Robotic weedkillers are helping US farmers reduce chemical use and protect health.
Carey Gillam reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Farmers in Kansas use battery-powered robots to weed fields without chemicals, aiming to cover 5,000 acres this year.
- Companies like Greenfield and Aigen Robotics receive significant funding to develop these robots, promoting sustainable farming.
- Critics argue robots alone won't suffice; regenerative agriculture might offer better long-term solutions.
Key quote:
“So many of our agricultural tools are really weapons … that we use against perceived threats. When we keep running into the same problem year after year or season after season, it’s not our tools, our techniques, or our technology that needs reworking. It is our failure to understand the system we are working in and our relationship to it.”
— Ryan Erisman, Wisconsin farmer
Why this matters:
Reducing pesticide use can decrease health risks and environmental damage. These robots offer a promising alternative, but sustainable farming practices are essential for long-term success.
