The Future and Technical Specifications of Smart Greenhouses

In light of the growing challenges the world faces in terms of food security, climate change, and rapid population growth, agricultural technology is emerging as a key solution for achieving sustainable and efficient farming. The Agricultural Technology Exhibition in Amsterdam, Netherlands, held from June 10 to 12, 2025, served as a leading international platform to showcase the latest advancements in these technologies.n\nAt the invitation of the Ministry of Agriculture and the DGH Group – Delta, a distinguished delegation of agricultural development experts from Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman) participated, representing government agencies, research centers, universities, and private companies. The presence of the Egyptian Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture underscored the importance and strategic significance of this event.n\nThe exhibition focused primarily on smart greenhouses and the role of robotics and artificial intelligence in revolutionizing modern agriculture, particularly in areas such as precision horticulture, organic, biological, and vertical farming, as well as climate control systems and energy and water solutions. As the world faces growing demand for food and energy, it has become essential to develop a new generation of autonomous greenhouses. In this context, Wageningen University in the Netherlands—which specializes in agricultural research—presented a lecture on these smart greenhouses and their role in promoting smart and sustainable production systems through autonomous control technologies and advanced innovations.We are now in a completely new phase of agriculture; the current situation cannot be considered sustainable. However, the shift toward smart agriculture opens up vast opportunities to improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and achieve food security. A message to Kuwaiti and Gulf farmers: If you want to secure a foothold in the future of agriculture, you must start adopting smart solutions and implementing modern technological improvements right now.n\nSmart Agriculture: When Plants Speak The agriculture of the future will be data-driven: plants will be able to “tell you” what they need through advanced sensors and technologies. But how do we achieve this in practice? The answer lies in building a smart infrastructure that includes monitoring and control centers in every greenhouse, measuring precise indicators such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, and analyzing plant health using artificial intelligence. Practical experiments have proven the effectiveness of this approach; in a trial in Mexico, farms that adopted smart farming achieved:\n• A 15% increase in profitability\n• A 12% increase in productivity\• A reduction in energy consumption of more than 30%\nThese are extremely promising results, opening wide doors for smart agricultural investment, as the ability to predict accurately makes operations safer and more sustainable.\n\nDuring our visit to the exhibition, we were struck by the massive scale of production in the Netherlands, which ranks first globally in tomato production per square meter. Surprisingly, a farmer in the United Arab Emirates surpassed this figure, confirming that leadership is achievable through technology and determination. So when will we reach our maximum production capacity? And are we truly ready for the future?! Perhaps the answer lies in our hands, but it requires bold decisions, investment in innovation, and a commitment to the transition toward smart agriculture.\n\nSeven benefits of using greenhouses in agriculture:\n-1 Protection from harmful weather conditions\n-2 Protection from pests and diseases\n-3 Resource conservation\n-4 Reduced water and fertilizer consumption\n-5 Control over growing conditions\n-6 High-quality production\n-7 Production of crops with ideal specifications\n\nAgricultural consultant Mohammad Ibrahim Al-Fraih urged farm owners to “use greenhouses for farming,” listing seven benefits that make them the best option, particularly in terms of controlling temperature, humidity, and light levels, which lead to high-quality crops and higher yields. Greenhouses can also protect crops from pests and diseases, reducing the need for pesticides. This came during a seminar organized by the Society of Agricultural Engineers, titled “Agriculture in Kuwait,” which was attended by a group of individuals interested in agricultural matters.n\nAl-Fraih explained that “there are several advantages and benefits to using greenhouses, including protecting crops and plants from harmful weather conditions, such as strong winds, frost, and agricultural pests, in addition to conserving resources and reducing water and fertilizer consumption, thanks to precise environmental control. Furthermore, crop production is of high quality and allows for complete control over growing conditions, resulting in crops with ideal specifications. He noted that there are drawbacks to protected agriculture, the most significant of which is the high cost, as it requires a substantial budget to procure the necessary equipment, as well as a need for labor.\n\nTechnical Specifications for Protected Agricultural Greenhouses:\nFollowing the success of glass-covered greenhouses starting in 1982, the General Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries issued Decision No. 29 of 1985 regarding licensing regulations for the construction of new protected greenhouses. To publicize this decision, a lecture was held at the Agricultural Engineers Association hall, and I summarize the main points discussed as follows:\n\nDecision Specifications: The use of glass of any kind is not recommended because it requires a heavy and costly structure, and due to glass’s susceptibility to breakage, difficulty in transport and installation, inability to withstand hail, and inability to ensure a tight seal for the greenhouses. It should be noted that greenhouses use fewer pesticides and fertilizers compared to any other agricultural system and produce several times more than other systems. For example, a greenhouse in Kuwait produces 25–35 kilograms per square meter, while in the Netherlands, production has reached 115 kilograms per square meter. Greenhouses have been in use since the 17th century, and currently, the Netherlands has 10,305 hectares of greenhouse farms (one hectare equals 10,000 square meters). It should be noted that the first and largest greenhouse in Kuwait was built in 1982 with an area of 2 hectares, and it is still standing and producing. \n\nAs mentioned in the technical specifications, the use of cover materials such as polycarbonate and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets is not recommended; the best cover material is fiberglass. Now, following the issuance of these specifications, the results are as follows: 1 – The installation of agricultural greenhouses continues. 