Some environmentalists and scientists think that simple greenhouses may evolve at some point into controlled eco-systems that will be developed for purposes other than simply growing flowers, fruits and vegetables. Experimental environments like Biosphere 2, a project of the University of Arizona, already exist and utilize geodesic dome structures, a type of greenhouse, to study both the natural and the built environments that exist on earth. The experiment was conceived as a way to understand the planet's place in the universe, advance knowledge of scientific principles and effects, and train interdisciplinary scientists. The project consists of seven model eco-systems, including a tropical rain forest, savannah grasslands, forested swamps, an ocean and a model city.
The Agri-voltaics program at Biosphere 2 focuses on solar panels and energy as well as agricultural technology in the controlled environment. It has an ongoing commitment to bring high school students into the program to help collect data and understand how modern technology is used to enhance agricultural science and food production. The Biosphere is, in a way, the greenhouse of the future and may be a vital source of information for the future and for the planned exploration of other planets.
