AI-enabled robotic weed management
Project partners
Hort Innovation
Duration
2025-2030
Summary
AHR is spearheading this major new research effort to fast-track the adoption of AI-enabled robotics and autonomous vehicles for weed control in Australian horticulture.
The five-year initiative will run until 2030 and tackle one of the industry’s most costly and persistent problems – weeds.
The primary challenge with weeds, and the core focus of this project, is the high labour cost required for their control. Robotics and AI technologies have the potential to reduce these labour costs by up to 90%, improve control effectiveness, and diminish weed seed banks.
AHR’s project will work with grower-led groups in Queensland and Victoria to trial and integrate robotics for weeding, planting, and spraying. On-farm demonstrations, economic modelling, and tailored grower support will help ensure the solutions are both practical and commercially viable.
The Next Generation Weed Management program also includes complementary projects led by La Trobe University, exploring Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation as a chemical-free method of weed and pathogen control, and by Nufarm Australia, developing robotic precision spot-spraying systems to drastically reduce herbicide use.
The program is funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.
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