TechTour: A quantum leap in weed control

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Bayer and Bosch are working together on a three-year research collaboration to develop a precise spraying technology that will minimize herbicide use, while also mitigating against resistance development.

The technology, called Smart Spraying, will see camera sensors identifying weeds, and precise herbicide application targeting them on a single pass, within a fraction of a second. According to the companies, the system is projected to alternate active ingredients, and focus on herbicides with the greatest efficacy, to help prevent resistance. Weedless areas, meanwhile, would remain untouched.

Smart Spraying technology will identify and target weeds with precise application of specific herbicides. (Photo via Bosch)

“Smart Spraying provides sustainable weed control. It protects the harvest and is environmentally compatible at the same time,” says Markus Heyn, member of the management board of Robert Bosch GmbH.

“Smart Spraying constitutes a quantum leap in weed control,” says to Björn Kiepe, head of agronomy in Digital Farming at Bayer. “We are combining state-of-the-art weed detection technology with the means of applying different agents on a case-by-case basis and extremely accurately on an area of less than one meter. This will make it even easier for farmers to practice sustainable crop protection.”

The concept behind Smart Spraying was on display at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany. RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney provides an on-location report, in this episode of the TechTour:

Other Episodes

Agritechnica (view all) Season 5 (2018) Episode 22
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