Why Use Greenhouses for Snail Farming?

Controlled cultivation in greenhouses offers fundamental advantages for snail farming. These facilities allow precise regulation of environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, ventilation, and protection against predators and diseases. Climate control is essential to maximize productivity and product quality, as snails are highly sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and humidity.

Moreover, greenhouses optimize space utilization, enabling production in areas with challenging climates or limited space such as urban zones or regions with extreme weather. This opens the door to new locations for snail farming, increasing supply and diversifying the sector.

New Business Models and Scalability

Heliciculture in greenhouses can be developed on both a small scale, for artisanal and local production, and a large scale, with technified and automated facilities. Producers can choose different strategies depending on their goals:

• Premium production: focused on high-quality snails for gourmet markets and specialized niches.

• Industrial production: high volume to supply distribution chains and export markets.

• Agricultural complement: integrating snail farming with other crops or agricultural activities, leveraging synergies and optimizing resources.

In this context, greenhouse design becomes key. Structures can range from simple plastic tunnels to climate-controlled greenhouses equipped with automated irrigation, humidity control, and ventilation systems. The use of technologies like IoT sensors and agricultural management platforms allows real-time monitoring of internal conditions, anticipating issues and improving decision-making.

Profitability and Growing Demand

The global demand for snails as gourmet food, nutritional supplements, and raw material for cosmetics is increasing. The sustainability of this activity, combined with year-round production possibilities thanks to climate control, makes heliciculture in greenhouses economically attractive.

Profit margins can be high, especially when focusing on differentiated, high-quality products. Additionally, the low environmental impact and reduced pesticide use position this production method as an ecological alternative within the agri-food sector.

Challenges and Recommendations for Entrepreneurs

Despite the opportunities, snail farming in greenhouses also presents challenges:

• Technical knowledge: requires specific training to manage snail biology and greenhouse technology.

• Initial investment: designing and building an appropriate greenhouse involves costs that must be carefully planned.

• Sanitary management: maintaining a clean environment and controlling diseases is essential to avoid losses.

To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to:

• Develop a detailed business plan.

• Seek advice from experts in heliciculture and greenhouse technology.

• Start with pilot projects to validate production models.

• Embrace technological innovation and digitalization to optimize resources and increase efficiency.

The Future of Heliciculture Lies in Innovation

The combination of traditional techniques with advanced greenhouse technology opens a new era for snail farming. Companies and entrepreneurs adopting these solutions can not only improve yields but also position themselves in international markets with high-value-added products.

At Integra-AT, we are committed to integrating smart technological solutions that enable sustainable and profitable production in emerging sectors like heliciculture. From designing efficient structures to implementing monitoring systems and digital advisory services, we support those looking to transform their production models toward the agriculture of the future.