Extended Abstract
Introduction
The world population is projected to reach approximately 9.6 billion by 2050, necessitating the production of nearly twice as much food as is currently produced. At the same time, basic production resources such as water, soil, and energy are becoming increasingly scarce due to climate change. These factors have posed significant challenges to humanity in ensuring sufficient food production. One strategy to address and adapt to these challenges is the development of agricultural cultivation in controlled environments, such as greenhouses. Although greenhouse crop production offers numerous advantages, inefficient management of these units can undermine many of these benefits. A comparison of greenhouse performance in Iran with that in other parts of the world reveals significant inefficiencies in their management. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate effective greenhouse management practices in Tehran Province.

Materials and Methods
The present study was conducted as survey research. The statistical population included all agricultural greenhouses in Tehran Province, comprising 2,574 active greenhouse units. From this population, 140 greenhouse units were randomly selected as the study sample. The sample size was determined using G*Power software. Additionally, 17 expert specialists were purposively selected to identify optimal management indicators for greenhouses. Data were collected through questionnaires administered via face-to-face interviews. For data analysis, both descriptive and analytical methods were employed, including indexing and Importance-Performance Matrix (IPM) analysis. To evaluate the level of good greenhouse management practices, a composite index comprising 33 indicators across three dimensions (pre-production, production, and post-production) was utilized, with scores ranging from one to five.

Results and Discussion
According to the findings of this research, the average area of the greenhouses was 6,360 square meters, ranging from a minimum of 300 to a maximum of 38,000 square meters. Over 90% of the studied greenhouses were privately owned, 85% had single-layer plastic coverings, and approximately 70% faced insufficient access to water. In terms of automation, 70% of the greenhouses lacked automation systems. The average management efficiency index for the greenhouses in the studied population was 3.21. The highest value of this index was associated with the pre-production management process (3.61), while the lowest value was linked to the post-production process (2.01). Based on the Importance-Performance Matrix (IPMA) analysis, greenhouse management exhibited significant performance gaps in 13 identified variables. Addressing these gaps would enhance management efficiency in greenhouses. Key areas for improvement include the development and implementation of automation and smart technologies, adherence to domestic and international standards, proper product packaging, and efficient transportation to market.

Conclusion
A comparison of the operational and managerial practices of greenhouse units in Iran with those in other parts of the world reveals significant inefficiencies and low productivity in Iranian greenhouses. This study highlights that a major contributing factor to this issue is the inadequate management of various greenhouse production processes, spanning from pre-production to post-production stages. Furthermore, the study indicates that inefficiencies in these processes and related operations escalate progressively from pre-production to post-production. The findings of the study demonstrate that management practices in the examined greenhouses remain largely traditional, with limited adoption of automation and smart production technologies. This is attributed partly to the lack of knowledge and skills among greenhouse managers in utilizing such technologies, and partly to the fact that these technologies are not well-adapted to their specific conditions. The study also emphasizes that variables related to pre-production processes hold greater significance compared to those during and after production. Additionally, the absence of mandatory production and technical standards, as well as underdeveloped supply chains that could support greenhouse farmers from input supply to product delivery and sales, represents another critical weakness. This gap discourages the transition toward modern and intelligent greenhouse systems. Therefore, it is imperative for policymakers and planners in this field to prioritize the development of robust supply chains for greenhouse products. Addressing the growing food demands of Iranian society, particularly in light of the ongoing water and soil crises and other constraints facing the agricultural sector, necessitates the expansion of cultivation in controlled environments such as greenhouses.