Escarda laser weeder ready for market launch
German startup Escarda Technologies has announced that its laser weeder has received the required CE certification and is ready to enter the European market.
At the end of 2023, Escarda Technologies unveiled a laser weeder capable of identifying and eliminating weeds as small as 3 mm. At the time, the company anticipated a market launch in 2025. That prediction now seems to be coming true: in a recent press release, the German company confirmed that it has secured CE certification and is ready to commercialise the technology in Europe. The German testing institute Dekra has approved the system for safety.
Camera, AI and laser
The technology combines a camera and a laser. The camera continuously photographs the field, and the images are analysed in real time by an AI system. When the software detects a weed, it activates a laser that destroys the plant at the root.
The system currently operates in crops such as carrots, sugar beets, and tomatoes. In the future, it will also support onions, garlic, parsnips, and strawberries. According to the company, Morningstar Inc.—the largest tomato processor in California (USA)—is already successfully running a pilot project using the system.
