A recent study by the University of Copenhagen has found that the global extent of greenhouse farming is increasing rapidly, particularly in low and medium-income countries in the South. The study found that greenhouse cultivation covers about 1.3 million hectares of the Earth's surface, which is nearly three times higher than previous estimates. China is the leading country in greenhouse production, followed by Spain and Italy. The growth trajectory of greenhouse cultivation is predominantly in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. The study also highlighted the need for more political regulation and research on the environmental and social consequences of greenhouse cultivation in the South.