Turkey's greenhouse industry continues to grow, assisted by government support and natural advantages. Peter Barel of MST, a Dutch-Turkish company specializing in greenhouse solutions, named some developments influencing the market. "The last two years have shown significant growth, partly due to strong government financial support for growers, even though interest rates remain high."
Peter Barel and Meral Bilgin of MST
Strengths in the country
Turkey's natural advantages make it an attractive location for greenhouse projects. "The climate is favorable, labor is inexpensive, and the availability of water wells helps reduce costs for running greenhouses," Peter explains. These factors are driving new developments, particularly around areas with geothermal hot water sources.
A unique model is developing where government-owned greenhouse projects are leased to growers for long-term periods, typically 20 years. This model encourages investment while maintaining government oversight.
However, water management remains an issue. "There are currently no laws in Turkey requiring water recycling, but changes are expected soon, which could significantly boost the industry again," Peter notes.
The Turkey and Dutch Eurofins team also attending
Turkey as a regional hub
Turkey's geographical location is another beneficial factor in its greenhouse market expansion. Dutch suppliers are increasingly using Turkey as a central point to reach surrounding regions, including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the broader Middle East.
"The Netherlands is renowned for its glass greenhouses, but in Turkey and nearby countries, plastic greenhouses dominate. Dutch suppliers focus on irrigation systems, climate control, and related technologies, which are universally applicable across different greenhouse types," Peter shares.
"We're a Dutch-Turkish company operating in Turkey for 25 years. There's growing interest from Dutch businesses wanting to use Turkey as a base to serve neighboring markets. Being closer to clients with readily available spare parts and local service is important."
Julia Komarova with Meteor systems and Arthur Mkrtumian with Agrotech-Didam greenhouse projects
Growth in high-tech greenhouses
This year alone, approximately 170 hectares of new greenhouses have been built in Turkey, with a significant portion classified as high-quality plastic greenhouses. "These are mid-tech projects, but there's an increasing trend toward high-quality setups," Peter shares.
MST has participated in many of the 35 greenhouse projects initiated in Turkey this year. While these high-tech developments are promising, challenges remain. For example, reused water in greenhouses can reduce yields and increase the risk of viruses—a problem that often goes unacknowledged.
Erik van Geest and Leo Oegema of NPI
Debets Schalke is present in Hall1, Tim van Heester and Dylan Schalke
For the first time at this show, Kars Vreeswijk and Cas Barel with Moleda
The Turkish future
Peter concludes: "Trust is key in this business. Even if it costs slightly more, Turkish developers value the reliability and service of local companies connected to global expertise."