Greenhouses Plants as a Landmark for Research and Innovation: the Combination of Agricultural and Energy Purposes in Italy

Agriculture represents an economic sector that guarantees a certain degree of sustainability and of safe management of natural and forestry systems. However, some current challenges, such as the abandonment of agricultural land and soil sealing, are crucial issues. Greenhouses plants can be considered a local landmark where advantages and disadvantages coexist. It is known that their use, as well as for agricultural purposes, can also assumes energy aims. However, their study, as economic and local landscape indicator, is underdeveloped in Italy. Based on the contribution of other countries (e.g. Spain and the Netherlands) in which greenhouses are relevant for spatial analysis, the need for data is a continuing obstacle to research and innovation in Italy. In the latter context, nothing has been done to evaluate greenhouses plants as a part of the agricultural landscape with an energy potential. The requirement to build a database with the help of new technologies (such as Geographic Information System), characterises a real opportunity that implements research, spatial planning (in order to prevent environmental - natural risks and to know which crops are present in a local area) and for calculating energy efficiency from renewable sources installed on greenhouses (as photovoltaic system). The present study aims to give new scenarios, research inputs and actionable progress actions based on virtuous projects that have already combined greenhouses and energy from renewable sources.