Enza Zaden to Debut Three New Lettuce Varieties in 2026
December 29, 2025 
Image via Adobe Stock
After a successful year-long trial that paired with Sollum Technologies‘ dynamic lighting solutions at the Biophi research facility in Leamington, Enza Zaden will commercially launch three new high-density lettuce varieties in 2026.
Enza Zaden Lettuce Trial Assessments
Enza Zaden’s Leafy CEA Product Developer John Gray explains that the trial at Biophi allowed the company to test early-stage material from its high-density CEA breeding program under conditions that reflect commercial setups in North America. Each month, teams assessed yield, quality, and shelf life across multiple lettuce types, including:
- Crispy
- Eazyleaf/Batavia
- Romaine
- Various red varieties
“The main focus was screening top early material coming out of our high-density CEA lettuce breeding program in Enkhuizen, Netherlands,” says Gray in an interview on the trials. “At the Biophi R&D facility, we get a better glimpse of these varieties’ performance in real-world conditions for Canadian and U.S. growers.”
Dynamic Lighting Effects on Lettuce Growing
Sollum’s dynamic lighting technology also played a key role, according to Gray. “We were able to use the lighting as a tool to add pressure to the varieties in the screening and to replicate growing strategies seen in commercial production.”
For next year, Gray says the company will launch three high-density varieties commercially: two green crispy types and one red crispy type. “The decision,” he says, “is supported by results from these trials, where we saw them outperform existing commercial material.”
Additional Canadian Trials Scheduled for 2026
With all involved satisfied with the initial collaboration, the partnership has been extended into 2026 with a full year of additional trials. “The whole group is passionate about being solution providers in the industry and aims to grow the market,” says Gray. “We see lots of opportunity for growers in North America, for example, with the enthusiasm coming from the ‘Buy Canada’ movement.”