Greenhouse production is often characterised by spatially, temporally and energy-intensive cultivation. The high investment costs require high yields to ensure the economic sustainability of organic greenhouse systems. Greenhouse crops have high nutrient demands, meaning that often many inputs are used to fill these requirements, which increases the risk of adverse environmental impact.

Many challenges must be overcome to improve the sustainability of organic greenhouse systems. In Central and Northern European countries, the primary challenge is to reduce the energy use under low temperature and low light conditions, whereas, in Mediterranean countries, the main challenge is to reduce the use of plant protection products, fertiliser and water as much as possible.

Here you will find tools which apply to crops grown within a protected system, including plastic tunnels and greenhouses.