I've seen lots of these odd constructions...
 |
... from the air.
They're greenhouses; a common sight as you fly over agricultural lands.
These images are from: 36.699632, 118.730094 – China Weifang ; 43.547962, 16.293624 – Split, Croatia; 36.878222, -2.370747 – Almería, Spain ; 35.420553, -80.780018 – Huntersville, North Carolina, US
Sometimes they cover an enormous area of land, as in Weifang, China where greenhouses spread over more than 820 square kilometers. (Weifang is a prefecture-level city in Shandong Province in northeastern China.)
You'll also see lots of greenhouses from the air in Europe and the US. Notably in southern Spain, around Almería. Where, by some estimates, the greenhouses cover more than 40,000 hectares (150 square miles)—nearly all of Campo de Dalías.
Naturally, my curiosity is piqued by seeing such giant constructions, and it reminded me that not so long ago, there was a boom in highly efficient greenhouses that were going to be powered by AI, robots, and high-tech lighting.
These lead me to a few curious questions for you to ponder. Can you find the answers? If so, what did you do to discover the results?
1. How long have greenhouses been around? If greenhouses date to around Roman times (as I've heard), what were the greenhouses made of?
2. What is growing under all of those greenhouses? What's grown in Weifang that needs SO many greenhouses?
3. Those robotic greenhouses... how well are they doing? Has there been a boom in robotic and/or vertical greenhouses in the past 10 years? Is it a growth industry?
Let us know what you discover! And just as importantly, tell us how you found the answers.
Forward!
Keep searching.
searched with google lens:
ReplyDelete"AI Overview
The image shows the "Mar de Plástico" (Sea of Plastic), which is the world's largest concentration of greenhouses, located in the province of Almería, Spain.
The greenhouses cover more than 40,000 hectares (150 square miles) and are visible from space.
They produce between 2.5 million and 3.5 million tons of fruits and vegetables annually, making the region a major exporter to Europe.
The use of plastic greenhouses, along with access to groundwater, has allowed this arid region to become a highly productive agricultural area.
A study has suggested that the white plastic of the greenhouses reflects sunlight and has a local cooling effect on the climate of Almería. "
(common in China & Asia too)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_farming_in_Almer%C3%ADa#:~:text=The%20intensive%20agriculture%20of%20the,known%20to%20be%20agriculturally%20productive.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mar-de-plastico-greenhouses-spain#:~:text=The%20world's%20largest%20array%20of,In%20This%20Story
https://climapodgreenhouses.com/blogs/greenhouse-gardening-articles/a-history-of-greenhouses-from-roman-cucumbers-to-modern-marvels?srsltid=AfmBOorfW53QxJOknY0KohYeroTAl7WYN6Q6SZ6RrKpbsKoQw_8XXUUt
"AI Overview
Roman greenhouses, or specularium, were built with frames covered in transparent materials like sheets of mica (a mineral) or lapis specularis (a translucent variety of gypsum, or selenite), though oiled cloth was also used for additional warmth. These frames protected plants growing in wheeled beds that could be moved into the sun and sheltered at night to maintain a warm environment, effectively creating a controlled growing season for emperor Tiberius.
Key Materials:
Mica:
A translucent mineral composed of layered sheets that could be used to cover frames.
Lapis Specularis (Selenite):
A naturally clear, crystalline variety of gypsum that splits into thin, transparent sheets similar to mica.
Oiled Cloth:
Used as an alternative or supplement to the transparent stone to provide additional insulation and protection for the plants. "
in China -
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152874/a-greenhouse-boom-in-china
robots -
https://www.producegrower.com/article/ai-robotic-greenhouse-automation-controlled-environment-agriculture-cea-resource-innovation-institute/
https://i.imgur.com/r4RKuaR.jpeg
https://builtin.com/robotics/farming-agricultural-robots
pt.2 "AI Overview
ReplyDeleteSeveral robotic greenhouse companies claim high efficiency, but the most efficient operational system depends on the metric used, such as water usage, land use, or labor reduction. Two notable contenders are Hippo Harvest and Canopii, both launched in late 2024 and built with efficiency as a core principle.
Hippo Harvest
This Pescadero, California-based company adapts off-the-shelf warehouse robots for greenhouse use, an efficient strategy that reduces the high cost of custom-designed systems.
Water savings: Hippo Harvest reports a 92% reduction in water usage compared to traditional farming.
Operational model: Trays of crops are moved by robots, which also deliver precise amounts of water and fertilizer, resulting in minimal waste.
Data-driven efficiency: The system acts as a real-time experiment, with machine learning and sensors constantly collecting data on plant health. This allows for continuous optimization of growing conditions.
Canopii
Located in Hubbard, Oregon, Canopii operates a 2,500-square-foot autonomous greenhouse that automates most of the crop cycle.
Human-free crop handling: Robotics and machine vision handle planting, transplanting, sorting, and harvesting of leafy greens and herbs with minimal human intervention.
