Greenhouse tomato production in Almería's Sea of Plastic" promises year-round supplies and low prices, while concealing environmental damage and exploitation of migrant labourers.
A cherry tomato greenhouse in Almería, Spain
Greenhouse tomato production has become a defining feature of European food supply, turning a seasonal crop into a permanent supermarket staple. Concentrated in southern Spain, particularly in Almería, the system is promoted as productive, efficient, and technologically advanced. Behind this image sits an industrial model dependent on intensive inputs, global export markets, and the extraction of water, labour, and land far beyond where tomatoes are eaten.
At first glance the greenhouses appear uniform, bright, and controlled. Vast sheets of plastic stretch across the landscape, signalling abundance and order. Hidden beneath are exhausted aquifers, chemical residues, discarded plastics, and an often abused workforce kept largely out of sight. The apparent efficiency of the system conceals deep environmental strain and persistent social exploitation.
Tomatoes sit at the heart of Almería’s economy and identity. Vast areas of land, water, and labour have been devoted to their cultivation, shaping livelihoods and landscapes alike. The region’s historic dependence on tomatoes makes their production politically and economically untouchable.
Almería is well known for its tomatoes, producing hundreds of thousands of tonnes yearly
Along with tomatoes, greenhouses are used to grow peppers and other crops
Beyond tomatoes, Almería’s greenhouses grow a wide array of peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants, showcasing the region’s agricultural diversity. These crops fuel a thriving export economy with almost 3 billion Euro, bringing significant income to the region while sustaining a complex, high-intensity farming system that reaches markets across Europe.
Seen from above, the greenhouses cover almost every square metre of ground
From this aerial view, the scale of Almería’s greenhouse network becomes clear, now covering 32,000 hectares. While growth of greenhouse area has slowed to around 0.6% per year, advances in technology and intensive cultivation have driven crop production up by 22% annually, highlighting the region’s relentless push for higher yields.
Plastic covers keep Almería’s crops protected and productive, forming the vast, glimmering sheets seen across the landscape. This intensive use of plastic is essential for controlling climate and pests, but it also creates mounting environmental challenges as waste accumulates year after year.
Greenhouses are covered in thin plastic
Over time, the plastic degrades in the harsh sun
Coverings must be replaced every few years
Over 32,000 hectares of greenhouses exist in Almería
The luxury resort of Almerimar juxtaposed by nearby greenhouses - a visual metaphor for the ubiquitous inequality here
From above, Almerimar gleams with yachts, a golf course, and luxury cars; a stark contrast to the dense, uniform greenhouses nearby. Both landscapes are highly engineered and ecologically impoverished, yet they reflect sharply different stakes: while some reap wealth and prestige, many workers endure low wages and demanding conditions, making the juxtaposition a striking metaphor for the inequalities built into the region’s agrifood system.