Commercial Agriculture Glossary

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Greenhouses & climate

Polytunnel (High Tunnel)

A low-cost structure with a bent steel frame covered in polyethylene film, used for season extension and basic crop protection. Procurement buyers value it for fast deployment and lower capital outlay versus glass or multi-span systems.

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Multi-Span Greenhouse

A series of connected gutter-linked bays forming one continuous covered area, enabling larger contiguous growing footprints and shared climate infrastructure. It is the standard structural format for commercial-scale protected agriculture procurement.

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Venlo Glasshouse

A glass-clad multi-span design with small, repeating roof panes and slender trusses, originating from Dutch horticulture and favoured for high light transmission and long structural life. Buyers typically select it for high-value crops where light quality and durability justify the higher capital intensity.

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Semi-Closed Greenhouse

A greenhouse concept that limits passive roof ventilation in favour of mechanical air handling with heat recovery, sustaining more stable temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. It suits buyers prioritising climate consistency and energy management over the lowest initial structural cost.

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Pad-and-Fan Cooling

An evaporative cooling method where exhaust fans draw outside air through saturated cellulose pads, lowering greenhouse air temperature as water evaporates. It is the standard mechanical cooling approach specified for hot, dry-climate greenhouse projects.

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High-Pressure Fogging

A climate control method that atomizes water into fine droplets suspended in the air, cooling the greenhouse through evaporation while also raising humidity, often used alongside or instead of pad-and-fan systems. It suits humid climates or crops needing finer humidity control than evaporative pads provide.

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Horizontal Air Flow (HAF) Fans

Low-speed circulation fans positioned to create a continuous horizontal air movement loop within the greenhouse, equalizing temperature and humidity and reducing microclimate pockets around the canopy. They are a low-cost addition specified to improve uniformity alongside heating, cooling, or screening systems.

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Greenhouse Heating System

Central or distributed equipment, such as hot-water pipe rails, unit heaters, or boilers, that maintains minimum crop temperatures during cold periods and supports consistent growth cycles. Procurement specifications should define heating capacity requirements by climate zone and crop rather than by brand.

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Energy / Shade Screen

A retractable fabric layer installed below the roof that can be deployed to retain heat at night, reduce solar load during the day, or diffuse light, depending on the screen type selected. It is a key lever for balancing energy consumption and crop quality in a climate control specification.

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Natural and Mechanical Ventilation

Air exchange achieved either passively through roof and side vents driven by buoyancy and wind, or actively through exhaust fans and intake louvers. The choice and sizing of ventilation strategy shapes the rest of the climate system design and should be matched to local wind and temperature patterns.

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Climate Computer (Climate Controller)

A centralized control system that integrates sensor data on temperature, humidity, CO2, and light to automatically coordinate vents, screens, heating, cooling, and fogging equipment toward set targets. It is the integration layer buyers should specify early, since it determines compatibility across all climate equipment suppliers.

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CO2 Enrichment

The controlled injection of carbon dioxide into the greenhouse atmosphere, typically from combustion flue gas, liquid CO2, or dedicated generators, to support photosynthesis above ambient outdoor concentrations. It is most relevant in closed or semi-closed greenhouses where ventilation losses are minimized.

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Cladding Material

The transparent or translucent covering of a greenhouse structure, such as glass, multi-wall polycarbonate, or polyethylene film, each offering different trade-offs in light transmission, insulation, durability, and replacement cycle. Cladding choice is a foundational procurement decision that interacts directly with heating, cooling, and screening needs.

Learn more:/glass-vs-poly-greenhouse/greenhouse-construction

Protected Agriculture

Crop production carried out inside structures, such as greenhouses or tunnels, that moderate the external environment to reduce weather and pest exposure and extend growing seasons. It is the broad category under which greenhouse climate and structural procurement decisions are made for commercial projects.

