Italy tests LED Technology to speed up tomato breeding
Researchers hope to cut crop development time and improve yields through controlled lighting systems.
ITALY – Italy’s National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) has joined hands with lighting developer Ambralight to test how precision LED systems can speed up tomato breeding and improve crop productivity.
Tomatoes rank among the most widely grown crops in the world, yet their long breeding cycle slows down the release of new varieties.
Traditional breeding can take between 65 and 100 days, making it difficult to match the growing demand for improved traits. Under the EU-funded HARNESSTOM project, ENEA created an indoor speed-breeding method that uses artificial light to shorten this timeline.
At the core of the project is Ambralight’s MB2451D grow light, engineered to support photosynthesis with consistent intensity and spectrum quality.
The lamps are installed in ENEA’s growth chambers, where they maintain a stable environment for plants.
“We deliver full control with our lighting solutions,” says Stefano Pizzolato, co-founder of Ambralight. “For researchers and breeders, repeatability and environmental stability are key, and that’s exactly what our systems provide. All our products are engineered in-house and built using premium materials.”
The approach allows multiple generations of tomatoes to be developed in a single year, opening new opportunities for faster varietal selection and stable production under controlled conditions.
Following the success of the initial trials, Ambralight introduced ELETTRA, a grow light with multichannel spectrum control. Unlike standard models, ELETTRA adapts light conditions throughout each stage of the tomato life cycle, from seedling to fruiting.
“The ability to customize the light spectrum and intensity at each phenological stage makes ELETTRA a powerful tool for both research and high-yield cultivation,” explains Maurizio Fasolo, co-founder and technical lead at Ambralight.
Built for long-term use
Ambralight is a division of Ambra Elettronica, an ISO 9001:2015-certified firm recognized as an official Osram “LED Light for You” partner.
Its lamps use Osram LEDs optimized for horticulture, heat-resistant aluminum systems, and UV-protected plexiglass covers. Independent tests show more than 90 percent light output retained even after 100,000 hours of use.
The company has already completed over 350 installations across Europe, spanning research labs, vertical farms, and commercial greenhouses.
“Our mission is to illuminate the future of sustainable farming through technology that’s both smart and reliable,” Stefano says.
The project also aligns with a wider movement in Europe to integrate precision lighting in agriculture. Beyond tomatoes, researchers believe the same technology could support other crops where faster breeding is vital.
With ENEA and Ambralight now advancing their trials, the prospects for applying controlled lighting in commercial farming continue to grow.
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