovation producing vegetables for all of Europe
TL;DR
- The 'sea of plastic' in Andalusia, Spain, covers over 30,000 hectares of greenhouses, producing enough vegetables to feed half a billion people annually.
- This agricultural district is a hub of innovation, utilizing advanced technologies like drip irrigation, natural pest control, genetic research, and desalination plants.
- The region began its intensive agriculture development in 1963, transforming an arid area into a major food production center.
- Research centers like Fundación Tecnova focus on developing sustainable solutions, including efficient plastics, climate-adapted crops, and water-saving techniques.
- Challenges persist regarding human exploitation of migrant workers and the management of plastic waste, with illegal dumping still a concern.
- Future agricultural practices in the region are expected to integrate AI, IoT, advanced sensors, and circular economy principles.