LIFE Project: Cultivating Resilience: Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Greenhouses to Improve Performance and Resource Efficiency

The Mediterranean region is projected to experience more frequent and severe heat waves, resulting in decreased crop yields, particularly for heat-sensitive crops such as vegetables. Under future climate scenarios, yields could decline by up to 50% for certain crops, including vegetables. According to the United Nations (UN), the global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, requiring a 70% increase in global food production. The agricultural sector faces a growing demand for food, as the effects of climate change reduce crop yields in many regions and increase the risk of pest and disease outbreaks, leading to food insecurity and loss of income for farmers. To address these challenges, it is critical to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are resilient enough to withstand some of the worst effects of climate change.

The European Union (EU) supports this approach through policies and regulations such as the Farm to Fork Strategy, which promotes sustainable agriculture and the use of greenhouses for climate change adaptation. Greenhouses have been identified as a potential solution to the threats posed by climate change and population growth, as they provide controlled environments that protect crops from extreme weather conditions and allow cultivation in areas unsuitable for traditional agriculture, such as arid or urban regions. Despite their potential, greenhouses rely heavily on large volumes of energy (which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions) and resource-intensive practices that generate large amounts of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, resulting in negative environmental impacts. Therefore, while greenhouses are considered key elements for the future sustainability of the agricultural sector, addressing these challenges is critical to their sustainable operation.