# A Critical Review of the Status of Current Greenhouse Technology in China and Development Prospects
## 4 Production Analysis of Greenhouse Industry in China  
In 19 th century, China's primary crop production sector was strongly affected by location and climatic conditions, often making it impossible to perform open-air operations; this only allowed for the cultivation of a few crop varieties, which negatively affected  
Figure 11: Venlo-type glass greenhouse fully equipped with a forced ventilator system and internal and external screens. people's income. The development of science and technology and the emergence of greenhouses largely rectified these problems, and farmers had the opportunity to diversify and increase production and productivity. With the improvement of agricultural production techniques and technology, China's facility-based agriculture has made significant breakthroughs in terms of horticultural production relating to vegetables, fruits and melons, flowers and seedlings, and the growth of greenhouses and relevant equipment has progressed rapidly. In recent years, China's vegetable, orchards, and flower planting area has shown a year-to-year rising trend, which is associated with the county's economic development and improved national income; however, at the same time, the demand for these products has increased. It can be seen in Figure 12[25; 26; 27] that in the period of 2015 to 2023, the sown area of vegetables grew from 19,613,000 ha in 2015 to 23,029,000 ha in 2023, and the cultivation area of orchards and flowers also rose considerably. In recent years, with continuous population growth and the acceleration of urbanization, the vegetable market has been expanding, and the production of greenhouse vegetables has gradually taken an important position. Greenhouse vegetable cultivation has proven to be an effective means of increasing farmers' incomes by artificially creating a suitable environment for vegetable growth, adjusting the vegetable production season, and expanding the cultivation period; however, the annual production of greenhouse vegetables variates due to several factors, mainly the type of vegetables planted, the level of management, planting technology used, and regional climatic conditions. The facility cultivation of fruit trees (Figure 13)[28] refers to improving or controlling the environment in a facility with the help of greenhouse structures, rain shelters, and other protective facilities based on making full use of local natural resources in seasons that are not suitable for the growth and development of fruit trees[29]. Environmental factors, such as light, temperature, humidity, and CO\({}_{2}\) concentration, that provide suitable conditions for the growth of fruit trees are artificially regulated, and the adjusted cultivation techniques help to achieve production goals in this highly capital-, labor- and technology-intensive industry. As a new production technique, the protected cultivation of fruit trees is an important means of achieving high-quality development in the fruit industry in China, and it has great practical significance, expanding the cultivation area of excellent varieties, extending the supply period of fresh fruits, and achieving annual supply while preventing natural disasters and controlling pests and diseases, thus producing safe, high-quality,  
Figure 12: Area under vegetable, orchard, and flower cultivation in China, 2015–2023. high-end fruits, improving production efficiency, and increasing the economic and social benefits of the sector [30]. Tree species mainly include northern fruits, such as grapes, peaches, cherries, plums, and apricots, as well as southern fruits, such as citrus fruits, dragon fruit, lotus root, guava, and papaya. The protected cultivation of fruit trees has become one of the pillar industries for poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in many areas in China. Flowers, with their unique value, have become an important part of the beautification and greening of the human environment. Modern flower industries have already formed in many countries around the world and continue to develop rapidly [31].