2 – Most agricultural greenhouses are currently covered with polycarbonate. 3 – The disadvantages of fiberglass—namely, its lack of fire resistance—were not mentioned, and fires destroyed entire agricultural greenhouses in the 1980s.Burgan Agricultural Company undertook the supervision and construction of numerous greenhouses within Kuwait. At the end of the lecture, it was agreed to re-examine the technical specifications, but this was not done.n\nTechnical Specifications for Protected Agricultural Greenhouses:\nFollowing the success of glass-covered greenhouses starting in 1982, the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries issued Decision No. 29 of 1985 regarding licensing regulations for the construction of new protected greenhouses. To publicize this decision, a lecture was held at the Agricultural Engineers Association hall, and I summarize the main points discussed as follows:\n\nDecision Specifications: The use of glass of any kind is not recommended because it requires a heavy and costly structure, and due to glass’s susceptibility to breakage, difficulty in transport and installation, inability to withstand hail, and the inability to seal the greenhouses tightly. It should be noted that greenhouses use fewer pesticides and fertilizers compared to any other agricultural system and produce several times more than other systems. For example, a greenhouse in Kuwait produces 25–35 kilograms per square meter, while in the Netherlands, production has reached 115 kilograms per square meter. Greenhouses have been in use since the 17th century, and currently, the Netherlands has 10,305 hectares of greenhouse farms in Europe (one hectare equals 10,000 square meters). It should be noted that the first and largest greenhouse in Kuwait was established in 1982 with an area of 2 hectares, and it is still operational and producing.n\nAs mentioned in the technical specifications, the use of cover materials such as polycarbonate and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets is not recommended; the best covering material is fiberglass. Now, following the issuance of these specifications, the results are:\n1 – Continue installing glass greenhouses.\n2 – Most greenhouses are currently covered with polycarbonate.\n3 – The disadvantages of fiberglass were not mentioned, namely its lack of fire resistance; in the 1980s, fires destroyed entire greenhouses.\nBurgan Agricultural Company has supervised and implemented numerous greenhouse projects within Kuwait. At the end of the lecture, it was agreed to re-examine the technical specifications, but this was not done.\n\nSpecifications for a modern greenhouse: glass-covered, tall, well-ventilated:\nThe General Manager of the Chinese company King Beijing, “Loki,” warned against continuing the current method of constructing greenhouses on many farms in Kuwait, which lack the most basic engineering principles, such as the use of cold-galvanized steel pipes driven directly into concrete or soil—exposing the steel to rust and corrosion—as well as poor welding in the construction of the greenhouses, which causes them to rust and disintegrate over the years, emphasizing the importance of management and technical supervision by a specialist with experience in greenhouse cultivation and maintenance.\n\nMeanwhile, agricultural expert Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Fraih pointed out a second mistake in this regard, which is the construction of low-height greenhouses in Kuwait, ranging from only 2.3 to 3 meters. Such heights are no longer used in developed countries; the typical minimum height is 4 meters, the average is 5 meters, and the optimal height is 6 meters, because greater height provides better ventilation and consequently better production, making greenhouses preferable to any other type of structure, especially those covered with low-quality plastic or polycarbonate, based on extensive experience in Kuwait, specifically in the Abdali agricultural area.\n\In the context of his scientific presentation during a lecture organized by Burgan Agricultural Company at the Jumeirah Hotel in Kuwait on the occasion of the visit of the regional director of the Chinese agricultural greenhouse company, Kenj Beijing Ray Young, Al-Fraih warned against installing service doors for agricultural greenhouses next to the cooling system or in the middle of the greenhouse, as this causes a hot air current to enter for most of the day. He stated that it is essential to install double doors to prevent the entry of insects and dust. Al-Fraih also called for the careful selection of cooling panels and their weekly maintenance to prevent salt buildup, as well as the appointment of a competent agricultural engineer to oversee appropriate irrigation, cooling, and fertilization for the plants grown inside the greenhouse.n\nHe noted that while a greenhouse meeting modern international standards may be expensive, its cost is justified by its high yield in both hot and cold weather. In the Netherlands, for example, a high-quality greenhouse yields 90–100 kilograms of tomatoes per square meter, whereas a cooled tunnel in Kuwait yields 25 kilograms per square meter. It should be noted that in Kuwait, we can easily produce about 45 kilograms of tomatoes using a modern greenhouse. Therefore, I advise all Kuwaiti farmers to rely on production through greenhouses that meet international standards to obtain the best crops and, consequently, the best financial returns for themselves.