2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Crops valued at billions of dollars are produced annually in climate-controlled greenhouses. Modern day greenhouses are designed to withstand extreme climates, include state-of-the art technology for environmental monitoring and control, and enable year-round production. Ornamentals, food crops, and medicinal plants are produced under high planting densities and using intense cultivation practices in modern greenhouses. Soilless and hydroponic production systems along with supplemental lighting, heating, CO₂ enrichment are used to grow crops. Commercial greenhouses can span several acres under the roof, with largest concentration of 35,000 ha in one region of Spain. This presentation will describe the history behind some of the giant technological leaps in greenhouse industry from its inception during 17^th century in Europe to present, with emphasis on environmental control.