As reported by the BBC, the British horticultural sector is preparing to protect the market supply from the possible difficulties that the UK's separation from the European Union could have by promoting the construction of greenhouses.
29 hectares of greenhouses capable of producing 10 million kilos of tomatoes are being constructed in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, in north-east London. This would allow increasing the UK's current tomato production by 10%.
Currently, Great Britain consumes 500 million kilos of tomatoes a year. Only 100 million are produced in the country and the rest is mainly imported from the Netherlands and Spain.
The construction value of this greenhouse project, the largest in the United Kingdom, is 120 million pounds, i.e. nearly 140 million euro, and it will create 360 permanent and 120 seasonal agricultural jobs.
These greenhouses will take advantage of the energy generated by the nearby Anglian water treatment plants for heating, which will allow them to reduce carbon emissions by 75%.
The construction plan for greenhouses in Norfolk and Suffolk, which is already underway, is not the only one in the country. These greenhouses are expected to considerably increase British vegetable production.
Source: hortoinfo.es