Flemish agriculture accelerates implementation of robotic systems

In Flanders (Inagro), Wallonia (CRA-W), and France (Arvalis and Chambre d’agriculture de la Somme), test platforms are being established to integrate, test, and evaluate various robotic systems. – Photo: Inagro

Robot weed control systems are gradually finding their way into Flemish agriculture (Belgium). The phasing out of crop protection chemicals is pushing farmers towards more site-specific and mechanical weed control, a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. Part of this time and labor can be offset through robotic systems. The new Interreg project AgRoBoConnect aims to assist farmers with this transition. Researchers and farmers will implement and evaluate various robotic systems in practice.

In more and more crops, restrictions on allowed herbicides or their dosages are becoming so severe that it is increasingly difficult to keep the crops weed-free. Hence, farmers must look for alternative and sustainable methods of successful weed control.

Site-Specific applications

One solution is the targeted application of herbicides where the system detects weeds. For example, there are applications developed that use cameras to take photos of the field, combined with an AI model that detects the present weeds. Based on this information, a spray nozzle is controlled to spray only where weeds are detected. Depending on the field conditions, this method can save up to 90% on crop protection chemicals.

Test Platform for practical evaluation of agricultural robots

In Flanders (Inagro), Wallonia (CRA-W), and France (Arvalis and Chambre d’agriculture de la Somme), test platforms are being established to integrate, test, and evaluate various robotic systems within existing cultivation systems. Examples include the Robotti implement carrier, the Odd.bot weeding robot, and the ARA Ecorobotix.

Farmers and researchers from the three regions jointly select the most useful robots, which are then deployed through field implementations. “By bringing together farmers, advisors, robotics companies, and researchers, AgRoboConnect ensures that the technologies meet the real needs of the agricultural sector in the cross-border region. One of the goals is to identify the bottlenecks for implementation,” explains Jan Vanwijnsberghe, Researcher in smart crop protection techniques at Inagro.

Mechanical weed control

Another option is mechanical weed control, but this requires more labor per hectare, is less efficient, and requires multiple passes to control the weeds. Additionally, mechanical weeding in the crop row is challenging and often necessitates labor-intensive manual follow-up. This method also requires specialized skills for both the manpower and equipment, and the outcome is highly dependent on weather conditions. The shortage of skilled labor in the agricultural sector makes the implementation of mechanical weed control even more challenging. Moreover, in conventional agriculture, the extra costs for this additional work are not sufficiently compensated by higher selling prices for the products, putting profitability at risk.

Robotic Solutions

A (fully or partially) robotic solution can address the labor issue. If decisions are made by a robotic system, there is less need for highly qualified personnel. A fully autonomous system can reduce the need for personnel even further.

Thus, more intelligent and autonomous techniques are available for detecting and managing weed pressure. Although these robotic systems have become increasingly efficient over the years, their implementation remains limited. The cost, alternative working methods, and steep learning curve pose obstacles for farmers.

Cross-border exchange

Organizing cross-border exchange sessions for farmers, researchers, and students enhances knowledge sharing and collaboration between Flanders, Wallonia, and France. These sessions will be supplemented with demonstrations and workshops to prepare for the implementation of robotic systems. These activities aim to foster a deeper understanding and practical skills among participants, facilitating smoother adoption and more effective use of new technologies in agriculture across the regions.