Research: Growing Processing Tomatoes Under Solar Panels

Researchers in Israel tested whether processing tomatoes can be grown under solar panels while producing electricity from the same land — a system known as agrivoltaics (APV). With rising land, energy, and water costs, the goal is to see if farms can stay profitable by producing both food and power without losing too much tomato yield.

What the researchers tested

• Field trials were conducted in Israel over two seasons (2022–2023).
• Two commercial processing tomato varieties (Heinz 1648 and Heinz 4107) were grown between rows of elevated solar panels.
• Tomato rows received different light levels, depending on how close they were to the panels — from nearly full sun to heavy shade.
• Yield, fruit quality, plant health, and economic return were measured.

Key results for tomato production

1. Light matters

• Tomatoes grown under heavy shade (directly under panels) produced much lower yields — up to 40–55% less.
• Tomatoes in moderate shade had smaller yield losses (about 10–20%).
• Rows receiving near-full sunlight showed little or no yield reduction compared with open fields.

2. Fruit quality

• Sugar levels (°Brix) were mostly stable.
• Dry matter content dropped significantly under heavy shade, which may reduce paste or sauce yield for processors.
• This effect was strongest in the most shaded rows.

3. Plant health

• Shaded plants developed larger leaves but weaker roots.
• Disease pressure (e.g., powdery mildew) and physiological problems increased in heavily shaded areas.

Electricity changes the economics

• The solar panels generated large amounts of electricity year-round, including when fields were not planted.
• When energy income was included, the APV system produced 9–10 times higher total revenue per area than tomatoes alone.
• Even if the most shaded rows are not planted in tomatoes, the system remains highly profitable.
• The system can allow growers to diversify income and reduce financial risk.

Adapting agrivoltaics for machine harvesting

The researchers recognize that mechanical harvestability is essential for processing tomatoes. To address this, they propose:

• Higher panel clearance so standard tomato harvesters can pass underneath.
• Wider spacing between panel rows to match harvester width and turning requirements.
• Straight, uninterrupted planting rows, avoiding posts within harvest paths.
• Dedicated service lanes for machinery, maintenance, and transport.
• Future designs that integrate harvester dimensions into solar layout planning from the start.

The study concludes that agrivoltaic systems can be fully compatible with machine harvesting, provided the solar infrastructure is designed around agricultural equipment, not added afterward. Agrivoltaics will not replace conventional tomato fields everywhere, but when designed correctly, they could allow growers to maintain tomato production, enable mechanical harvesting, and generate significant additional income from electricity,  making them a promising option for the future of processing tomato farming.

Reference: Naim, Y.B., Ladell, C. & Cohen, Y. Agri-Photovoltaic technology allows dual use of land for tomato production and electricity generation. Sci Rep 15, 43717 (2025). 

Full article at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-27602-9