Dutch firm secures 40 mn euros contracts for strawberry greenhouses in India

Dutch greenhouse specialist Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects has secured three contracts worth 40 million euros to build high-tech greenhouses dedicated to strawberry cultivation in India. The projects will span a total of 8 hectares across three states: Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

According to the company, this marks the first time its advanced greenhouse technology will be deployed in India for strawberries. The facilities are designed to deliver precision control over climate, irrigation and fertigation, as well as automation and crop management systems that support consistent yields and quality across diverse Indian growing conditions.

Project implementation will begin once bank financing is finalised. Van der Hoeven expects construction to take a minimum of one year from the start of execution, including phases for detailed design, procurement, on-site construction, commissioning and training for local teams.

The company’s technology focuses on stable, year-round production with reduced resource use. Key features include:

• Advanced climate control to manage temperature, humidity and ventilation for optimal fruit set and quality.
• Precision irrigation and fertigation, aimed at improving water and nutrient efficiency.
• Automation for monitoring and controlling growing conditions, enabling data-driven operations.
• Cultivation systems tailored to strawberries, designed to improve yields, uniformity and shelf life.

Van der Hoeven is among four companies exploring opportunities in India through HortiRoad2India, a multi-year public–private partnership from the Netherlands that promotes Dutch horticultural solutions in the Indian market. The initiative recently unveiled a collaborative blueprint aimed at accelerating climate-smart agriculture, improving food safety and supporting inclusive growth through Indo–Dutch partnerships.

Project coordinators emphasised the goal of linking Dutch innovation with India’s expanding horticulture ambitions, highlighting how controlled-environment agriculture can help producers manage climate variability and meet rising demand for premium fruits such as strawberries.

The Netherlands is a global leader in greenhouse horticulture, with approximately 10,000 hectares of high-tech greenhouses and a strong ecosystem of technology providers. Around 20 Dutch companies supply greenhouse solutions worldwide, and India is increasingly viewed as a high-potential market due to its diverse climates, growing consumer demand and need for reliable, high-quality supply chains.

Industry observers expect the new projects to help boost local strawberry production, extend growing seasons, reduce post-harvest losses and create skilled jobs in agri-technology and facility operations. If successful, these initial sites in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka could pave the way for larger deployments and broader adoption of advanced greenhouse systems for other high-value crops.

With financing pending and construction timelines set for at least a year, the focus now turns to detailed planning and site preparation. As the projects progress, stakeholders will be watching for performance benchmarks on yield, resource efficiency and quality that could shape future investments in India’s controlled-environment horticulture.