Machine-Vision Technology Shows Promise to Reduce Herbicide Use

Nov 27, 2024

Farmers and land-managers seeking to reduce their herbicide applications now have another promising option via machine-vision technology. That's the summary from a recently published research article in Weed Technology.

"Our research showed that, on average, this technology's targeted sprays saved a range of 28.4 to 62.4% on postemergence herbicides compared to traditional broadcast applications," says Tristen Avent, University of Arkansas, Senior Graduate Assistant in the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department, and corresponding author of the study.

"In addition to significant opportunities to lower herbicide costs and improve profits, our research also showed that the targeted applications from machine-vision technology can be utilized to provide some soybean health benefits and improve environmental stewardship."

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Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies