Much is being said about Human Centric Lighting and the effects of LED lighting on living organisms. Ever more detailed research is considering all the factors of light. Experiments in this sector are also important for the lighting industry, because the collected data is being used to increase the performance and safety of lighting fixtures.

An interesting example is the variation of the light spectrum of LEDs and the impressive effects on the growth of plants. Each plant, in fact, has specific light absorption needs, depending on the species and the different growth stages.

A practical application of these studies is the MEG (Micro Experimental Growing), the greenhouse with variable spectrum light, designed by Carlo D’Alesio and Piero Santoro, two young lighting designers from Milan, Italy.

MEG is an indoor automated greenhouse controlled via an App available on Smartphones that allows you to adjust temperature conditions, humidity and light levels, plus it features a unique characteristic, i.e. the possibility to vary the light spectrum of the LED panel illuminating it.

The needs of plants, in fact, vary according to different growth stages. For example blue light is absorbed by plants during the vegetative stage, while other components are required during the reproduction stage. MEG is capable of providing the plant with the exact amount of light it needs (precision lighting).

The young inventors of MEG built the first prototypes through a crowdfunding campaign. Moreover, in the spirit of sharing ideas, they provide the drawings and technical specifications of MEG to anyone who wants to build their own LED greenhouse. The idea, in fact, is appealing not only to companies, but also to amateur gardeners. The future community of users of the variable spectrum greenhouse can develop protocols for the growth of virtually any vegetable species.

The smart greenhouse also entered the Museum of Science and Technology of Milan and was presented at the #FoodPeople exhibition, dedicated to science and technological innovation in the food sector.