Protected Agriculture Gains Momentum in Mexico

Protected agriculture in Mexico is emerging as a strategic pathway to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, and attract investment through the adoption of technologies such as greenhouse automation, hydroponics, and precision irrigation. With about 58,000ha under protected cultivation, much of it still operating with low or mid-tech systems, the sector presents significant opportunities for technification, financing, and collaboration among government, agribusiness companies, and research institutions. 

Experts agree that expanding protected agriculture in Mexico could significantly improve productivity in the agricultural sector and strengthen food security, as the use of technologies such as greenhouse automation, precision irrigation, and hydroponic systems allows for higher yields and more efficient resource management

Cesar Guti, Coordinator of the Economic Corridor for Well-Being, Queretaro’s Ministry of Economy, stated that the country has the natural, technological, and policy conditions needed to strengthen this strategic sector. “Mexico has the conditions to become one of the world’s leading powers in this field,” the official said, ahead of the GreenTech Americas expo, a leading international trade show focused on horticultural technology and protected agriculture, to be held in Querétaro from March 24 to 26.

Guti emphasized that modernizing the agricultural sector is key to advancing food security, improving productivity, and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Protected agriculture makes it possible to integrate tools such as greenhouse automation, smart crop monitoring, precision irrigation systems, and data analysis platforms supported by artificial intelligence. In this regard, he stressed that cooperation among government, companies, and universities will be essential to developing technological solutions capable of transforming agricultural production.

Eliza Dexter, Researcher, UNAM, explained that protected horticulture production in Mexico has increased by 50% over the past decade. However, she warned that the sector’s growth also brings social, economic, and environmental challenges. She noted that the debate around food security should not focus solely on production, but also on food distribution and access.

“Protected agriculture delivers higher yields, but when we talk about food security we must ask who the production is for and how different types of producers are integrated into the system,” Dexter said. She highlighted that Mexico’s agricultural landscape includes both highly technified producers oriented toward export markets and farmers who supply local markets with lower levels of technological adoption.

Alejandro Trueba, Founding Partner, HarvCrest Capital, explained that the incorporation of technology not only improves productive efficiency but also makes the sector more attractive to investors and financial institutions. “A high-tech greenhouse can achieve yields between five and seven times higher than open-field production,” he noted.

The specialist added that Mexico currently has around 58,000ha of protected agriculture, although a significant portion still operates under low- or medium-tech systems such as shade mesh structures or macrotunnels. Approximately 40% of these areas use shade mesh, around 34% rely on macrotunnels, and only about 20% correspond to high-tech greenhouses.

“This situation represents a major opportunity for the sector’s development, since technification facilitates access to financing. Financial institutions seek projects that incorporate technology because it provides greater predictability in cash flows and reduces exposure to climate-related risks,” Trueba explained.

Trueba also highlighted that, beyond economic benefits, the implementation of agricultural technology will become increasingly necessary in the coming years, as global population growth will require higher food production over the coming decades. According to data by FAO, world population is expected to grow by more than a third, about 2.3 billion people, between 2009 and 2050, with nearly all of this growth taking place in developing countries.

These projections indicate that feeding a global population of 9.1 billion people would require increasing overall food production by 70% between 2007 and 2050. At the same time, urbanization is expected to accelerate, with urban areas projected to account for 70% of the world’s population by 2050, while rural populations decline. This scenario suggests that adopting advanced technologies in agriculture will be indispensable to meeting global food demand.

Wendele van der Wiele, Representative of the Dutch government, noted that more than 100 Dutch companies currently participate in Mexico’s protected horticulture sector, reflecting the country’s potential to consolidate itself as a key player in the industry. “Mexico will be one of the leading countries in the future of sustainable horticulture, and we are very proud to continue building that future together,” she said.

In order to promote the development of protected agriculture among Mexican producers, during GreenTech Americas, Rijk Zwaan, a Dutch vegetable and fruit breeding company, will host the workshop Hydroponic Leafy Vegetables in Latin America: From Greenhouse Design to Commercial Success. The workshop, which was successfully delivered during the 2025 edition of the event, aims to align market demand with crop and variety selection, as well as greenhouse design, automation levels, and investment models.

Participants will gain insights into how hydroponic systems can be adapted to Latin American conditions while maintaining commercial viability. In this regard, the study Protected Agriculture in Mexico, developed by the Inter-American Development Bank, notes that greenhouses in Mexico, particularly high-tech operations, are generally adaptations of technology developed in the Netherlands.

However, while many aspects are similar, including structural types and materials, water systems, hydroponic approaches, and pathogen management, the greatest difference lies in energy consumption. Dutch and German greenhouse systems use heating almost year-round to maintain the temperatures required for crop production. In Mexico, suitable growing temperatures occur naturally throughout most of the year. Only basic ventilation is required during the hottest periods and, increasingly, water-circulated radiant floor heating is used on a limited basis when cold temperatures threaten crop viability or significantly slow plant growth. This represents a competitive advantage for Mexico’s agricultural sector compared with its counterparts in those countries.

“Successful hydroponic projects begin with understanding the market. During this workshop, we connect market requirements with system design and variety selection to help producers and investors develop sustainable and profitable concepts,” said Damion Schwarzkachel, Global Client Manager for Horticultural Projects, Rijk Zwaan.

GreenTech Americas is organized in partnership with RAI Amsterdam, an institution from the Netherlands. The program includes contributions from experts with extensive experience across the value chain, covering topics such as technology levels, automation, post-harvest management, and real-world case studies from commercial projects.

The expansion of protected agriculture in Mexico has been exponential, growing from just 700ha to 23,250ha between 2000 and 2015, according to the Agri-Food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP). The leading state in this type of agriculture is Sinaloa, with 4,744ha, followed by Jalisco with 3,310ha, Baja California with 2,647ha, State of Mexico with 1,624ha, Chihuahua with 1,496ha, and Sonora with 1,175ha, which together account for 71.5% of the total planted area, according to 2016 data. Tomato is the main crop produced under this system, with five out of every ten protected agriculture facilities dedicated to tomato production.