The new company will distribute its Smart Spraying solution, which Bosch and BASF are developing and testing, to initial markets in North America, South America and Europe. Its Intelligent Planting Solution (IPS) is already commercially available in Brazil and Argentina, and will use the advanced digital agronomic intelligence of BASF’s xarvio crop optimisation platform to enhance zone-based seeding recommendations in the near future in Brazil.
The Smart Spraying solution offers real-time, automated pre-emergence (“green-on-brown”) and post-emergence (“green-on-green”) weed identification and management day and night. Combining Bosch’s camera sensor technology and software with xarvio’s agronomic intelligence enables Smart Spraying in milliseconds to precisely detect weeds in crop rows and to spot-apply herbicide only where needed.
This configuration supports a more efficient use of herbicide, with trials showing herbicide volume savings of 70% are achievable. Higher savings are also possible, with variability dependent on the prevailing field conditions and weed pressure of individual fields.
Silvia Cifre Wibrow said: “With Smart Spraying, we are bringing a new digital solution to market and new approach to weed management – a volume-optimization model that increases farm profitability through a more precise and efficient use of herbicide. The unique ability for Smart Spraying to see, decide and spray based on agronomic intelligence is not just financially good for farmers, but it’s good for the environment, sustainability and biodiversity.”
Bosch BASF Smart Farming remains on-track to launch the Smart Spraying solution in limited numbers by the end of this year.