AI spot spraying targets weed control under tightening regulations
27th February 2026
As pressure mounts on growers to reduce chemical use while maintaining effective weed control, artificial intelligence is increasingly being positioned as part of the solution.
Swiss manufacturer Ecorobotix is among those pushing AI-powered precision spraying as a practical response to tightening regulation and shrinking herbicide options.
At Agritechnica 2025, Ecorobotix showcased the latest developments in its ARA ultra-high precision spot sprayer, focusing on what it describes as “intelligence in action”.
The system uses plant-by-plant recognition to apply crop protection products only where they are needed, with claimed input reductions of up to 95% compared with conventional blanket spraying.
Green-on-green is here
Unlike simpler green-on-brown systems, which target any vegetation against bare soil, ARA is also capable of green-on-green spraying. Using machine learning algorithms trained for specific crops, the system distinguishes weeds from crop plants based on factors such as leaf shape, size, texture, position and colour. This allows targeted spraying within established crops, rather than being limited to pre-emergence or fallow land.
Central to this approach is Ecorobotix’s proprietary ‘Safety Zone’ feature, which creates a virtual protective buffer around each recognised crop plant. This buffer prevents spray drift onto the crop itself, while still allowing small weeds close to the plant to be treated.
According to the company, this opens the door to the controlled use of non-selective contact herbicides in situations where selective chemistry is increasingly restricted.
A tightening regulatory landscape
That regulatory context is becoming more significant. The withdrawal of active ingredients such as metribuzin, commonly used in crops including carrots and potatoes, has left growers searching for alternative weed control strategies.
Ecorobotix argues that precision spot spraying offers a way to maintain agronomic performance while reducing environmental risk and chemical dependency.
Beyond herbicides, ARA can also be used to apply fertilisers, biostimulants and insecticides, treating only targeted areas with a spray footprint as small as 6×6 cm. The company says this flexibility allows operators to adapt application strategies to different crops, growth stages and regulatory constraints.
Ecorobotix currently offers more than 30 crop-specific algorithms, covering a wide range of vegetable and arable crops, with further additions planned.
Its systems are already operating in over 20 countries across Europe, the Americas and Oceania, suggesting the technology is moving beyond trial plots and into commercial use.
Simon Gasser, agronomist and crop algorithm product manager at Ecorobotix, said growers are increasingly turning to non-selective contact herbicides applied with precision technology.
He added that AI-driven plant recognition allows these products to be used safely, while still retaining the option to use selective chemistry where available.
As weed control options continue to narrow, AI-based spot spraying is likely to attract growing interest. Whether it becomes a mainstream solution will depend not just on technical performance, but on how well it fits within real-world farm systems and regulatory frameworks — an area Ecorobotix is clearly aiming to address.
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