The maps lists around 190 production companies that vary in sizes from 0,5 hectare to 30 hectares or larger. Because much is unknown about the exact acreage of the total acreage of protected crops in Russia, we checked if the map provides an accurate overview and compared the results of the Russian map (developed by the Russian search engine provider Yandex), with the results of Google Maps. And indeed, while not always directing to the exact location, greenhouse complexes can be found at the location that the map of the Russian Greenhouse Association points out.
But not every location that the map directs you to will show a greenhouse complex. For example, this location should be home to a 10 hectare greenhouse company. All we found was a neighborhood.
At the same time it is not always clear in what kind of state the production locations are. Sometimes they look like simple plastic tunnel farms and other look like glass style and sometimes more advanced Venlo style greenhouse complexes.
Also remarkable; We found many small towns with a greenhouse in every backyard. One of them is the small town of Kakhun near Nalchik in the North Kaukasus, witch looks a bit like the Russian Westland...
It is also unclear if the map is not outdated and if it features some of the latest greenhouse projects that have been announced lately. While some doubt if they can, Russia has the ambition to become self sufficient. The country often brags up and announces huge investments in new large scale greenhouse projects. Hopefully this map can finally teach us if these will actually be build over the next year.
Click here to view the map