Agriculture production is threatened by
severe climate.
Shortage of irrigation water affects
organic agriculture.
Global climate change models show
increases in frequency of extreme drought
and wet periods.
Where is future agriculture?
• The Central Valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions.
• On less than 1 percent of the total farmland in the United States, the Central Valley produces 8 percent of the nation's agricultural output by value.
• Water quantity and quality are the biggest threaten
The California Central Valley
Types of protected cultivation -
overview
US greenhouse production
High Tech
Low Tech (low to high tunnel)
Chinese style solar greenhouse
Closed plant production system –
Plant factory
Outline
Types of protected cultivation -
overview
US greenhouse production
High Tech
Low Tech (high tunnel)
Chinese style solar greenhouse
Closed plant production system –
Plant factory
Outline
Type of protected cultivation
Rain shelter /screen or net house
Plastic and Glass greenhouses
Plant Factory (Vertical Farming, Urban
Agriculture, etc.)
W
E
South roof
Outside thermal cover N S
North Wall
North RoofSouth Roof
¼ of the greenhouse in China is solar GH.
Solar greenhouse is the main type of greenhouse in northern China
From Prof. Ma Chenwei of CAU
Protection against the impact of heavy
rainfall
Protection against temperature extremes
Protection against biotic stresses due to
pests and diseases
Benefits of Protective Structures
Country Area (ha)
1. China 2,760,000
2. S. Korea 57,444
3. Spain 52,170
4. Japan 49,049
5. Turkey 39,400
6. Italy 26,500
7. Mexico 11,759
8. Holland 10,370
9. France 9,620
10. United States 8,425
Total areas of greenhouse production (Kacira)
The top 10 countries
Protected cultivation in China (by 2008)
小拱棚38.2%
大中型塑料棚38.9%
大型连栋温室0.39%
简易加温温室0.58%
普通日光温室3.46%
节能型日光温室18.5%
Plastic GH38.9%
Low tunnels38.2%
Solar GH18.5%
Simple Solar GH, 3.46%
Simple heating GH, 0.58%
Multi-span GH, 0.38%
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
Types of protected cultivation -
overview
US greenhouse production
High Tech
Low Tech (high tunnel)
Chinese style solar greenhouse
Closed plant production system –
Plant factory
Outline
Item West M_West S_West N_East S_East
Competition 22.6% 22.0% 26.7% 19.6% 23.9%
Energy costs 9.7% 20.3% 0% 39.1% 10.9%
Input costs 9.7% 20.3% 0% 17.4% 26.1%
Transportation 6.5% 0% 13.3% 4.3% 2.2%
Labor costs 29% 25.4% 40.0% 8.7% 23.9%
Water 9.7% 0% 6.7% 0% 2.2%
Other 12.9% 11.9% 12.9% 10.9% 10.9%
Challenges of the US Greenhouse Growers (based on 2010 survey, Kacira)
1. Labor costs 25.4%, 2 Competition 23%, 3 Energy costs 16%
• Climate is controlled automatically
• Ebb and flood floors or benches
• Automation and operation
• Thermal screen, bug screens
High Tech Greenhouses
Founded in PA in 1990 by third generation
Dutch greenhouse owners.
1992, moved to Wilcox, Arizona with
abundant light.
In 2002, expanded to 318 acres in
Snowflake, AZ.
EuroFresh Farms, Wilcox, AZ
Hydroponically grown tomatoes, bell peppers,
and cucumbers.
Fresh, Sustainable, Sweet, Quality
Leading grower and marketer of branded, high-
quality hydroponic greenhouse grown produce
in North America.
Village FarmsMarfa, TexasUS, Mexico, DR
Water conservation. Water and fertilizer are
recycled for four times. Use 86% less water
than field grown tomatoes.
Land Preservation. Use reusable coconut fiber
to support the plants.
Integrated pest management. Use beneficial
insects to control pests.
Recycling CO2. Pump the CO2 from heat boilers
back to the greenhouse.
Village Farms
Built in recent years in Maine.
Glass greenhouse, venlo type.
Rock wool hydroponic
Vine-ripened tomatoes.
BACKYARD FARMS
Houweling’s Tomatoes, CA (family
owned)
Windset Farms, NV (Many kinds of
vegetables)
Wholesum Harvest, AZ (many kinds
of vegetables)
Other high-Tech greenhouse production companies
Growing system between
greenhouse and row covers;
inexpensive.
No precision control of environment.
But do modify the environment to
improve yield, quality, and extend the
growing season (spring, fall.
Prevention of rain, wind, creatures,
etc. Reduce the use of pesticide.
Other names: hoop houses, poly-
houses, or cold-frames
High Tunnels
It is relatively new using HT for the
production of vegetables, fruits and
flowers.
It is not until early 90s the potential
benefits of HT was reported for
production.
A few years ago, USDA NRCS started a
HT initiative program (subsidizing
growers).
Thousands of HTs have been built
through this program.
Status of High Tunnels in the U.S.
Types of protected cultivation -
overview
US greenhouse production
High Tech
Low Tech (high tunnel)
Chinese style solar greenhouse
Closed plant production system –
Plant factory
Outline
Main Components of a Solar GH
SN
Outside
thermal cover
Span
North Roof
Roof height
Width
N. Roof
Wall height
No
rth
wal
l
South Roof
Slide Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
Single Span, East – West.
Length: 50-100 m; Width: 6-12 m.
North wall: opaque, heavy material for
thermal insulation and heat retention.
South roof: arch shape with good light
interception.
Use thermal blanket on the roof at night.