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Hydroponic Growing System

A soilless cultivation method that delivers nutrients directly to plant roots via a water-based solution, commonly paired with controlled-climate greenhouses to maximize the return on environmental control investment. The choice of hydroponic system interacts with climate design through humidity load and root-zone temperature requirements.

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Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD) Management

The practice of managing the gap between the moisture the air can hold and the moisture it actually holds, which drives plant transpiration rates and disease risk. Climate computers typically use VPD alongside temperature and humidity setpoints to coordinate heating, ventilation, and fogging decisions.

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Irrigation & fertigation

Drip irrigation

A method that delivers water directly to the root zone through a network of tubing and emitters, reducing water loss and supporting uniform crop development. Buyers evaluate it on system design, component quality and fit with crop spacing rather than on the water savings alone.

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Drip tape vs. pressure-compensating dripline

Drip tape is a thin-walled product typically suited to shorter, single-season row crop runs, while pressure-compensating dripline maintains even flow across varied elevation and longer run lengths for perennial or high-value crops. The choice affects system longevity and maintenance planning more than upfront cost alone.

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Emitter

The device fitted to a dripline or tape that regulates the flow of water to an individual plant or row section, with designs suited to different crops, water quality and terrain. Procurement teams should assess emitter compatibility with filtration and water quality rather than price per unit alone.

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Filtration

The treatment stage that removes particulates, organic matter or precipitates from irrigation water before it reaches emitters, protecting the system from clogging. Filtration method should be matched to the water source and crop system during project planning, not added as an afterthought.

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Fertigation

The practice of applying dissolved fertilizers through the irrigation system so that nutrients reach the root zone together with water, enabling tighter crop nutrition management across a growing cycle. Projects should be specified around the dosing and monitoring equipment required, not around the fertilizer products themselves.

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Dosing unit

The equipment that injects fertilizer stock solution into the irrigation line at a controlled ratio, often linked to EC and pH sensors for automated adjustment. Buyers should specify dosing capacity and control integration based on the number of nutrient tanks and zones, not on brand alone.

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EC (electrical conductivity)

A measurement used to monitor the total dissolved salt and nutrient concentration of irrigation or fertigation water, guiding dosing adjustments to keep nutrient solution within a safe operating range for the crop. It should be referenced as a monitoring parameter, not as a fixed target figure.

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pH management

The monitoring and adjustment of irrigation or nutrient solution acidity so that nutrients remain available to the crop and clogging of emitters from precipitates is minimised. It is typically managed through acid injection integrated with the dosing unit and should be presented as an ongoing control process.

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Irrigation controller

The automation hardware and software that schedules valve operation, dosing and sensor feedback across irrigation zones, ranging from simple timers to networked systems integrated with climate and fertigation equipment. Specification should start from the number of zones and integration needs, not from a feature list alone.

Learn more:/water-suppliers/fertigation-and-climate-controllers/greenhouse-irrigation-planner

Crop water requirement

The estimated volume of water a crop needs over its growth cycle given local climate and soil conditions, used as a baseline for sizing irrigation, pumping and storage infrastructure. It should be treated as a planning estimate that is refined with site-specific data, not a fixed universal figure.

Learn more:/crop-water-requirement-calculator/greenhouse-water-consumption-calculator

Evapotranspiration

The combined loss of water from soil evaporation and crop transpiration, commonly used together with crop coefficients to estimate irrigation scheduling needs. It is referenced in project planning as an input to water-balance calculations rather than a standalone performance claim.

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Water treatment

Processes applied to irrigation water source — such as disinfection, sediment removal or chemical balancing — to protect system components and crop health before the water reaches filtration and dosing equipment. Treatment approach should be selected based on a water quality analysis of the specific source.

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Pumping station

The infrastructure that draws water from a source and delivers it at the flow and pressure the irrigation or fertigation network requires, including pumps, controls and, where relevant, backup power. Sizing should be derived from system demand and site layout rather than a single pump model choice.

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Distribution uniformity

A measure of how evenly an irrigation system applies water across a field or growing area, influenced by system design, emitter selection, pressure management and maintenance. It is a key design and acceptance-testing consideration for procurement, assessed through system layout review rather than a single headline number.

