Smart Greenhouse: Innovative Solutions for Farming in Extreme Environments

Increasingly extreme climate change is triggering major challenges in the agricultural sector, especially in environments such as deserts or polar regions. Global changes in average surface temperatures are driving an increase in extreme environmental events that are beyond the tolerance limits of traditional agricultural practices, raising concerns of food insecurity (Lefers et al., 2020). The development of smart greenhouses is even more important to overcome these limitations and achieve high levels of food security (Karanisa et al., 2022). While the primary purpose of a greenhouse is to offer a suitable environment for high-yield production while protecting crops from adverse climatic conditions. Smart greenhouses provide precise regulation and control of microclimate variables by utilizing the latest control techniques, advanced measurement and communication infrastructure, and intelligent management systems so as to provide an optimal environment for crop development (Ragaveena et al., 2021). 

Smart greenhouses are equipped with technology that can automatically control temperature, humidity, light intensity and carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels Indeed, smart greenhouse solutions incorporating advanced sensor technologies have become widely used for crop growth environment monitoring (Karanisa et al., 2022). Sensors collect data in real-time to ensure the best conditions for plant growth. With the Internet of Things (IoT), this data can be accessed and controlled via a smartphone app (Maraveas et al., 2021).

Benefits of Smart Greenhouses in Extreme Environments

1.     Farming in Marginal Areas: Smart greenhouse enable agriculture in areas that are traditionally unsuitable for farming, such as desert.

2.     Water Conversation : Automated irrigation systems deliver water only when needed, crucial in areas facing water scarcity.

3.     Increased Crop Yields: Controlled environments result in faster, healthier crop growth, significantly improving productivity.

Smart greenhouses offer a solution to agricultural challenges in the face of climate change. By utilizing IoT technology and advanced environmental control, these greenhouses enhance agricultural output, reduce pest damage, and promote more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

Reference

Lefers, R. M., Tester, M., & Lauersen, K. J. (2020). Emerging technologies to enable sustainable controlled environment agriculture in the extreme environments of Middle East-North Africa coastal regions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 801.

Karanisa, T., Achour, Y., Ouammi, A. et al. (2022). Smart greenhouses as the path towards precision agriculture in the food-energy and water nexus: case study of Qatar. Environ Syst Decis 42, 521–546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-022-09862-2

Maraveas, C., & Bartzanas, T. (2021). Application of Internet of Things (IoT) for optimized greenhouse environments. AgriEngineering, 3(4), 954-970.

Ragaveena, S., Shirly Edward, A., & Surendran, U. (2021). Smart controlled environment agriculture methods: A holistic review. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 20(4), 887-913.