GreenCoop has opened its second Hungarian greenhouse near Acha, where around 12-14 million cucumbers are grown annually using thermal heating. This €15.9 million investment, part-funded by a government grant of €4.5 million, has created 80 new jobs, demonstrating significant progress in the horticulture sector.
New GreenCoop greenhouse: a milestone in sustainable agriculture
GreenCoop, a joint Slovak-Hungarian agricultural venture, recently opened a huge greenhouse near Acha, Hungary. The six-hectare facility uses thermal heat to produce cucumbers, aiming to produce 12 to 14 million cucumbers per year. This innovative project highlights a significant investment of HUF 6 billion (EUR 15.9 million), supported by a non-repayable grant of HUF 1.7 billion (EUR 4.5 million) from the Hungarian Rural Development Programme.
Agriculture Minister István Nagy stressed during the inauguration that this development is part of a wider initiative supporting around 7,300 horticultural projects with a total investment of 190 billion forints (504 million euros). These efforts contributed to the construction and modernization of 800,000 square meters of greenhouses and 465,000 square meters of polytunnels, bringing the total area under protected crop cultivation to 1.26 million square meters.
In addition, the Rural Development Program enabled the construction of 452,000 cubic meters of cold storage and the installation of hail protection systems on an area of 900 hectares. In addition, 280 systems to prevent spring frosts were introduced, and the agricultural machinery fleet was replenished with almost 14 thousand new combines, tractors and other garden equipment.
Zsolt Bindich, president of the GreenCoop group, explained that the Ace-based company Thermal Greenhouse Ltd. is collectively owned by the Slovak-Hungarian members of the group. GreenCoop’s journey began two decades ago with the opening of the first greenhouse in Challokezaranyos, Slovakia. Today the group operates four plants in Slovakia and additional sites in Győr and Acs, Hungary, employing 500 people and producing 10 million kilograms of tomatoes per year.
GreenCoop’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its energy use; All of their greenhouses are heated with geothermal energy and supplemented with solar panels, with 98% of their energy needs met from renewable sources. In winter, when there is not enough natural light to produce fruit, their logistics center, which employs 120 people, handles the wholesale distribution of fruits and vegetables. Bindics noted that the investment in Ács is expected to pay for itself within ten years, provided the company maintains peak performance. The group’s annual income is 40 million euros.
The new GreenCoop greenhouse near Acha is a testament to the evolving landscape of sustainable agriculture in Hungary. Integrating renewable energy and innovative farming practices not only increases production capacity, but also strengthens the sector’s commitment to environmental sustainability and economic growth.
