Greeneye Technology is poised to make significant strides in the agricultural sector with the upcoming launch of its precision spraying technology trials in Australia. This initiative, in partnership with Croplands—part of Nufarm’s equipment and emerging spray solutions platform—marks the first field trials of Greeneye’s innovative approach outside the United States. Scheduled to kick off in 2025, these trials aim to evaluate the effectiveness of the AI-driven precision spraying technology in post-emergence applications tailored to Australian agricultural conditions.
Founded in 2017 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Greeneye Technology has quickly established itself as a leader in precision agriculture. The company made headlines in 2022 when it became one of the first to commercially launch precision spraying systems in the U.S. The technology has already demonstrated a remarkable ability to reduce non-residual herbicide usage by an average of 87%, a statistic that could have profound implications for sustainable farming practices in Australia.
The collaboration with Croplands, based in Adelaide, South Australia, is particularly significant given Croplands’ established reputation in the local market. The company has extensive experience offering sales, service, and support for precision spraying systems, including infrared-based solutions for pre-emergence applications. With funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation, this partnership aims to enhance the profitability of the Australian grains industry while promoting environmentally friendly practices.
Steve Norton, Portfolio Manager at Croplands, emphasizes the advantages of Greeneye’s technology, which has already proven successful in the U.S. One of the standout features of this system is its ability to retrofit onto existing sprayers, thus mitigating the financial barriers typically associated with adopting new agricultural technologies. This retrofitting capability allows farmers to integrate advanced precision spraying without the need for entirely new equipment, making it a more accessible option for many.
Moreover, Greeneye’s dual tank and line configuration enables farmers to apply residual herbicides while simultaneously delivering targeted non-residual herbicides directly onto weeds. This dual application method not only enhances operational efficiency for sprayer operators but also optimizes herbicide use, which is critical for both economic and environmental sustainability.
In addition to its herbicide applications, Greeneye is exploring the potential for its system to be used with other agricultural inputs, such as anti-fungals and micronutrients. Although this approach has not yet gained traction in Australia, Norton believes it could provide substantial value to local farmers, further enhancing the versatility of the precision spraying technology.
Central to Greeneye’s precision spraying system is its reliance on advanced camera technology. Cameras mounted on the sprayer boom capture high-resolution images of the field at an impressive 40 frames per second. This rapid image processing allows for the swift detection and classification of weeds down to the species level. The system then calculates the precise amount of herbicide needed and activates the appropriate nozzles to target only the identified weeds. This entire process occurs in milliseconds and can be executed at commercial travel speeds of 15 mph (24.1 km/h), ensuring that productivity remains unaffected compared to traditional broadcast spraying methods.
The implications of Greeneye’s technology could be transformative for Australian agriculture. As farmers face increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices amidst growing environmental concerns, the ability to significantly reduce herbicide use while maintaining productivity could be a game changer. By tailoring its system to local farming conditions and crops, including canola and cereals, Greeneye is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of precision agriculture in Australia.