Greenhouse Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Glass Greenhouse, Plastic Greenhouse), By Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), By Crop Type, By End-user, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global greenhouse market size was valued at USD 32,894.4 million in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9% from 2022 to 2030. The major factors attributed to the growth of the market are rapid urbanization accelerating the adoption of modern farming techniques, and the rising population leading to the increasing demand for food. In addition, aspects such as the decline in arable land worldwide are causing a shift towards indoor agricultural practices including greenhouses, and government interventions such as export subsidies, tariffs or import levies, and direct payments to growers, among others, further bolster the growth of the market. 

Greenhouse farming protects crops from extreme weather conditions by using techniques such as controlled environment agriculture technology, where the facilities use climate control systems. It offers numerous benefits, which include increased production with lesser risks, year-round growth of crops like tomato, lettuce, brassica family (broccoli, kale), allium family (green onions, leeks, chives), reduction in food wastage, disease & pest prevention, prevention of agricultural run-off, and adequate cultivation in limited space, among others.

The decline in arable land is generally due to the conversion of the land into new developments or constructions. In order to expand suburbs and meet the rising demand for homes, real-estate developers have been increasingly buying farmland, which in turn is generating the need for modern agricultural growing techniques like hydroponics & aquaponics. These growing mechanisms do not need arable land and can be done in controlled environments, further contributing to the growth of the target market.

For instance, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2021, the U.S. lost 1.3 million acres of farmland. Further, in the U.S., the total farmland in 2020 was 896,600,000 acres, which decreased to 895,300,000 acres in 2021. Thus, greenhouse farming is a viable option for crop production in a limited space. Moreover, according to the United States Department of Agriculture in 2020, the average production of tomatoes cultivated hydroponically in greenhouses was 10.59 pounds per square foot, compared to 1.85 pounds per square foot for tomatoes grown conventionally. Therefore, greenhouse farming can increase overall crop production.

However, the high initial investment is a major factor restraining the industry's growth. Additionally, the high cost of installing LEDs, active heat systems, creating a controlled environment, and high maintenance cost is expected to further restrain the market growth during the forecast period. Greenhouse design and structure are comparatively expensive, which can be challenging for many low-income farmers. Greenhouse farming is recommended for profitable crops, which include saffron, medicinal marijuana, herbs, bamboo plants, and others that are easy to commercialize, in order to maximize the chances of getting a quicker return on investment (ROI).

COVID-19 Insights

The COVID-19 outbreak has brought widespread disruption to the global supply chain, resulting in food shortages and inflation. Due to the supply-chain disruption, many greenhouse producers had problems transporting their inventory out. Thus, necessary measures are required to strengthen the food supply chain in preparation for any future crisis. The ongoing pandemic has brought attention to how important it is to be able to carry out agricultural activities remotely.

Further, the market expansion is anticipated to be driven due to the amalgamation of traditional farming methods with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and intelligent controls. The pandemic has been a catalyst for greenhouse farming. The food shortages experienced during the pandemic have led to a national focus on urban agriculture. It is expected that new startups, backed by significant government funding, will enter greenhouse farming to deliver new farming solutions.

Type Insights

Based on the type, the global market is bifurcated into glass and plastic. The plastic greenhouse segment is further classified into polyethylene, polycarbonate, and polymethyl-methacrylate. The plastic greenhouse segment accounted for the larger market share of 58.33% in 2021 and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. One of the major benefits of the plastic greenhouse over glass greenhouse is the low installation cost.

Further, the polycarbonate segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021. Polycarbonate materials in comparison to regular glass are durable and shatter-resistant. Also, the durable panels can easily withstand hard impacts from elements such as stones, wind, rain, snow, and others without any damage. Also, polycarbonate greenhouse comes in different shapes and designs and is considered to be highly flexible and can be bent without any breakage.

The glass greenhouse is anticipated to expand with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Glass greenhouse is considered to be one of the strongest of all greenhouse materials due to its weight, high durability, and strength, leading to significant years of service. Additionally, glass greenhouses are prized for their appearance. One of the major reasons for their popularity is the clarity of the glass which can be maintained for years if cleaned regularly. The glass greenhouse segment is further classified into horticulture glass and others. Others include float glass, tempered glass, laminated glass, and frosted/hammered glass.

Offering Insights

Based on the offering, the market is segmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware segment accounted for the largest market share of 62.86% in 2021. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the rising demand for hardware among farmers for maintaining a suitable environment in greenhouse farming, done by using climate control systems. The hardware plays a significant role in maintaining the environment in greenhouses.

More farmers are now embracing modern smart agriculture and new technologies. The segment is further categorized into climate control systems, lighting systems, sensors, and irrigation systems, which enable the cultivation of indoor-grown crops. The climate control systems segment is anticipated to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period. A climate control system automates the greenhouse according to the needed temperature as required by the crops. The system helps to control the indoor climate of the greenhouse with chillers, heaters, air-conditioning units, humidifiers, and air movement fans, among others. With the use of cutting-edge computer technology, climate-controlled greenhouses can assist any grower in improving quality control and increasing crop yields.

The software segment is anticipated to expand at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Greenhouse management software improves the planning and tracking of crops, operates the growing facility remotely, and minimizes manual intervention. The use of management software enables farmers to employ the most effective, environmentally friendly farming techniques. The software segment is further segmented into web-based and cloud-based.

