The Food and Agriculture Organization's Digital Villages Initiative (DVI) is accelerating the adoption of digital tools across rural Europe and Central Asia, with greenhouse production emerging as a key beneficiary of this transformation.
In several recognized "Digital Villages," greenhouse operations are being modernized through automation, sensors, and climate-smart technologies. These innovations are helping growers improve productivity, resilience, and resource efficiency in the face of mounting environmental and market pressures.
© FAO/Danil Dolidze
In rural communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where greenhouse vegetable production is a core livelihood, DVI-supported innovations include greenhouse automation systems that streamline environmental control and improve crop management. These technologies are paired with digital platforms that connect growers to new markets, strengthening local value chains and income opportunities.
In Georgia's Marneuli region, greenhouse farmers are contending with increasing climate volatility, including frost, drought, and water shortages. To adapt, they are adopting advanced digital solutions such as greenhouse sensors, agrometeorological stations, and smart irrigation systems. These tools provide real-time data that enables more precise decision-making, helping reduce crop losses and stabilize yields under unpredictable conditions.
Meanwhile, in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley, youth are playing a central role in advancing greenhouse innovation. Young developers are working directly with farmers to design and prototype smart greenhouse sensors and other digital tools, ensuring that solutions are both practical and tailored to local production needs.
© FAO/TelAgri
Across these regions, the greenhouse sector is undergoing a clear shift toward data-driven production, with increased automation, improved climate adaptation strategies, and stronger digital market integration. The growing involvement of young innovators is also helping to accelerate the pace of change.
Overall, the Digital Villages Initiative demonstrates how greenhouse producers, including smallholders, can adopt digital technologies to enhance sustainability and resilience. As climate challenges intensify, these tools are becoming increasingly critical to maintaining consistent, competitive greenhouse production.
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