Space optimization: Co-founder David Ashton notes that the verticality of the greenhouse maximizes production within a small footprint.
Reduced footprint: The system reduces the environmental impact of farming by minimizing the use of resources.
Other notable systems
Four Growers: This company specializes in robotic harvesting for crops like tomatoes. Their system, launched in 2023, is focused on efficiency in the labor-intensive harvesting process for select crops.
Iron Ox: A pioneer in autonomous farming, Iron Ox has developed AI-enabled systems and mobile robots that automate much of the growing cycle, allowing for fresher, more consistent produce.
Older, large-scale facilities: Operations like the AppHarvest facility in Kentucky, built in 2020, also achieved impressive efficiency metrics for their time, such as using 90% less water than open-field farms.
pt. 3 Cali:
ReplyDeleteAI Overview
While there isn't a publicly available, exhaustive list of all large marijuana greenhouses in California, the state is home to numerous large-scale cannabis operations, particularly in regions with established agricultural industries like the Emerald Triangle. Companies are expanding their operations, with many growing businesses in the industry investing in large greenhouse facilities to meet demand.
Examples of Large-Scale Operations
Emerald Triangle:
This historic cannabis-growing region in Northern California includes counties like Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity, where large-scale cultivation, including in greenhouses, is common.
Companies Investing in Greenhouse Technology:
Major cannabis companies are increasingly investing in greenhouse technology for large-scale production. For instance, Curaleaf, the world's largest cannabis company, operates large-scale cultivation facilities, which often include greenhouses, in California and other states.
General Growth of Large Operations:
The overall trend is toward larger operations, with many cannabis cultivators building or expanding large greenhouses to increase their production capacity.
How to Find Information on Specific Greenhouses
California Department of Cannabis Control (CDCC):
The CDCC regulates cannabis businesses and issues licenses for cultivation and other activities. You can use their website to find information about licensed cannabis businesses.
Industry Publications and News Sources:
Cannabis-focused media outlets and industry publications often report on major developments, including the construction of large greenhouses and significant investments in the industry.
Key Takeaway
The California cannabis market is mature and competitive, with many established operators building and expanding large greenhouses to maximize efficiency and output. While no single list of all such facilities exists, information can be found through state regulatory bodies and industry news.
https://www.google.com/imgres?q=large%20marijuana%20greenhouses%20in%20California&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Farc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2F5TKQOXZ6FXP6MOVP4PUDGP463I.JPG&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnation%2F2023%2F02%2F28%2Fcalifornia-marijuana-greenhouse-legalization%2F&docid=zKwT8Yy14U6zpM&tbnid=OBaCiSvsVwLHcM&vet=12ahUKEwjxkOCbrPKPAxXMJUQIHbahBrQQM3oECCYQAA..i&w=3000&h=2000&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwjxkOCbrPKPAxXMJUQIHbahBrQQM3oECCYQAA
heard they grow Wizards here... but it is restricted air space ;^P
ReplyDeletehttps://i.imgur.com/srfIJmv.jpeg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_structures_visible_from_space
ReplyDeletehttps://orbitaltoday.com/2024/09/16/nasa-named-the-largest-human-made-structure-visible-from-space-its-made-from-plastic/
off topic but RAG appears here in this AI explanation via IBM -
ReplyDeleteow -
https://youtu.be/VSFuqMh4hus?si=ybmlISOoVSn7z2M-
1. Agentic AI
2. Large Reasoning Model
3. Vector Database
4. RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation)
5. MCP (Model Context Protocol)
6. MoE (Mixture of Experts)
7. ASI (Artificial Super-Intelligence)
https://www.ibm.com/think/insights/behind-the-scenes-with-tech-trailblazers-meet-martin-keen
https://www.ibm.com/community/ibm-techxchange-conference/?utm_content=SRCWW&p1=Search&p4=2243669125860&p5=p&p9=178584979365&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22604928636&gbraid=0AAAAAD-_QsSjyQDoUewrqtrQ_dVm2MMss&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrc7GBhCfARIsAHGcW5Vn0VVC9K8a4Sn-APBoIDdABIKr0EaAXjQcur7JyAxHwicZbCiuiNYaAqojEALw_wcB
Hello everyone!
ReplyDeleteI am starting the Challenge with [why are so many greenhouses in Almería]
I'm reading in Reddit and other links. It's very interesting
Sea of greenhouses (invernaderos) And unintended consequences...They have also spilled into neighboring areas. The greenhouses cover so much area that they have likely even caused a localized cooling effect because the white roofs reflect a substantial amount of sunlight (2022)
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/150070/almerias-sea-of-greenhouses
Searched in Spanish and found this article August 14, 2025
DeleteEl controvertido "Mar de Plástico" que convirtió la región más árida de España en la huerta de Europa. 32,000 hectáreas. Article mentioning the difficulties and problems
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/ckgdyl6g2veo.amp