RT Journal Article
T1 Future of smart greenhouses in Almería: Farmers' perspectives and fuzzy logic-based evaluation
A1 García Chica, Antonio
A1 Chica Moreno, Rosa María
A1 Caparrós Mancera, Julio José
A1 Giménez Fernández, Antonio
A1 Torres Moreno, José Luis
AB The adoption of automation technologies in intensive greenhouse agriculture is a key challenge for achieving greater efficiency and sustainability. This study explores the perceptions of farmers in Almería (Spain), Europe’s most prominent greenhouse region, regarding automation and robotics, identifying the main socioeconomic and technical barriers to implementation. A structured survey was conducted among greenhouse operators, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to examine correlations between automation levels and farmer characteristics. From this, a fuzzy logic decision-support system was developed to evaluate the feasibility of different automation technologies, based on three key factors: implementation cost, perceived safety risk, and expected efficiency. The model was applied to five real-world configurations, ranging from simple mechanized tools to advanced robotic systems. Results show that semi-automated, low-cost solutions with minimal risk are more likely to be adopted than high-end technologies, even when the latter offer greater functional capabilities. The study demonstrates the value of combining technical assessment with local knowledge to identify realistic and scalable pathways for agricultural innovation in greenhouse systems.
PB Elsevier
SN 2772-3755 (electrónico)
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27384
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27384
LA eng
NO García-Chica, A., Chica, R. M., Caparrós-Mancera, J. J., Giménez-Fernández, A., & Torres-Moreno, J. L. (2025). Future of smart greenhouses in Almería: Farmers’ perspectives and fuzzy logic-based evaluation. Smart Agricultural Technology, 12, 101515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101515
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 30 may 2026