Clint Brauer operates a farm near Cheney, Kansas, that resembles a modernized version of Old MacDonald’s Farm, now infused with technology. It features 5,500 square feet of vegetable greenhouses, educational programs for local families, a flock of 105 sheep, and a llama named Warren G who enjoys bananas. Additionally, it is home to a fleet of ten battery-powered robots, each weighing 140 pounds.

As a co-founder of Greenfield Robotics, Brauer's journey started in agriculture before he ventured into the tech world. Eventually, he returned to his roots, turning his family farm into a research and development hub while also actively farming.

Upon returning, Brauer was determined to demonstrate that it was possible to cultivate food without harmful chemicals, adopting practices that benefit both the soil and the planet. He achieved significant success, becoming a leading pesticide-free vegetable grower in Kansas, supplying local markets, grocery chains, and chefs.

However, Brauer felt that his efforts were just a drop in the bucket compared to the vast expanses of conventional farmland across America. Although he was producing a variety of environmentally friendly vegetables, the scale of his impact was limited.

Brauer became particularly interested in no-till farming, a method that avoids plowing and cultivation, thus preserving soil integrity while controlling weeds. This practice has gained traction among many U.S. farmers, especially in key agricultural regions like those producing corn, soybeans, and wheat. By 2017, over 104 million acres were farmed using no-till methods, marking an 8% increase since 2012.

However, the challenge of maintaining soil health often leads to reliance on chemical weed control, which is not significantly better for the environment than traditional farming methods. Regardless of the farming approach, the issue of weed management remains.

"You have to tackle the weeds first; they are the primary challenge for farmers," Brauer states.

This is where the robots come into play.

As a fourth-generation farmer, Brauer recognizes that a substantial portion of his time and expenses is dedicated to weed control. Currently, farmers have three main options for managing weeds, but none are ideal.

Manual labor for weed removal is physically demanding and costly, and finding willing workers is increasingly difficult. Mechanical solutions, involving tractors with various tillage tools, can eliminate weed seedlings but disrupt beneficial soil microorganisms, ultimately harming yields and soil health.

The third option, herbicides, while less labor-intensive, is still expensive and poses environmental risks. Although these chemicals have been effective to some extent, they come with their own set of problems.

The USDA reports that over 95% of corn and soybean crops in the U.S. were treated with herbicides in 2010 and 2012. A study revealed that 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides were used in U.S. agriculture in 2016 alone.

Glyphosate, widely known as “Roundup,” is the most prevalent herbicide globally and has been linked to serious health risks, including being classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization. The overuse of such chemicals has led to the emergence of glyphosate-resistant “superweeds.” Farmers have increasingly resorted to using lesser-known but potentially more harmful pesticides, many of which are banned in other major agricultural regions like China, Brazil, and the European Union.

Chemicals such as Dicamba, which can drift and damage neighboring crops, and Atrazine, found in a majority of U.S. drinking water supplies, raise significant health concerns. Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide, has recently seen a resurgence in the U.S. due to glyphosate-resistant weeds, despite ongoing calls for its prohibition.

Farmers do not resort to chemicals out of preference; they are aware of the potential hazards. The financial burden of purchasing chemicals, along with the equipment and labor needed for application, adds to their challenges, as does the risk to their own health.

Brauer emphasizes that no farmer relishes the thought of handling hazardous chemicals and spending endless hours spraying them. However, the persistent problem of weeds necessitates such measures.

The concept behind Greenfield Robotics is straightforward: continuous mowing.

When considering which weed to address first, Brauer identified pigweed, or Palmer amaranth, as a significant adversary. This invasive, herbicide-resistant weed can grow over six feet tall and produce up to half a million seeds, making it a formidable threat to crops.

Brauer experimented by attaching a mower to his tractor and discovered that persistent mowing could eventually eliminate the pigweed. However, traditional mowers could not navigate between crop rows, which are typically spaced 30 inches apart.

To tackle this challenge, Brauer turned to robotics. Autonomous mowing machines could maneuver between the rows, work in wet conditions, and operate independently.

He reached out to Steven Gentner, a friend and founder of RoboRealm, who recognized the potential in Brauer's vision. Gentner, with a background in robotics, was enthusiastic about applying robotic technology to agriculture.

Large-scale farming is particularly suited for robotics due to the uniformity of crop planting. Gentner noted, "Agriculture is thriving in terms of robotics; it just makes sense."

To bring Brauer’s vision to life, Gentner developed a remote-controlled mower. The second-generation model incorporated machine vision, allowing it to operate autonomously.

This summer, they integrated onboard computing with real-time monitoring capabilities. Each "broadleaf weeding bot" can sense the depth of the planted rows and navigate using GPS mapping. While an operator is present, they monitor the robots from a distance, ready to intervene if necessary.

The robots follow their programmed paths and remove whatever is in their way.

In the U.K., farmers face similar weed challenges but have even fewer chemical options. Many popular herbicides have been banned due to health and environmental concerns, increasing the urgency for non-chemical solutions.

Tom Jewers, a farmer in Suffolk County, faces his own weed battle with black grass, a highly adaptable species. Years of intensive tillage have created conditions conducive to its growth, and Jewers hopes to transition to no-till practices to improve his soil and control the weed naturally. However, he must first manage the current black grass population.

"I have my entire family out in the fields today, pulling black grass by hand because we don't have a robot yet," Jewers remarked.

The Small Robot Company, a U.K.-based startup, is developing robots that can electrically "zap" weed seedlings. Having recently secured €2.1 million in funding, the company is set to launch field trials with its weed-zapping robot this fall.

In its early trials, Greenfield Robotics encountered unexpected challenges such as debris in the fields that caused robots to malfunction. However, they have learned from these experiences and are now ready to conduct beta tests on several farms.

The cost of these trials is designed to match farmers' existing chemical weed control expenses, making it an attractive alternative. Greenfield Robotics has raised $500,000 in funding and plans to seek an additional $8 million soon.

As the company works to educate investors about the potential of robotic weed management, the team remains committed to refining their technology.

Brauer acknowledges the skepticism that often accompanies new solutions but believes in the importance of adapting and improving farming practices. He emphasizes that even if robots primarily assist with weed management, this innovation could significantly transform agriculture.

"The farm bots are coming, and if I were a chemical company, I would be concerned," he concluded.

Editor’s Note: While pesticides are generally understood to kill pests and herbicides to target weeds, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies both as pesticides, encompassing both insects and weeds.