Formal field trials commence for Next Generation Weed Management project

Formal field trials are now underway as part of the Next Generation Weed Management program, marking a major step forward in evaluating AI-enabled weed control technologies for Australian horticulture.

AHR agronomist Bradley Blackbourn is currently at Qualipac Farms in Gatton, Queensland, launching onion trials using the Ecorobotix precision spraying platform.

Program leader Anne Nolan (AHR) said the commencement of formal trials marks an important milestone for the project and for the broader Australian vegetable industry.

“These technologies are generating enormous interest from growers, but there is still a strong need for independent, Australian-based performance data,” Anne said.

“The purpose of these trials is to provide growers with robust information they can trust when considering investment in emerging weed management technologies.”

The project will collect data across a broad range of performance indicators, including production outcomes, economic performance, environmental impacts, and technology capability under commercial growing conditions.

“We’re not just looking at weed control effectiveness,” Anne explained.

“We’re also assessing factors such as operational efficiency, reliability, labour implications, and overall return on investment.”

Weed management remains one of the most significant operational challenges for vegetable growers, particularly as labour pressures and input costs continue to rise. Technologies such as AI-powered precision sprayers and laser weeders have the potential to reduce herbicide use, lower labour dependency, and improve targeting accuracy.

Anne said understanding how these technologies perform locally is critical to supporting future adoption across the industry.

“Internationally, we’re seeing rapid advances in precision weed management,” she said.

“Our role is to evaluate how these systems perform in Australian production environments and identify where they can deliver practical value for growers.”

The Next Generation Weed Management project (BY23002) is funded through the Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative developed by Hort Innovation, with co-investment from Applied Horticultural Research, FarmTech Australia, and Tripod Farmers Group.