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LEDs Gain Ground in Controlled Environment Agriculture Space by Tim Kridel

William Attardi on April 10, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LED lighting has shifted from niche to mainstream in controlled environment agriculture, driven by improved spectrum, output, and cost reductions.
  • Energy efficiency of LEDs allows growers to achieve higher light levels with less power, enabling cost savings and increased crop productivity, especially in high-value sectors like cannabis.
  • Dynamic spectrum control enhances crop quality and yield by allowing growers to customize light recipes for different growth stages, improving nutritional density and shelf life.
  • Utility rebates and incentives significantly offset the higher upfront costs of LEDs, making them a financially attractive option for growers investing in long-term infrastructure.
  • LEDs’ lower heat output impacts HVAC and humidity management, creating new opportunities for electrical contractors to optimize greenhouse climate control systems.

Those are just a few examples of artificial lighting’s role in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) facilities, which include greenhouses, warehouses, vertical farms, and even caves. The CEA market will grow from nearly $10 billion this year to $27.7 billion by 2035, Business Research Insights estimates. LED lighting is helping enable that growth. LEDs Gain Ground in Controlled Environment Agriculture Space | EC&M

Lafayette College Partners with Sollum Technologies to Advance Precision Agriculture Research

William Attardi on February 8, 2025

Lafayette College, under the leadership of Dr. Robert Elliott, is embarking on a groundbreaking research initiative to measure the effects of advanced LED lightingon the growth and quality of various crops. The lab, based in Easton, Pennsylvania, uses Sollum Technologies’ dynamic LED lighting solution to tailor optimal growing conditions for each crop. The research area consists of 12 independent cells, each measuring 1m x 1m, equipped with advanced control and monitoring systems. These systems regulate temperature, humidity, vapour pressure deficit(VPD), light timing, CO₂ levels, irrigation volume, substrate electrical conductivity (EC), and more. This design allows precise replication of varied growing conditions, and tests of ecosystem responses along environmental gradients, setting a new standard for agricultural research.  [News] Lafayette College Partners with Sollum Technologies to Advance Precision Agriculture Research – LEDinside

The Creator of Baby Ruth Actually Sued Babe Ruth –The Baby Ruth candy bar was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1920 — the same year that baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a then-record 54 home runs. But the Great Bambino was irked that the company was selling a candy bar with such a similar name to his own without offering him any royalties. Rather than take the Curtiss Candy Company to court, the Sultan of Swat decided to make his own candy bar, and in 1926 he debuted Ruth’s Home Run bar. The Curtiss Candy Company responded by turning the tables and taking Ruth to court. They accused the slugger of trying to steal their trademark and capitalize on the success of their brand. In a 1931 deposition, Curtiss founder Otto Schnering insisted the candy was named after “Baby Ruth” Cleveland — the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.  He also attested that the company came up with the name in 1919 before the baseball player had become a household name and that the name was merely coincidental. While the validity of those claims is disputed to this day, the court nonetheless ruled in favor of the candy company, forcing Ruth to end his foray into the world of candy.