AI-powered weed-killing robots threaten a $60b market

AI-powered weed-killing robots threaten a $60b market
A John Deere sprayer at work, applying herbicide only on weeds identified by cameras and leading to savings of up to 77% for growers. (Image: Deere & Co)
Bloomberg
By Michael HirtzerFarmers shelling out US$37 billion (NZ$59.5b) a year to drench fields in liquid weed killers are increasingly trying out a new model: use tech to use less.After almost a century of deploying a more-is-more approach to chemical herbicides, the global agricultural sector is rapidly rolling out advancements that promise to curb the use of weed-control sprays by as much as 90%. Using artificial intelligence-powered cameras, the new sprayers can identify and target invasive plants while avoiding cash crops. If even a frac...

More Primary Sector

Kiwifruit record: Zespri achieves $5b sales milestone
Primary Sector

Kiwifruit record: Zespri achieves $5b sales milestone

Zespri sold a record 220.9 million trays of kiwifruit in 2024-25.

Staff reporters 22 May 2025
Record gold prices boon for scrap buyers
Primary Sector

Record gold prices boon for scrap buyers

New Zealanders are looking for money to be made in their jewellery drawers.

Gregor Thompson 22 May 2025
Wine sector has harvest windfall, faces pricing pressures
Primary Sector

Wine sector has harvest windfall, faces pricing pressures

The harvest jumped as much as 39% compared with the prior season. 

Rebecca Howard 21 May 2025
Cold storage behemoth plans massive Canterbury facility
Primary Sector

Cold storage behemoth plans massive Canterbury facility

Lineage had the biggest IPO on the Nasdaq last year.

Oliver Lewis 21 May 2025