Iceland devotes itself to the cultivation of tropical fruits: thanks to geysers and geothermal energy, Icelandic papaya will soon appear. It seems almost a paradox that exotic fruits can grow in these icy wastelands, but modern greenhouses and the abundance of heat in the bowels compensate for the unfavorable climate.

In recent days, according to the Icelandic press, a project to build 50 hectares has been submitted. greenhouses for the organic cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

The initiative is being implemented by Paradise Farms in consultation with the municipality of Olfus, a small company in southern Iceland. The goal is to produce primarily tomatoes, salads, peppers and other vegetables. The idea also consists in developing the production of tropical fruits: papaya, mango, avocado and banana.

To produce fruits and vegetables in Iceland, you need to not only overcome the problem of cold, but also a small amount of sunlight.

Thus, the greenhouses will be illuminated with modern LED systems operating 24 hours a day, and in order to reduce the resulting light pollution, the company plans to screen the greenhouses.

“Then there will be a recirculation system for the water used for irrigation, while the excess hot water used for heating will have a second life in the fish farms that will be installed in the area,” say the developers of the project.

The goal is to produce 5 thousand tons of vegetables in the first year, mainly for export. On the other hand, ice island papaya can be an interesting marketing key for product positioning.