Bio-economic modelling of high-tech greenhouse production systems in China

Summary

As China's agriculture shifts to more efficient and sustainable production systems, greenhouse horticulture has seen rapid development. However, there is an ongoing debate about the economic feasibility of these high-tech greenhouses in China. Many of the early greenhouse designs were not sufficiently adapted to local climate and market conditions in different regions of China. In addition, price and policy uncertainty make the economic feasibility of greenhouse investments more uncertain. As the sector shifts towards increased digitalization and automation, it is critical to understand the preferences of key stakeholders to facilitate further adoption and diffusion of these technologies.

The overall objective of this dissertation was to assess the economic feasibility of greenhouse investments and to identify greenhouse designs, as well as sensor and robotic technologies, that align with the preferences of multiple stakeholders in China.