The value of seedlings in the supply chain
The greenhouse nursery plays a crucial role in the agri-food supply chain. It is the protected, technologically advanced environment where seeds are germinated, selected, and prepared to become the plants of the future.
It’s not just a physical space; it’s a strategic process that determines the quality, uniformity, and resilience of crops that will eventually make their way to the consumer's table.
Greenhouses dedicated to seedlings provide optimal climate conditions, reduce the risks of uneven germination, and protect the seeds from water, heat stress, or pathogens. This is where the true innovation of modern agriculture is born.
Breeding and research: where new varieties are born
The work of seed companies and research centers, with which Idromeccanica Lucchini has been collaborating for years, is based on breeding, or the controlled crossbreeding of mother plants with different varieties.
This is how new species are developed - more resistant, more productive, and better adapted to climate change. A historical example is the tomato: originally from the Andes, through hybridization it has become one of the most cultivated fruits in the world, adapting to a wide range of climates and markets.
Greenhouses used as nurseries thus transform into true R&D laboratories, where organoleptic characteristics (such as flavor and taste), pathogen resistance, and agronomic performance are studied.
Case Study: international collaborations
Lucchini Greenhouses are involved in tailor-made projects for some of the most prominent global players in the seed sector:
- Nunhems (BASF Vegetable Seeds): A global multinational specializing in vegetable seeds, with a particular focus on leafy varieties.
- Bejo: An international group specializing in field crops, with a wide and diverse portfolio.
- Enza Zaden: A multinational focused on developing a broad range of vegetable seed varieties, both for greenhouses and open fields.
- ISI Sementi - Panora Seeds (Italy): An Italian company involved in breeding and production, with an approach that combines innovation and territorial roots, while remaining open to international markets.
- Anseme (Italy): An Italian company operating in the field vegetable seed sector, with international projections and a solid track record in varietal improvement.
Lucchini supports each of these companies in their operations in Italy and, in the past, their international ventures as well. While these companies have different goals - such as water stress resistance, sustainability, improved organoleptic qualities, and enhanced production performance - they all find in Idromeccanica Lucchini a partner capable of designing bespoke solutions.
There is no such thing as a standard greenhouse; every project is customized based on the crop, environment, and research objectives. This is why Lucchini, skilled in full-spectrum customization, remains a key player in the sector.
Tailored technologies and solutions
From tunnel greenhouses to multi-span structures (with advanced climate control), Lucchini’s solutions integrate irrigation, heating, lighting, and sterilization systems.
The objective is twofold:
- To provide a protected and secure environment, free from external contamination.
- To ensure uniform and replicable plant growth, an essential condition for the commercialization, exportation, and standardization of seeds.
International regulations require every seed to have an official “health passport” – a certificate of quality and safety necessary for global export.
Why choose Idromeccanica Lucchini?
With over 75 years of experience in designing and constructing greenhouses, Idromeccanica Lucchini is the ideal partner for seed companies aiming for:
- Innovation and Research: Greenhouses designed as breeding and varietal development laboratories.
- Reliability and Precision: Sealed compartments and complete sterilization systems.
- Sustainability: Energy and cost savings, optimal water resource management, and operational efficiency.
- Total Customization: Every project is unique, built around the client’s needs and the specific crop.
From seed to table
The journey of food starts here, with the seed at the heart of the agricultural universe, protected in a next-generation nursery greenhouse.
Thanks to Lucchini’s greenhouses, seed companies can develop stronger, better, and more sustainable varieties, offering consumers a product that embodies innovation, safety, and quality.
