As part of ongoing efforts to improve crop productivity and breeding efficiency, Italy's National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) has partnered with LED lighting developer Ambralight to explore the use of controlled-environment cultivation for tomatoes.
By integrating precision LED lighting systems into growth chambers, the project aims to shorten breeding cycles and support more consistent, year-round plant development under stable environmental conditions.
© Ambralight
Faster breeding with artificial lighting
Tomatoes are among the world's most cultivated crops, yet their long breeding cycle, typically 65 to 100 days, limits the speed of varietal development. As part of the EU-funded HARNESSTOM project, ENEA developed an indoor speed breeding method using artificial light to overcome this barrier.
Central to the solution is Ambralight's MB2451D LED grow light, designed to optimize the effect of light on photosynthesis. Installed in ENEA's growth chambers, the lamps maintain consistent intensity and spectral quality, essential for uniform plant development.
"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 result: more generations per year, faster varietal selection, and new possibilities for commercial tomato production under controlled environments.
© Ambralight
ELETTRA: Light tailored to every growth stage
Building on this success, Ambralight introduced ELETTRA, a next-generation grow light with multichannel spectrum control. Ideal for high-end research and commercial vertical farming, ELETTRA allows fine-tuned light adaptation throughout a plant's 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," adds Maurizio Fasolo, co-founder and technical lead.
© Ambralight
Built for reliability, backed by Osram
Ambralight is a division of Ambra Elettronica, an ISO 9001:2015-certified Italian company with decades of experience in electronics and custom lighting systems. The company is also a certified Osram 'LED Light for You' partner, a recognition of its quality standards and technical know-how.
Ambralight's lamps integrate horticulture-optimized Osram LEDs, high-efficiency aluminum heat sinks, and durable UV-resistant plexiglass. Thermal evaluations show over 90% light output retention after 100,000 hours, ensuring long-term performance in demanding environments.
Proven in the field
With over 350 installations completed across Europe, including greenhouses, vertical farms, and research labs, Ambralight's LED systems are helping bridge the gap between experimental research and commercial production.
"Our mission is to illuminate the future of sustainable farming through technology that's both smart and reliable," Stefano adds.
For more information:
Ambralight
Lino Bassanese
[email protected]
www.ambralight.it
ENEA
www.enea.it/en
