Project description
Innovative non-chemical solution for weeding
The increased use of pesticides and fertilisers damages the environment, destroys non-target plants and beneficial insects for the soil and harms human and animal health. Most seeds develop herbicide-resistant properties, rendering pesticides ineffective. Mechanical automatic systems that are studied as alternatives to pesticides deteriorate soil features, damage beneficial soil organisms and offer limited results for in-row weeding. The EU-funded WeLASER project will develop a non-chemical solution for weed management based on pioneering technology consisting of the application of lethal doses of energy on the weed meristems through a high-power laser source. An AI-vision system separates crops from weeds, identifying the weed meristems and pointing the laser at them. A smart controller based on IoT and cloud computing techniques coordinates the system, which is transfered all over the field by an autonomous vehicle.
Objective
A growing global population demands increasing food production, which requires increasing use of pesticides and fertilizers. About 130 million tons of herbicides per year are used in Europe alone that persist in the environment, destroy non-target plants and beneficial insects for the soil and produce health effects in animals and humans –cancer, birth defects and endocrine disruption. Moreover, existing herbicides become more and more ineffective due to the evolution and spread of herbicide-resistant weeds. Substitution of herbicides by mechanical automatic systems is under study, but mechanical solutions contribute to deteriorate the soil properties, harm beneficial soil organisms and provide poor results for in-row weeding.
WeLASER solution focuses on non-chemical weed management based on applying lethal doses of energy on the weed meristems using a high-power laser source. An AI-vision system discriminates crops from weeds and detects the position of the weed meristems to point the laser on them using a laser scanner. An autonomous vehicle carries these systems all over the field. A smart controller coordinates these systems and uses IoT and cloud computing techniques to manage agricultural knowledge. This technology will provide a clean solution to the weeding problem and will help to decrease significantly the chemicals on the environment.
The required technologies for building this system and the number of actors needed to push it close to market demands the participation of ten experienced groups not easily found at the national level. Moreover, the cost of this high-technological equipment exceeds the funding levels of national organizations and claims the collaboration of large governmental institutions. Thus, with the EC help, WeLASER will put to work a large group of actors and stakeholders to advance in achieving the demanded productivity in agriculture while making the environment more sustainable and enhancing health to animals and humans.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineeringautonomous vehicles
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
28006 Madrid
Spain