Eco-friendly greenhouse to change the way we produce food

Work on a £120m greenhouse project that will reduce CO2 emissions and bring hundreds of jobs to West Suffolk has begun. 

The glasshouse project aims to be the world’s first low carbon greenhouse development and will work to solve serious national issues of food security and agricultural reliance on fossil fuels.

The project is one of two greenhouses being built in the area.

The greenhouses will be among the largest in the UK with each covering more than 13 hectares.

The company funding the project are the UK’s biggest investors in renewable energy and they have said that they expect the development to enable the production of more than 20 tonnes of tomatoes every day, which would be 12% of the tomatoes grown in the country.

Heating to the greenhouse will be supplied by using waste heat from the nearby Fornham Anglian Water recycling center.

Any rainwater which lands on the roof of the glasshouse will also be stored to be used later.

Cllr John Griffiths, leader of the West Suffolk Council said: ‘West Suffolk Council is not only helping businesses to invest in our area to create jobs but is also helping businesses to be environmentally friendly to reduce our carbon footprint.’

‘The impressive glasshouse project will put West Suffolk at the forefront of finding new green ways to produce food while reducing the use of fossil fuels.’

‘Our area has just been judged by Friends of the Earth as one of the top districts in the country for being green, but it can always do more.’

‘Our teams work closely with businesses, landowners, and developers to help bring forward innovation and investment such as this.’

Cllr Susan Glossop said: ‘This is a real boost locally for jobs and skills as well as showing the creativity and vision we have in West Suffolk.’

‘It highlights the opportunity available in our rural areas and the fact we have some people looking for innovative ways to take businesses forward.’

Photo Credit – Pixabay