Greenhouse Agriculture in the Icelandic Food System

Abstract

Greenhouses are a frequent feature on the Icelandic rural landscape and an integral part of Iceland's food system. Iceland's reserves of geothermal energy present an opportunity to extend an otherwise short growing season. This promotes sustainability, increases food security, and benefits consumers. This article examines the relative strengths of Iceland's greenhouse sector - using a combination of statistics, observations, and interviews to understand the resource demands of greenhouse agriculture, how well greenhouses can allay some food insecurity and provide local foods. It ends with an examination of how the reduction of subsidies used to keep greenhouse agriculture going, has had an effect and forces the question of whether losing much of Iceland's agricultural sector and locally sourced food is worth the social and political costs.