Robots for farming? US-based agricultural technology company Greenfield is developing autonomous, battery-powered robots which can eliminate weeds and reduce reliance on pesticides in farming, The Guardian reports. The company had 20 farmers sign up for its services this season and is targeting covering 5k acres for weeding.

Why does this matter? Weeds can affect food security as they threaten native habitats, reduce farm productivity, and incur high control costs, estimated at USD 1.5 bn annually for weed control and USD 2.5 bn in lost agricultural production.

But traditional solutions aren’t climate-friendly: Chemical weedkillers, such as glyphosate and paraquat pose significant environmental risks, harming soil health and essential species like pollinators. Higher concentrations of these herbicides have also been shown to reduce seed germination, seedling efficiency, and the levels of photosynthetic pigments and amino acids needed for crops to grow.

The tech has backing: Greenfield has raised approximately USD 12 mn and is seeking additional funding to expand its operations, The Guardian adds. Greenfield received investments from venture capital funds, private investors, and major food and agricultural companies, including Chipotle Mexican Grill’s venture fund.

Greenfield is not alone: North Dakota-based Aigen Robotics also developed solar-powered robots which work autonomously on fields. The company has raised USD 19 mn so far to support its operations.

A look forward: Despite some skepticism from farmers and experts who advocate for regenerative agriculture, Greenfield's technology is gaining traction. Farmers have successfully used the robots on sunflower fields with plans to deploy them on soybean acreage.

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