Researchers at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester are deploying drones and artificial intelligence to spot weeds in cropland with sub-field precision, aiming to curb blanket herbicide use. By mapping problem patches, the approach could cut chemical inputs, reduce costs and slow herbicide resistance, according to project leads. Students are training computer-vision models to distinguish weeds and pests from crop canopies, with trials on commercial farms slated to follow on-campus tests. If validated, the technology could accelerate adoption of targeted spraying and data-driven pest management across U.K. agriculture.
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