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Sprinkler and pivot systems

Overhead irrigation methods that apply water through rotating or moving sprinkler heads, suited to field-scale crops and certain soil and wind conditions where drip is less practical. Selection against drip irrigation should be based on crop type, field geometry and water source rather than cost comparison alone.

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Seeds & nurseries

F1 Hybrid

A seed produced by crossing two distinct parent inbred lines to combine specific performance traits. Buyers should source F1 hybrid seed from a single declared parent combination for each order to keep crop uniformity predictable across a project.

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Open-Pollinated Seed

Seed from varieties that breed true from natural pollination, allowing growers to save and replant seed across seasons. Procurement teams should confirm variety identity and generation (not just the open-pollinated label) when specifying this seed class.

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Germination Rate

The share of a seed lot expected to produce normal seedlings under standard test conditions, reported on the lab or supplier test certificate. Buyers should request a current germination test result tied to the specific lot before committing to a purchase order.

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Seed Lot

A defined, uniformly processed quantity of seed identified by a unique lot number that links it to its origin, testing, and treatment history. Procurement should always reference lot numbers in contracts so that quality claims and phytosanitary documents can be traced to the physical shipment.

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Seed Purity

The proportion of a sample consisting of the declared crop seed, free from other crop seed, weed seed, and inert matter, as reported on a purity analysis. Buyers specifying bulk seed volumes should request purity analysis alongside germination data to understand the usable seed content of a shipment.

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Seed Treatment

A coating or dressing applied to seed before sale to protect against early-season pests, diseases, or environmental stress during germination. Buyers should confirm which active ingredients are applied and whether the treatment is compatible with destination-country import rules before shipment.

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Phytosanitary Certificate

An official document issued by the exporting country's plant protection authority confirming that a seed or plant shipment meets the importing country's pest and disease requirements. Buyers must build certificate issuance and destination-country acceptance into procurement timelines before scheduling shipment.

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Import Permit

An authorization issued by a destination country's agricultural authority that must be secured before seed or planting material can legally enter the country. Buyers should confirm permit requirements and validity windows for the specific species and country early, since this step often determines overall project timing.

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Seed Processing Plant

A facility where harvested seed is cleaned, sized, treated, and packaged to meet commercial quality specifications before sale. Buyers evaluating a supplier should review the processing plant's capability for the specific crop and packaging format required by the project.

Learn more:/invest/seed-processing/seed-processing-capacity-calculator/seed-producers

Seed Production

The contracted, field-based multiplication of a specific variety under isolation and management practices designed to maintain genetic identity and seed quality. Buyers sourcing production-scale seed should confirm isolation distances and field inspection history as part of supplier due diligence.

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Commercial Nursery

A dedicated facility that propagates seedlings, plugs, or grafted plants at scale for sale to commercial growers rather than retail gardeners. Buyers should assess a nursery's propagation capacity and phytosanitary practices against the project's planting schedule before placing an order.

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Plug Transplant

A young seedling grown in an individual cell of a tray and transplanted with its root plug intact to reduce transplant shock and speed field establishment. Buyers ordering plug transplants should confirm tray cell size and plant age at delivery to match the project's transplanting equipment and schedule.

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Rootstock / Grafting

The practice of joining a fruiting or production variety (scion) onto a separately bred root system (rootstock) chosen for traits such as disease tolerance or vigor. Buyers sourcing grafted plants should confirm both the scion variety and rootstock identity, since each affects management requirements independently.

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Germination Chamber

A controlled-environment unit used by nurseries or seed labs to hold temperature and moisture conditions that initiate uniform seed germination before transplant or lab testing. Buyers evaluating a nursery or lab partner should ask how germination chamber conditions are monitored and documented for traceability.

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Variety Trial

A structured side-by-side evaluation of candidate varieties under local growing conditions, used to inform variety selection before a commercial-scale order is placed. Buyers should request access to independent or supplier-run trial data relevant to their specific region before finalizing variety choice.