Of these, the web-based segment accounted for the larger market share in 2021. The growth can be attributed to the target set by AgriTech 4.0 to support the development of technology through innovations and research in the agriculture sector. AgriTech 4.0 aims to construct and design web-based control systems that provide secure and safe services for greenhouse farming. The web-based services integrate multiple heterogeneous devices for optimizing the growing process of the plants.

Crop Type Insights

Based on crop type, the market has been segmented into fruits, vegetables & herbs; flowers & ornamentals; and others. The fruits, vegetables & herbs segment accounted for 56.07% of the market share in 2021 and is expected to dominate the target market during the forecast period. The increasing cultivation of commonly grown fruits and vegetables in greenhouses is driving the segment's growth.

All year-long vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, and leafy greens can be grown without having to worry about the temperature, weather, or other environment-changing factors. In greenhouses, these vegetables are protected from adverse weather conditions like wind, cold, drought, bugs, scorching heat, and animals trying to consume them. The fruits, vegetables & herbs segment is further sub-segmented into - tomato, lettuce, bell and chili pepper, strawberry, cucumber, leafy greens, herbs, and others.

The tomato segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021. Tomato crops are increasingly grown in greenhouses as it enables growers to maintain the temperature required for tomatoes. These crops require nearly 8 hours of sunlight for growing, which greenhouses provide using LED lighting. Therefore, benefits such as sufficient lighting and stable temperature offered have increased the demand among tomato growers.

End-user Insights

Based on end-user, the global market has been segmented into commercial growers, retail gardens, research & educational institutes, and others. The research & educational institutes segment accounted for 31.43% of the market share in 2021 and is expected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Research & educational institutes promote the development and improvement of greenhouses for farmers and students.

Greenhouse schools are a notable way to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and explain to the youth about agricultural career paths. Educational institutes provide training to farmers or students on plant science, horticulture, day-to-day breeding, and current agricultural techniques.

The commercial growers segment is expected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing popularity of greenhouse farming due to its offered benefits, coupled with raising its adoption among commercial growers. It helps the growers to keep them updated with the growing technology, industry trends, pest control techniques, and other crucial information that make them effective growers.

Furthermore, government bodies are providing some financial assistance to growers, which is also considered to propel market growth. For instance, the government of India is providing subsidies to greenhouse-based agriculture/horticulture growers under various schemes. NHB (National Horticulture Board) is the regulatory body in India for greenhouse farming, which is providing a 50.0% subsidy on a project of Rupees 112.0 lakhs maximum ceiling per beneficiary.

Regional Insights

Europe accounted for the major market revenue share of 32.05% in 2021 and is estimated to expand at a significant CAGR from 2022 to 2030. The growing population of Europe, coupled with the decreasing land availability for farming, is the major factor driving the popularity of greenhouse farming in the region. Growing harvest to feed this vast population may not be possible with traditional farming techniques; hence there is a rising need for technology-driven agriculture.

Asia Pacific is forecasted to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2030. The greenhouse market is expected to observe healthy growth due to the growing population, and the need to ensure food security through alternative high-yield farming techniques. Furthermore, many emerging nations, including Singapore, Australia, Indonesia, and India, are adopting greenhouse farming techniques to improve their agricultural sectors, as greenhouse farming provides a higher yield compared to traditional farming. The major greenhouse agriculture countries are mostly found in Asia, which include Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights 

To broaden their product offering, companies utilize a variety of organic and inorganic growth tactics, such as partnerships & collaborations, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and product developments. For instance, in April 2020, DENSO Corporation announced to invest in Certhon to collaboratively develop and provide solutions for greenhouses.

The investment aims at using the expertise of both companies to develop modern horticulture solutions. Additionally, in June 2018, Illumitex announced the launch of its new product Harvest Edge, which is a horticulture LED grow lighting system that can be efficiently used for indoor farming purposes, including greenhouse farming. Some of the prominent players in the global greenhouse market include:        

• Sotrafa

• Berry Global

• NETAFIM

• Certhon

• Richel Group SA

• Stuppy Greenhouse

• Logiqs B.V.

• Argus Control Systems Ltd.

• Poly-Tex, Inc.

• The Glasshouse Company

• Luiten Greenhouses BV

• Agra Tech, Inc. 

Greenhouse Market Report Scope

Global Greenhouse Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global greenhouse market report based on the type, offering, crop type, end-user, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Glass Greenhouse

    • Horticulture Glass

    • Others

  • Plastic Greenhouse

    • Polyethylene

    • Polycarbonate

    • Polymethyl-methacrylate

• Offering Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Hardware

    • Climate control systems

    • Lighting Systems

    • Irrigation Systems

    • Sensors

    • Others

  • Software

    • Cloud-based

    • Web-based

  • Services

    • System Integration & Consulting

    • Managed Services

    • Assisted Professional Services

• Crop Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Fruits, Vegetables & Herbs

    • Tomato

    • Lettuce

    • Bell & Chili Pepper

    • Strawberry

    • Cucumber

    • Leafy Greens (excluding Lettuce)

    • Herbs

    • Others

  • Flowers & Ornamentals

    • Perennials

    • Annuals

    • Ornamentals

  • Others

• End-User Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Commercial Growers

  • Research & Educational Institutes

  • Retail Gardens

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

    • Mexico

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Spain

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa