Question

Since early Roman days, people have used greenhouses to grow plants—particularly to enjoy fruits and vegetables out of season. But not until the 1990s did greenhouses begin to gain popularity in the United States. The timing couldn’t be better. The amount of farmable land per capita in the world continues to shrink, and over the next 50 years, world population is expected to increase by 3 billion. At the same time, economists estimate the demand for farm products will double. As more regions suffer from drought from climate change and as power shortfalls increase, the notion of using glass houses to grow fruits and vegetables has become increasingly attractive. A leader in greenhouse-grown produce, Houweling Nurseries (now Houweling’s Tomatoes) was founded in 1974 by Cornelius Houweling, a Dutch immigrant to the United States and professional horticulturist. Today, the business includes farms in British Columbia, Camarillo (California), and Mona (Utah). In 2014, the company built a a new 28-acre greenhouse facility in Mona, Utah, that uses sustainable practices to grow tomatoes year-round. Located next to a natural gas power plant, the plant will divert heat and CO2 (waste products) to the greenhouse. These “waste products” are essential inputs, along with lighting, to growing tomatoes 365 days per year in a greenhouse. The three sites are believed to be the world’s first energy-neutral, commercial greenhouses. Solar panels generate most of the electricity needed to power the greenhouse pumps and climate controls. Energy screens reduce heat loss. Should the temperature drop during the night, the greenhouses are heated with waste heat collected from refrigeration exhaust. The 13.2 megawatts of electricity generated by the Camarillo greenhouse exceeds its power needs allowing Houweling’s to supply electricity to the grid. Fully enclosed, the greenhouses are nearly dust free. Crops grow herbicide free and nearly pesticide free, using only about half the fertilizer of conventional crops. Colonies of bumblebees reside on site and pollinate the crops. Houweling’s greenhouses use about 20 percent as much water as a field farm and only about a third as much as an ordinary greenhouse. Rainwater and irrigation runoff are captured in a pond, filtered, and recirculated as needed. Watered individually through a complex computerized piping system, greenhouse-tended tomato plants live far longer than field crops. The plants grow to the ceiling; workers stand on ladders to harvest the fruit. High-tech growing facilities such as Houweling’s Tomatoes yield as much as 24 times more tomatoes per acre than does a conventional farm. It would take more than 3,000 acres of open fields to match the tomato output of Houweling’s 125 acres “under glass.” Discussion Questions How does Houweling’s Tomatoes serve as a forward-looking example for other agricultural businesses? Emerging environmental issues have created significant challenges for farming. Although costly, what could the construction of more greenhouses like those used by Houwelings mean for today’s farmers? For the agricultural industry as a whole?

Answer 1

Increase in population coupled with shrinking of agriculture land, the production required per acre of land is expected to be increase in near future. Similarly, the demand for power and water will increase in population , and such situation will adversely affect the supply for these critical input for farming. Houweling's Tomatoes method of greenhouse farming , provides a sustainable solution to deal with these future challenges and hence set an excellent forward looking example for other agriculture business. The aspects, which make greenhouse farming Houweling's Tomatoes, a forward looking examples are:

1. Higher yield per acre of land than conventional farming: With increasing urbanisation, less land will be available for farming. Such scenario will demand high yield per acre for a successful and profitable farm. Greenhouse farm makes this possible as yield per acre get multi fold.

2. All year round growing season: As the temperature and humidity can be controlled in greenhouse framing, we can have a longer growing seasons. This means ,we can have fresh vegetable and fruits in an off season.

3. Lesser consumption of water: Water will also become a scarce and high demand commodity in near future. Greenhouse farming resolve this problem as it use water more efficiently with lesser losses compare to conventional farming.

4. Self sufficient in power supply: Solar panel can also be installed. This will not only makes the greenhouse farm self sustainable but can also supply additional power to grid.

5. Absorb heat and carbon: Greenhouse farm can use heat and carbon dioxide in its use. This will also help in reducing carbon emission and heat in environment and in turn result in reduction in global warming.

6. Prevention of loss due to extreme weather conditions: As greenhouse farming is done in control conditions and under a cover, it is prevented from loss due to heavy rainfall, snowfall , extreme sun and wind.

7. Lower cost on pesticides: Closed greenhouse farms are also safe from harmful pests and insects and lower the input cost on pesticides. However, pollinators can be introduced inside the farm.

8. Greater variety of fruits and vegetables: With greater control on temperature and humidity, greenhouse farms are capable to grow variety of fruits and vegetables in a region, which may not be possible to grow in normal climate condition.

Although, the initial investment in installing a greenhouse farm is significantly higher than conventional farming, the running cost in long run is much lower with multi fold profit. Greenhouse farms save significant production cost in form of lower consumption of power, water, pesticides, fertilizer. It produces multifold yield per acre compare to conventional farming. Such aspects of greenhouse farming make it sustainable and viable solution to tackle growing environment challenges. If greater number of conventional farmers switch to greenhouse farming, it will have a significant positive affect on agriculture business. Farmer will earn more and will be able to sufficiently meet the future growing demand. This will also keep the inflation in control as supply will meet the growing demand.