Characteristics of Solar GH
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAUCredit: Prof. Ma of CAU
SN
Min temp outside
-15 ~ -10℃
Minimum temp inside
5 ~ 10℃
Average temp inside 21-25 C without heating during the day
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 4 8 12 16 20 0 4 8
时刻(时)
气温(℃
)
室外气温
室内气温
25 ~30℃
18 ~ 20℃
Sunny day
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAUCredit: Prof. Ma of CAU
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 4 8 12 16 20 0 4 8
时刻(时)
气温(℃
)
室外气温
室内气温
18 ~22℃
15 ~ 18℃
Cloudy day
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
Average light transmission
45%~60%
Conventional GH
60%~80%
Solar GH
Reasons for a better thermal environment
1. Better light interception
South-facing wall; fewer structuresOn average, 15% higher.
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
Solar energy
absorbed by
the floor
SN a
2. North Wall accumulates and store solar energy
Solar heat absorbed by north wall
For the same area, Solar GH absorbed 40-70% more solar energy.
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
3~5W/(m2·℃)
Conventional GH
1.2~1.6W/(m2·℃)
Solar GH
3. Better thermal insulation
Heat transfer coefficient
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
SN
1/3~1/2
1/2~2/3
150~350W/m2
100~250W/m2
4. Heat storage and “heating”
Solar heat stored during the day releases back to the greenhouse.
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
Protected cultivation in China
小拱棚38.2%
大中型塑料棚38.9%
大型连栋温室0.39%
简易加温温室0.58%
普通日光温室3.46%
节能型日光温室18.5%
Plastic GH38.9%
Low tunnels38.2%
Solar GH18.5%
Simple Solar GH, 3.46%
Simple heating GH, 0.58%
Multi-span GH, 0.38%
Credit: Prof. Ma of CAU
Most solar GHs are built by growers
themselves, no standard, leading to variations
in performance.
Low temperature and cold injury are common.
Lack of control facility and instruments
Low efficiency in management; laborious.
Use too much soil to build north wall.
Low land use efficiency.
Not well-documented in theory (design,
theoretical analysis, modeling, etc.)
Problems and Challenges
Number of solar GH is increasing steadily in
various locations and quality is also improving.
Variety increased for various climate and usage.
Optimization of design and construction.
New materials to be developed with better
quality for thermal absorption and storage.
New materials for rooftop cover to replace straw
and shutter machine for easy operation.
Trends for future development
Improve solar energy use efficiency; utilize
energy from wind and geothermal.
Adding comprehensive environmental control
equipment.
Develop standards for solar GH design and
construction.
Fundamental research on thermal environment
and modeling.
Trends for future development
Types of protected cultivation -
overview
US greenhouse production
High Tech
Low Tech (high tunnel)
Chinese style solar greenhouse
Closed plant production system –
Controlled environment indoor
Outline
Advantages
• Higher production• Higher quality produce• Grow plants anywhere at any season• Local for local• Higher water use efficiency• Higher space use efficiency• Low use of agrochemicals
Challenges
• Higher initial investment• Higher degree of management• Not all crops are suitable to be
profitable in a controlled environment.
Established in 2003 to develop a highly efficient,
environmentally superior, urban based produce
growth system.
Between 2003-2007, a pilot facility was built in
Vancouver, Canada and was improved in the
following years.
Boston, MA.
TerraSphere
Full control of the growth environment (water,
nutrient, light, temperature).
Full containment so that plants are not exposed
to pollutants.
Continuous, year-round growth.
The ability to site facilities in virtually any
location.
TerraSphere
Vertical Tower Unit with
Spinning lights in the
middle.
Hydroponics
De-humidification,
heating, cooling
systems.
GREEN APPLIED SCIENCES (https://greenappliedsciences.com/)
Gothan Greens was founded in 2008
To produce local, urban farm operation for
freshest, high quality culinary ingredients,
year-round.
First commercial scale rooftop greenhouse
was built in the U.S. in 2011.
Brooklyn, NY(Rooftop GH)
Uncommon Ground, a certified green restaurant in Chicago, hosts an organic farm on its rooftop.
Rooftop Garden/Farming, Chicago
Book on Vertical Farm
The Vertical Farm: Feeding the world in
the 21st Century
By Prof. Dickson Despommier
Public Health in Environmental Health
Sciences at Columbia University
Microgreens: salad crop
shoots harvested for
consumption within 7 to 15
days after seeding, between
sprouts and baby salads.
Vertical farming for Microgreens
Scientists at USDA –ARS analyzed the key nutrients in 25
different varieties of vegetable microgreens.
Different microgreens contained widely differing amounts of
vitamins and carotenoids.
microgreens contained considerably higher levels of
vitamins and carotenoids, about five times greater—than
their mature plant counterparts.
Among the 25 microgreens tested, red cabbage, cilantro,
garnet amaranth, and green daikon radish had the highest
concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin K and
vitamin E, respectively.
Growing, harvesting, and handling conditions may have a
considerable effect on nutrient content.
ARS News Service – January 23, 2014Specialty Greens Pack a Nutritional Punch
Interests in controlled environment agriculture are steadily
increasing.
Vertical farming in a indoor controlled facilities is increasing
with high value crops – leafy greens, baby greens,
microgreens, medicinal plants, etc.
Led by Japan, many Asian countries are now growing
short-statue vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants under
artificial lighting in controlled environment.
New indoor controlled growing facilities are being (or to be)
built in USA, Canada, The Netherlands, Singapore,
Mongolia.
Middle eastern countries are considering …
Worldwide Movement in Vertical Farming