Learn more:/seed-trials/compare-seed-varieties/seed-advisor

Projects, finance & RFQ

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

A formal document a buyer sends to multiple suppliers describing exactly what is needed so each can submit a comparable price and delivery offer. A well-structured RFQ reduces back-and-forth and makes bids easier to evaluate side by side.

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Request for Information (RFI)

An early-stage inquiry a buyer sends to understand what solutions, capabilities, or equipment categories exist before committing to a detailed RFQ. It helps narrow the market and refine project requirements.

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Request for Proposal (RFP)

A document used when a buyer needs suppliers to propose an approach or design, not just a price, because the project involves engineering choices or alternative methods. Evaluation typically weighs technical merit alongside commercial terms.

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Scope of Work (SOW)

A section of the procurement document that defines exactly what is included and excluded — equipment, installation, training, or services — so suppliers price the same responsibilities. Gaps in scope are a common cause of disputes during execution.

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Technical Specification

The detailed statement of materials, performance characteristics, standards, and construction requirements that equipment or structures must meet, attached to or referenced in an RFQ. Clear specifications let suppliers quote functionally equivalent alternatives rather than guessing intent.

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Incoterms

A set of internationally recognised trade terms (such as FOB or DAP) that define where risk, cost, and responsibility for shipping transfer from seller to buyer. Specifying the correct Incoterm in an RFQ avoids disputes over who pays for freight, insurance, or customs clearance.

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CAPEX (Capital Expenditure)

The upfront investment required to build or acquire a project's physical assets, such as structures, equipment, and installation, as distinct from ongoing running costs. Buyers use CAPEX estimates from RFQ responses to plan financing before construction begins.

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OPEX (Operating Expenditure)

The recurring costs of running a project after commissioning — labour, energy, maintenance, and consumables — separate from the initial capital investment. Comparing OPEX implications, not just purchase price, is essential when evaluating supplier proposals.

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Payback Period

The length of time a project is expected to take for its cumulative returns to offset the initial investment, used as a simple screening measure before more detailed financial analysis. It does not account for the time value of money, unlike IRR or net present value.

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Internal Rate of Return (IRR)

A financial metric used in feasibility analysis that represents the discount rate at which a project's projected cash flows break even in present-value terms. Lenders and investors often compare IRR across projects to prioritise capital allocation.

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Feasibility Study

A structured assessment of whether a proposed project is technically achievable and financially viable, typically covering site conditions, market demand, costs, and risks before an RFQ is issued. Lenders and investors often require one as a condition of financing.

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EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction)

A contracting model in which a single contractor is responsible for designing the project, procuring the equipment, and completing construction under one agreement. Buyers choose EPC when they want a single point of accountability instead of managing multiple suppliers directly.

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Turnkey Project

A project delivery approach where the contractor hands over a fully completed, ready-to-operate facility to the buyer, bundling design, equipment, installation, and commissioning. Buyers trade direct control over individual components for a single delivery commitment.

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Letter of Credit (LC)

A bank-issued instrument guaranteeing payment to a supplier once agreed shipping or delivery conditions are met, commonly used in cross-border equipment purchases to reduce payment risk for both parties. Buyers typically arrange an LC through their bank before the contracted shipment date.

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Blended Finance

A funding structure that combines concessional funds from development institutions with commercial capital to make agricultural projects bankable for private lenders. It is typically used when a project's development impact justifies below-market terms on part of the funding stack.

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Commissioning

The structured process of testing, calibrating, and verifying that installed equipment or a completed facility performs as specified before the buyer accepts handover. Commissioning requirements are typically written into the RFQ so contractors know what acceptance testing will involve.

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Human-Reviewed RFQ Allocation

The practice of having experienced staff review each RFQ before it is routed to suppliers, checking completeness and fit rather than relying on automated matching alone. This review step is grounded in the platform's published terms governing how procurement requests are handled.

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