Lasers instead of pesticides - the Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) will be showing this Farming 4.0 vision for the first time during the AGRITECHNICA in Hannover from November 10th to 16th, 2019, at the Pavilion of the state of Niedersachsen (hall 21, stand A05).
The new approach of the LZH is based on the non-contact, optical interaction of light with biological material: cameras can be used to distinguish weeds from crops. This is the basis for using laser radiation to precisely damage weeds and thus help crops to gain a decisive growth advantage.
The use of herbicides can be drastically reduced with such a process. Since laser radiation acts purely physically, no resistances are formed, the soil can be preserved and beneficials are protected. In addition, the laser-based approach can easily be integrated in Digital Farming.
Removing weeds from carrots, sugar beets and onions
The first application areas are crops with a high added value in organic farming, such as carrots, sugar beet and onions.
The operation of such a laser-based system is possible on different platforms: autonomous, self-driving, front-mounted or rear-mounted.
There are two figures for this press release.