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
With [first greenhouse in the world]
DeleteFirst, Emperor Tiberius. Built with stone walls and glass· Most greenhouses were speculariums, or covered with mica (a mineral)
In the United States: Boston in 1737 by Andrew Faneuil.
https://u.osu.edu/greenhousegurus/background-research/history/#:~:text=The%20first%20ever%20greenhouse%20was,plastic%20and%20galvanized%20steel.
A History of Greenhouses
https://climapodgreenhouses.com/blogs/greenhouse-gardening-articles/a-history-of-greenhouses-from-roman-cucumbers-to-modern-marvels?srsltid=AfmBOorDW8bb1QWuvCU2jawmv6i03WejvMXyOJNr9qf4v6FhwKZNY03H
With [first greenhouse in mexico]
Adrián Balme Souilhac propietario del primer invernadero del país construido en este lugar en 1893 poco antes que los viveros de Coyoacán (los cuales fueron construidos en 1907).
https://www.facebook.com/tlalpanhistoria/posts/el-primer-invernadero-de-la-ciudad-de-m%C3%A9xico-se-estableci%C3%B3-en-tlalpanbuenos-d%C3%ADas/1439983596086089/?locale=es_LA
With [Weifang greenhouses what grows there]
AI summary and other links, like:
https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesDaily/posts/in-many-high-standard-greenhouses-in-weifang-east-chinas-shandong-province-farme/870978845073408/
[Define Mica] to learn more and verify
[Define speculariums]
I just watched this YouTube video. It's all about the topic of our Challenge.
DeleteIt made me think. How do they get bumblebees? They even have houses for them. How they get bees or pollinators?
I'm sure Dr. Russell will love it. I hope more of you finds it helpful.
https://youtu.be/diBS0VfVcbs?si=z8JayxZymwWIkmHp
cool, informative video - good to see the different approaches being used - thanks for finding & sharing.
DeleteGemini AI Overview:
"The Netherlands is a leading global producer of commercially bred bumblebees, primarily for greenhouse pollination. Instead of importing most of their managed colonies, Dutch and other European growers get their bees from large, specialized insect breeding companies.
Commercial production
Dutch companies: A key player is the Dutch company Koppert Biological Systems, whose Natupol brand bumblebees are used by growers worldwide.
European pioneers: The commercial bumblebee industry was pioneered in the late 1980s by Belgian companies like Biobest and expanded quickly to the Netherlands. This development enabled the year-round production of bumblebees for crops such as greenhouse tomatoes.
Mass breeding: These companies mass-produce bumblebee hives in controlled environments that mimic the species' natural life cycle. The colonies are inspected and certified to be disease-free before being sold to growers.
Buff-tailed bumblebees: The most widely used species for commercial pollination in Europe is the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) due to its large size and reliable breeding.
Wild bumblebee populations
The Netherlands also has native, wild bumblebee populations, which are separate from commercially bred colonies.
Native species: The white-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum complex) is common, along with others like the red-tailed bumblebee (B. lapidarius) and the common carder bee (B. pascuorum).
Conservation efforts: Dutch ecological programs, such as the Honey Highway initiative, focus on supporting native pollinator populations by creating wildflower habitats along roadways and railways.
Overlooked migration: Research shows that wild bumblebees in the Netherlands also participate in large-scale migrations, with mass movements of queens observed at coastal sites. However, this natural phenomenon is largely unrelated to the commercially supplied bees used in agriculture. "
https://www.koppert.com/natupol/?utm_term=callback_redirect
Google's 27th birthday...
Deletehttps://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/googles-27th-birthday-1820002940-1
at night - the Netherlands - a fair amount of light pollution...
https://mymodernmet.com/led-greenhouses-tom-hegen/
related agriculture - daytime
https://mymodernmet.com/tulip-fields-tom-hegen/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/glowing-dutch-greenhouse-photos#:~:text=In%20the%20dim%20of%20night,says%20Hegen%20on%20his%20website.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/big-seaweed-blob-photos-sargassum-bloom
https://www.tomhegen.com/
I feel I'm cheating by not (at least initially) using Google. But it also shows how search is changing - and realistically, if you google something now you are wasting time. Yes - I'll use Google to verify results, but for research questions like this, I start with AI and often ChatGPT. So I'll link my AI search and then how I confirmed with other sites.
ReplyDelete1) I copied the whole question to get https://chatgpt.com/share/68d54860-f388-8001-8712-4d9a430007c4. This mentions Roman greenhouses called specularia using mica so a search for gave confirming sites: https://www.academia.edu/105204999/History_of_Controlled_Environment_Horticulture_Ancient_Origins (also on ResearchGate) - from HortScience 57(2):236-238, 1922 - and some images of Roman greenhouses. There's also https://www.greenhousegrowing.co.uk/greenhouse-designs/history-greenhouse-design/ and other sites e.g. https://agriplasticscommunity.com/greenhouse-where-in-the-world-and-how-was-the-first-built/
2) https://chatgpt.com/share/68d55330-28d8-8001-b004-84c991b26f96 gave a great site from NASA that shows the Weifang area in 1987 and how it changed in 2024. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152874/a-greenhouse-boom-in-china. This includes "In this part of China, fruits and vegetables are generally grown in the greenhouses. Cucumbers, eggplants, and tomatoes provide off-season vegetables to the whole country...Increasingly, farmers in Weifang are also planting high-value fruits, such as strawberries, grapes, kiwi, and dragon fruit. Farmers use plastic greenhouses because they are an effective and relatively inexpensive way to increase yields. They can be used to extend the growing season and exert control over temperature and lighting conditions. Innovations such as drip irrigation, the use of artificial soil, and hydroponics have added to the popularity of greenhouse cultivation." The article continues to say domestic demand increased sixfold between 1990 and 2020. There's also mention of problems with the growth in greenhouses globally at https://e360.yale.edu/features/greenhouses-cooling "A sperm whale offshore of Almeria washed up dead in 2013 with 37 pounds of plastic sheeting from greenhouses in its gut."
