CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUTOMATION OF WEED CONTROL IN SPECIALTY CROPS

摘要

Herbicides provide the basis for economical weed control in major crops, and are significant markets for the agricultural chemical industry (ACI). Worldwide herbicide sales in 2016 were $21 billion USD, and of this total, 63% of sales were in cereals,maize, rice and soy. However, given the business model of the ACI, it is difficult for them to support development of new herbicides for specialty crops such as vegetables. In contrast to the heavily regulated ACI, development of automated weed removaltools by small companies may lead to improved weed control programs for specialty crops.