In 2025, Koidra’s KoPilot continued to control the climate and irrigation in a Venlo-style greenhouse compartment located at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC) of The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH, USA). We achieved significantly higher yield and LUE (light use efficiency) compared to the trial last year. Notably, the cumulative yield of 30.75 kg/m² was achieved in a 238-day growing cycle (April 15 – December 8), which is approximately 3.5 months shorter than a standard full-year production cycle. This yield already falls within the upper range of industry benchmarks for annual high-tech greenhouse production (27-33 kg/m²).
| Metric | 2024 (Jun 24 – Nov 15) | 2025 (Apr 15 – Dec 8) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration (days) | 145 | 238 | + 64% |
| Stem density (heads/m2) | 3 | 4.4 | + 47% |
| Cumulative Yield (kg/m2) | 9.34 | 30.75 | + 229% |
| Marketable Yield (%) | 85.2 | 98.84 | + 16% |
| Cumulative Light (mol/m2) | 3351 | 5821 | + 74% |
| LUE (g/mol) | 2.79 | 5.29 | + 90% |
Greenhouse control systems
The compartment was equipped with comprehensive environmental control systems, including rail, canopy, overhead, and perimeter heating pipes; roof ventilators; slant-wall exhaust fans; evaporative cooling pads; energy/shade curtains; vertical air circulation fans, a misting system; supplemental LED lighting; a COâ‚‚ generator; a fertilizer injection system; and an automatic lysimeter system.
Yield Performance Expectations
While Axia’s technical documentation describes Maxxiany XR as having “high total yield”, specific kg/m² data for this particular variety is not publicly disclosed in the available literature. However, yield expectations can be contextualized through multiple reference points (1, 2). High-tech greenhouse cherry tomato production typically achieves yields in the following ranges:
- High-tech production: 27-30 kg/m² per year [Novagric.com]
- Advanced operations: Up to 33 kg/m² with optimal management [Novagric.com]
- Record yields: 40+ kg/m² in a specialized indoor vertical farming system [Vertical Daily]
These benchmarks are based on full-year production cycles; in comparison, the 2025 crop achieved 30.75 kg/m² in 238 days (~7.8 months), approximately 3.5 months shorter than a standard cycle.
Yield Performance & Light Use Efficiency
The cumulative production reached 30.75 kg/m2.
Unmarketable yields due to blossom end rot and splitting (cracking) were insignificant.
LUE = Cumulative Production * 1000 / Cumulative PAR (g/mol)
Crop Analysis
Fruit weight was higher than the target range most of the time.
The head thickness was initially too thick because the crop was too vegetative.
The crop was more balanced in the second half of the trial.