Answer 3 as a separate comment.
3) https://chatgpt.com/share/68d552f6-d450-8001-8203-0621bace0203 "There is a growing trend toward automation, robotics, AI and sensor-driven control in greenhouses and other controlled environment agriculture (CEA) systems (including vertical farms). Over the last decade, the sector has attracted more investment, research, and deployment."
ReplyDelete"The current consensus is:
• Vertical farming / vertical greenhouses are a high-growth niche segment (not likely to replace open-field or conventional greenhouse agriculture broadly, at least in the near term), but as technology costs fall (lighting, sensors, energy) and as control systems improve, its footprint is expected to expand.
• The future is likely to be a hybrid: some blend of greenhouse + stacked systems + semi-automated growth systems — not a one-size-fits-all.
• In regions with high land costs, high logistics costs, or energy subsidies (or cheap energy), vertical systems are more competitive.
• Attention is shifting to reducing energy demand (more efficient LEDs, better thermal insulation, integration with renewable energy) to improve economics.
• Smaller-scale, modular, urban vertical farms (closer to end consumers) may find more success than the very large “factory farms” in many markets.
So yes: it is a growth industry (or sub-industry) with strong tailwinds, but it’s still an emerging sector rather than a mature, dominant paradigm."
ChatGPT gave lots of sources and research reports e.g. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168169924001418 (Robotics); https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/108221/EIB-264.pdf (more on vertical farming than robotics); https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/science/articles/10.3389/fsci.2024.1491748 (Vertical farming again); https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360848776_Greenhouse_Robots_Ultimate_Solutions_to_Improve_Automation_in_Protected_Cropping_Systems-A_Review (Robotics);
Overall the conclusions seem sound but to really say it's a growth industry and to invest is a different question. I'd need to look at the sources in more detail but as a broad brush answer, i'm happy with it.
good examples of how search use is changing/evolving with AI... it may be a small change, but I find myself using copy & paste and voice search more than I have in the past... slowly teaching this old dog new tricks... requires checking out new AIs and versions and adjusting.
DeleteChatbots review -
https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-ai-chatbots
Gemini Deep Dive:
"what is the best ai currently available
As of late 2025, there is no single "best" AI, as the top performers depend heavily on the specific task. The AI field has become highly segmented, with models specializing in different functions, such as writing, coding, or image generation.
AI models for general use
OpenAI O1: This model is considered a top overall choice for those with sufficient resources, offering excellent performance across many tasks.
Google Gemini 2.5 Pro: This model is ranked highly on the LMArena leaderboard. It is known for its advanced reasoning and problem-solving abilities, based on real human feedback.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet: This is a strong and more budget-friendly alternative to O1. It is known for its contextual understanding and detailed responses. It is often favored by developers for coding tasks.
GPT-4o: This multimodal model from OpenAI balances reasoning, speed, and supports text, image, and voice inputs.
AI tools for specific tasks
For coding
Cursor: This is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code. It is excellent for full-stack and mobile development, particularly for refactoring and modernizing large codebases.
Windsurf: This AI IDE is developed by Codeium and uses an autonomous coding agent to plan and implement multi-step solutions across a project.
GitHub Copilot: This remains a leading tool for developers because of its seamless integration and code completion suggestions.
DeepSeek-R1: This is an open-source model specializing in complex reasoning, logic, and mathematical problem-solving.
For writing and productivity
Jasper: This AI writing assistant is ideal for marketers and content creators, and is effective for maintaining a consistent brand voice across various formats.
Notion AI: This is a solid, integrated choice for task planning, summarizing documents, and brainstorming directly within Notion pages.
Grammarly: This writing assistant offers real-time feedback on grammar, tone, and clarity, with a business version for enforcing brand guidelines.
Perplexity AI: This tool blends conversational AI with search results to provide sourced, accurate answers for research tasks.
For image and video generation
Midjourney v7: This continues to be a top choice for generating high-quality, aesthetic, and realistic images.
Ideogram 3.0: This excels at rendering text accurately within an image, making it highly effective for logos and posters.
Imagen 3: Google's latest model is noted for producing realistic images and high-quality text.
Sora: This OpenAI platform is a top choice for creating high-quality, creative videos from text.
For meetings and transcription
Otter.ai: This provides real-time transcription and speaker identification, making it useful for remote teams and students.
Fathom: This automatically summarizes meetings into actionable insights and integrates with tools like Zoom.
Nyota: This is a premium alternative to Fathom, and automates post-meeting follow-ups and updates to your CRM, going beyond simple transcription. "
new to me in the visual realm
Deletehttps://openart.ai/home
https://www.instagram.com/openart_ai/?hl=en
fwiw - another Bloomington nod -
ReplyDeletehttps://greenhouse.biology.indiana.edu/features/stinky/Amorphophallus-titanum.html
https://greenhouse.biology.indiana.edu/
18 pounds and forty years ago... blink of an iEye
ReplyDeletehttps://museum.syssrc.com/artifact/405/
Dan's Unanticipated Consequences - Three short tales -
worth finding/reading