AI-Powered Weeding Robot Tested on Groningen Farm
A new trial featuring an AI-powered weeding robot is being conducted near Mensingeweer in Groningen. It provides a solution for farmers looking for alternatives to herbicides and labour shortages.
A white, self-driving cart is quietly roaming a field of young onions near Mensingeweer. Its mission: to identify and remove unwanted weeds using AI-powered vision and robotic grippers. The Odd-Bot, equipped with cameras and mechanical arms, can distinguish between crop and weed, and pluck the latter from the soil with precision, 24 hours a day, thanks to its battery-powered system.
Origins and Potential
The Odd-Bot was brought to the region by Doorgrond.nl, a company founded in 2019 by Jeroen Wolters and Han Hilbrands. "The use of chemical pesticides is increasingly restricted," says Wolters in an interview with RTV Noord. "And for organic farmers, who cannot use them at all, this kind of robot could be transformative."
A key advantage is reduced dependency on seasonal labour, particularly important as it becomes more difficult and expensive to hire workers. "This robot costs around €105,000," Wolters says, "but the savings on labour can quickly offset that investment."
The Robot Is Still Learning
Although promising, the robot is not yet perfect. "It’s already been working in the Flevopolder," Wolters notes, "but Groningen has different weeds. It needs to learn them first."
Still, conventional farmers are taking note. Local farmer Derk Gesink offered his land for testing, stating: "We’re facing growing limitations on pesticide use. Something like this may be part of the solution."
Broader Context
The Odd-Bot is part of a larger movement toward AI-driven precision farming in the Netherlands. As reported by Future Farming, startups like Weedbot and Odd-Bot are developing sophisticated systems that combine AI, robotics, and computer vision to perform targeted weed control and reduce chemical usage by up to 90%. Wageningen University & Research has also been involved in similar robotic trials, highlighting the Netherlands as a global hub for agricultural innovation.
With machines that can hoe between plants, spray only where needed, and now remove weeds individually, Dutch farms are becoming high-tech zones — especially as farmers face rising costs, stricter environmental regulations, and labour shortages.