A storm may break the glass. What follows can often impact tomorrow’s harvest, packing schedule and supply commitments.
In a glasshouse, one broken pane can quickly become more than a repair job. Wind gets in. Pressure shifts. Water follows. Screens, climate settings, crop quality and food safety can all be affected.
For protected cropping operators, that matters. Many businesses are working to tight production windows and customer requirements. If part of the structure is breached, the question is “how do we fix it?”, and also “how do we keep the rest of the operation moving safely?”
Achmea Farm Insurance is working with Protected Cropping Australia and Hagelunie to share practical insights and preparedness measures for Australia’s protected cropping sector. The collaboration brings together local industry knowledge, Australian claims experience and international greenhouse horticulture expertise.
“In a greenhouse, the first break is rarely the whole story. Once wind and water enter the structure, damage can escalate quickly. Planning for the first hour after damage occurs can help operators respond more quickly and reduce the potential for further loss.”
Marie Groenhof, Global Head of Greenhouse Horticulture, Achmea
When broken glass becomes a business continuity issue
Storm damage can affect more than the structure. Glasshouse operators may need to work through:
- which bays can keep operating
- whether crops remain suitable for harvest
- whether glass contamination needs to be managed
- whether packing or dispatch schedules need to change
- whether customer or supermarket supply commitments are affected
- how quickly repairers, glass suppliers and contractors can get to site, especially where materials may need to travel long distances or be flown in
- what records are needed before temporary repairs begin
This is why the first response after storm damage needs to consider both the structure and the production system inside it.
Distance can add to the challenge in Australia. Unlike more compact greenhouse markets such as the Netherlands, some Australian glasshouse operations are located a long way from specialist suppliers, repairers or replacement materials. In some cases, parts may need to be transported over long distances or flown in, which makes local preparation more important.
The practical question is: what needs to happen now to help limit further disruption?
What to map before storm season
Every glasshouse is different. A useful exercise is to map where a failure is most likely to occur. This may include:
- wind-facing sides and exposed corners
- older panes or sheets
- previous repair areas
- doors and vents that do not seal properly
- gutters and drainage pinch points
- screens, systems or equipment exposed if glass is lost
- loose materials stored close to the structure
- high-value or time-sensitive crop zones
A marked-up site map can complement an emergency plan. It can help the team identify where to look first, what to protect and which areas may need to be isolated.
What to have ready for the first hour
A response kit is most useful when it is easy to find, practical to use and matched to the layout of the glasshouse. For many Australian operators, that means thinking beyond tape and plastic sheeting. Spare glass, fixings and basic maintenance materials can make a real difference if repairs need to start quickly, particularly if replacement materials may take time to arrive.
One practical approach could be to keep a clearly labelled glasshouse storm maintenance kit in a known location. It may also be worth making someone responsible for checking it before storm season.
Depending on the operation, the kit might include:
- temporary sealing materials
- plastic sheeting
- spare glass, where practical and safe to store
- glass clips, seals and compatible fixings
- basic hand tools needed for temporary repairs
- timber or battens
- repair tape or fasteners
- panel markers
- personal protective equipment
- torches or portable lighting
- supplier and repairer contacts
- Achmea Farm Insurance contact details
- a simple damage record template
- a site map showing bays, shut-off points and access areas
The kit should answer an important question: if damage occurs after hours, can the team quickly access the materials they need without searching for glass, fixings, tools or contact details?
For remote or regionally located operations, the kit should reflect the practical reality of distance. If replacement glass, fixings or specialist labour cannot arrive quickly, the materials kept on site may help contain the issue until permanent repairs can be arranged.
It is also worth being clear on who can make time-critical decisions, including who can stop work, isolate a bay, call repairers, order replacement glass, notify the insurer or adjust harvest and dispatch plans.
How to reduce further damage
Once it is safe to assess the site, the first priority is to understand what has happened and prevent further damage. This may include checking:
- the likely first point of failure
- broken glass, sheets or panels
- damaged vents, doors, screens or equipment
- water entry points
- affected crop zones
- any temporary repairs completed
- impact on harvest, packing or dispatch
Temporary sealing may help limit further wind, water and debris entering the structure. If damage is limited to one area, temporary partitions may help separate damaged sections from unaffected crop zones while repairs are arranged.
These measures are not one-size-fits-all. Airflow, heating, humidity, screens and crop conditions still need to be considered.
The aim is to make the site safe, contain the issue and protect the parts of the business that can keep operating.
Why industry collaboration matters
Protected cropping is a specialist sector. A glasshouse is not just a building. It is a production environment, a climate system and, for many operators, a critical part of the fresh food supply chain.
Achmea Farm Insurance’s collaboration with Protected Cropping Australia and Hagelunie is focused on sharing practical risk mitigation strategies to help keep growers growing.
Hagelunie brings international greenhouse horticulture expertise from within the Achmea group. Protected Cropping Australia brings sector insight and connection with Australian operators. Achmea Farm Insurance brings local risk and claims experience.
Together, this supports a more practical conversation about storm risk, before damage becomes a claim.
“For protected cropping operators, storm damage is not just about broken glass. It can affect production, labour planning and supply commitments. Practical risk mitigation strategies that help operators prepare, respond and recover are increasingly important for the sector.”
Julie Krieger, Executive Officer, Protected Cropping Australia
Questions operators are likely to ask
What are the common areas to check before storm season?
Focus on likely failure points: wind-facing sides, exposed corners, older panes, previous repair zones, vents, doors, gutters, drainage and nearby loose materials.
What might be useful to have ready before severe weather?
Temporary sealing materials, spare glass where practical, compatible fixings, basic repair tools, PPE, lighting, panel markers, supplier contacts, repairer contacts, insurer details, a damage record template and a marked-up site map.
What should we capture after storm damage occurs?
Where safe, record and take photos of the likely first point of failure, damaged panels, water entry, affected crop zones, damaged equipment, temporary repairs and any impact on harvest, packing or dispatch.
How do we decide what can keep operating?
Assess which zones are unsafe, which zones are unaffected, whether climate conditions can be maintained and whether harvesting, packing or dispatch can continue safely.
What if replacement glass or parts cannot arrive quickly?
For remote or regional operations, delays in getting glass, fixings or specialist contractors to site can affect recovery. Keeping suitable spare materials on site, where practical and safe, may help operators contain damage while permanent repairs are arranged.
The value of preparation
Storm damage can affect more than the structure itself. It may disrupt production, harvesting, packing and supply commitments. While every operation and situation are different, having practical response plans, suitable materials and clear responsibilities in place can help operators respond in a more coordinated way when damage occurs.
About this article
This content is delivered to you in collaboration with Protected Cropping Australia LTD, Achmea Farm Insurance and Hagelunie.
Through Achmea Farm Insurance’s partnership with Protected Cropping Australia, supported by Hagelunie, practical insights and resources are being shared to help growers build resilient protected cropping businesses.
About Achmea Farm Insurance
Achmea Farm Insurance is a specialist, local direct agricultural insurer, backed by more than 200 years of cooperative heritage through the Achmea Group. We combine local expertise with an on farm approach to help keep farmers farming and growers growing.
About PCA
Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) is the peak industry body representing commercial growers Australia-wide who are growing crops within, under, or sheltered by a type of structure. Australia members produce a range of crops, including vegetables, fruits, berries, leafy greens, herbs, medicinal plants and amenity plants.
About Hagelunie
Hagelunie is a specialist greenhouse horticulture insurer and part of the Achmea Group, supporting growers across the Netherlands and other key horticultural regions around the world.
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