Planning Sustainable Food Systems: GIS Based Greenhouse Site Selection and Green Logistics Integration in the Eastern Black Sea Region

Pursuing sustainable agricultural development in the context of green logistics requires advanced spatial decision-making tools for optimum site selection. This study focuses on identifying and mapping suitable greenhouse areas in the Eastern Black Sea region of Türkiye using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Using ArcMap 10.5, the study synthesizes various datasets including road networks, population density, temperature, precipitation, altitude, slope, direction, sunny days, and wind speed to assess regional suitability. Three analytical frameworks were applied in the study: weighted overlay analysis, weighted sum analysis, and fuzzy overlay analysis. Weighted overlay analysis identified high suitability regions primarily in Ordu and Giresun provinces, while weighted sum analysis provided a more balanced distribution of suitable areas across all provinces. Fuzzy overlay analysis provided the most detailed results by capturing transition zones and highlighting additional potential areas in Trabzon, Gümüşhane, Bayburt, and Artvin. These findings indicate that optimum greenhouse areas are distributed throughout the region rather than being limited to isolated pockets, highlighting the region’s broad potential for integrated agricultural and logistics planning. The results of the study serve as a valuable tool for policy makers, urban planners, and agricultural developers aiming to align greenhouse development with sustainable logistics networks. While acknowledging limitations such as data resolution and weighting subjectivity, the study provides a replicable framework that can be improved with higher resolution datasets and dynamic modeling in future studies. Ultimately, this research advances the application of GIS-based methodologies in promoting resilient, efficient, and low-emission agricultural systems, contributing to both regional food security and broader environmental goals.