A 12-hectare modern greenhouse is being developed in Kayseri, Turkey — a turnkey project by Dutch company GreenAgro for a major commercial tomato grower. According to Taurus Wei, a representative of Shandong Paneu Glass Co., which provide all the glass, the facility is designed for continuous, year-round tomato production and will integrate advanced systems to optimize growing conditions. "This project reflects how Turkey is moving from an importer of greenhouse technology toward an innovator," he says.
© Taurus
Opt for techniques
The greenhouse will feature a high-pressure fogging system for climate control and an ultrafiltration system to safeguard irrigation water quality. Dedicated test zones will evaluate supplemental lighting technologies—including LED and broad-spectrum lighting—and their effects on tomato performance. "It demonstrates the country's ability to operate world-class, technology-intensive facilities that can both reduce reliance on imports and expand export potential," Taurus adds, noting the Turkish industry's rapid development, of which this glasshouse is a prime example.
Beyond automation and climate systems, the design emphasizes advanced light management—now a defining trend in controlled-environment agriculture. "Globally, we see the shift from climate control to light management as a key driver in high-tech greenhouse design. The use of low-iron, diffused glass with advanced coatings represents the highest level of light-optimization technology currently available," Taurus says.
© Taurus
Diffused glass
The greenhouse will use 4 mm low-iron, tempered, diffused glass with a mid-haze level and double-sided anti-reflective coating (2×ARC), "This combination enhances both light transmission and diffusion, ensuring more usable light reaches all parts of the crop canopy." The mid-haze level was selected specifically for tomatoes in Turkey. "Tomatoes are a high-light crop. Mid-haze provides sufficient diffusion to reach the lower canopy without compromising total transmission—especially important in winter."
Compared with standard greenhouse glass, this configuration offers several advantages. "Low-iron glass allows over 91 percent of total solar radiation to enter, while the anti-reflective coating increases transmission by at least another five percent. Tempering ensures durability and safety under challenging weather conditions," Taurus notes.
© Taurus
© Taurus
While performance data for the Kayseri project remains proprietary, Taurus points to results from similar installations using diffused glass. "Growers typically see yield improvements of five to fifteen percent and better fruit uniformity. More uniform light distribution also helps reduce light stress and common disorders such as sunscald."
The Kayseri installation is viewed as a model for replication. "A project of this scale and technological level is often conceived as a prototype or flagship," he says. "If the anticipated results in yield, quality, and resource efficiency are achieved, we expect similar facilities to be built in other Turkish regions with favorable conditions. The same design could also be adapted for high-value crops such as bell peppers, cucumbers, or berries, which share comparable light and climate requirements."
Shandong Paneu Glass Co
No.6 Xinhuan Road, Zhangdian District
Shandong, China
Tel: +86 533 2772 576
Fax: +86 533 2772579
Mobile/Whatsapp/Wechat: 86 186 7823 2789
Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.paneuglass.com
