Controlling weeds without the chemicals

Added 9 months ago

By Hawke's Bay Future Farming Trust

New technology using lasers and artificial intelligence software is enabling growers to manage weeds without relying on environmentally harmful agrichemicals. Weed control poses a significant challenge in agriculture, notes Dr. Kioumars Ghamkhar, founder of Map & Zap, who began exploring the issue in 2016.

Map & Zap is pioneering innovative technology for weed identification and control using lasers. Their goal is to provide farmers with a precise, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for weed management, enhancing crop yields, and reducing dependence on chemical herbicides.

The AI software allows for highly targeted weed control. The system uses artificial intelligence to detect weeds at the species level, distinguishing between weeds that need to be eliminated and those that don't. The AI then guides the laser to precisely target and eliminate the weed.

Using lasers eliminates chemical residues in the soil and avoids soil disturbance, which can release carbon. It is also more efficient and cost-effective than labor-intensive methods like manual weeding and minimizes crop damage compared to mechanical weeding techniques.

The technology can be mounted on various vehicles, including robots and drones, reducing costs for growers. The system has been tested in vineyards in the South Island and developed for use in pastures where certain weeds are actually crops.

Map and Zap started with pastures, which present the most complex scenario since ryegrass and clover are crops in pastures but weeds in vineyards. This technology has proven effective and they are now seeking further investment to advance it.