Transforming weed control with the power of AI

A platform uses computer vision to efficiently manage crops without wasting time and energy

Spotted: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that by 2050, the world will need to produce around 60 per cent more food, due to the growth of the world population. Furthermore, due to the need to reach net zero, the increase in production must come from increased crop productivity and the deployment of more sustainable techniques.

One way to increase crop productivity is to use technology to manage crops. Agtech startup Cromai is working in this area with products that use artificial intelligence (AI) to scan fields for weeds. Cromai uses computer vision to identify patterns in images collected in the field, which allows businesses to make better decisions – by targeting pesticide application only to those areas that are infested, for example.

To start, Cromai is focusing on the sugarcane, coffee, and soybean markets. The Cromai Sentinel uses AI to monitor and sample sugarcane coming into the mill to identify impurities and rapidly alert harvesting teams. Cromai’s solution for soy production involves monitoring the nutritional evolution of each plant in order to manage fertiliser application and soil structure.

The company was founded in 2017 and in 2021, the Stoller Group – a world leader in nutrition, plant physiology, and biological nitrogen fixation – acquired a shareholding in the company. This support is helping Cromai to scale up its solutions.

Creating tools for more efficient agriculture is the goal of several recent innovations. These include a hormone that can supercharge plant growth and using waste to feed soils and sequester carbon.

Written By: Lisa Magloff