The sun sets over the plastic sea (opening image). The arid climate in Almeria makes irrigation a challenge. Water is used sparingly and stored in large reservoirs (above)
In the spring, white lime is daubed on the roofs of the greenhouses to reduce the impact of sunlight on the crops
At the Fundación Tecnova research centre, project director Guadalupe López Díaz and agricultural engineer José Luis Salado conduct experiments to develop new methods of cultivation
Thousands of people make their living within the plastic sea. In the beachside village of Balerma, workers enjoy their downtime on the football pitch
Around a quarter of the workforce are migrants from Africa, who often suffer hazardous working conditions and are paid below the Spanish minimum wage
