In Italy, research on industrial crops is focused in particular on food e non-food species. Scientific programs are based on an integrated and multidisciplinary approach including crop physiology, advanced plant breeding methods and crop management. Sugar beet research developed new genotypes with resistance to the most aggressive pathogens (cercospora and rhizomania) and with improved yield. The selected materials led to new hybrids which after validation have been released. Beside, molecular studies have been carried out to elucidate the reaction of sugar beet to sub-optimal environments. In potato varieties have been developed able to be utilized in extra-seasonal crops performed by the Southern growers; this new material has been generated by breeding programs aimed at developing desirable clones for the Mediterranean cultivation regions. In grain legumes, common bean is one of the best known species in Italy with the most extensive tradition of cultivation. Lastly, there have been considerable advances in breeding work; a range of varieties with different merceological characteristics and able to meet the needs of the freezing industry and consumers have been developed. Among the non-food species, hemp is a multi-use crop able to provide fibre, cellulose, seeds and seed oil, cannabinoids and biomass; research was focused on the improvement of fibre production, specific cannabinoid profiles and the plant reaction to day length.

The released varieties of above mentioned industrial crops, some of which included in recommendation lists, provided farmers with new opportunities.