dirk_vandenhirtz, veröffentlicht am 16.01.2024

Recent research from the University of Illinois highlights a critical challenge in agriculture: glyphosate’s declining efficacy in weed control. Once a ‘silver bullet’, glyphosate now struggles against weed resistance after 25 years of use. This underscores the need for diversified weed management strategies to sustain effective agriculture. Diverse approaches, including varying chemistries and mechanical controls, are essential for long-term weed control. #Agriculture #WeedControl #SustainableFarming”

For more insights, read the full article here.

Crop.zone’s innovative technology represents a significant advance in the field of sustainable agriculture, offering a novel solution to the growing problem of weed resistance while ensuring residue-free crop desiccation. This 500-word article looks at how crop.zone’s approach differs from traditional herbicide methods, focusing on its potential to transform agricultural practices. Innovative approach to weed control Crop.zone’s technology uses electrical weeding, a method that disrupts weed growth by applying a specific electrical charge directly to the weeds. This method is highly effective at controlling weed species, including those that have developed resistance to chemical herbicides. Unlike traditional herbicides, which can lead to resistance over time, electric weeding provides a mechanical mode of action to which weeds cannot easily adapt. Residue-free desiccation A key advantage of crop.zone technology is its ability to provide residue-free desiccation. This is crucial for farmers who are under increasing pressure to reduce chemical residues in food. The electric weeding method ensures that crops are free of any chemical residues, meeting consumer demands for cleaner, more natural food products. Environmental and health benefits The absence of chemical residues not only benefits consumers, but also has a positive impact on the environment. Traditional herbicides can lead to soil and water contamination, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem health. Crop.zone’s technology mitigates these risks, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices. Reducing the use of chemicals also improves the health and safety of farm workers, who are often exposed to herbicides in conventional farming. Cost-effectiveness and efficiency Although a high-tech solution, crop.zone technology is designed to be cost-effective and efficient for farmers. It reduces reliance on expensive chemical herbicides and minimises the need for multiple applications, saving money in the long run. The technology is also scalable, suitable for both small and large farms.

dirk_vandenhirtz, veröffentlicht am 16.01.2024

The Reuters article discusses the increasing problem of crop-killing weeds, such as kochia, spreading across U.S. farmland. These weeds are developing resistance to chemicals more rapidly than new products can be created. The issue is exacerbated by the declining share of revenue devoted to research and development in chemical companies. This situation poses a significant threat to grain and oilseed harvests, especially in light of rising inflation and climate change-related extreme weather. The article highlights the urgent need for new approaches to weed control in agriculture.

For more detailed information, you can read the full article on Reuters’ website: Crop-killing weeds advance across US farmland as chemicals lose effectiveness.

In the face of escalating challenges in agriculture, particularly the rising issue of chemical-resistant weeds, innovative solutions like crop.zone are emerging as vital tools for sustainable farming.

The issue at hand is significant. Weeds resistant to conventional herbicides are advancing across farmland, threatening crop yields and food security. Traditional chemical herbicides are losing their effectiveness, and the agricultural sector is under pressure to find alternative methods that are both effective and environmentally sustainable.

crop.zone stands at the forefront of this transformation. By shifting the focus from chemical herbicides to more sustainable treatments, it addresses the core of the problem: the need for effective weed control that doesn’t contribute to the cycle of resistance and environmental harm.

At its core, crop.zone offers an innovative approach to weed management. It utilizes advanced technology to target weeds in a way that is less reliant on chemical herbicides. This method is not only effective against weeds that have developed resistance to traditional chemicals but also reduces the environmental footprint of weed control.

One of the key advantages of crop.zone’s technology is its precision. By accurately targeting weeds, it minimizes the impact on surrounding crops and soil health. This precision is crucial in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem and ensuring the long-term fertility of the soil.

Moreover, crop.zone’s solution aligns with the growing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, there is an increasing preference for products grown with minimal chemical inputs. crop.zone’s approach, therefore, not only addresses an immediate agricultural challenge but also aligns with broader market trends and consumer preferences.

The environmental benefits of crop.zone’s approach are significant. By reducing the reliance on chemical herbicides, it decreases the risk of chemical run-off into waterways, thus protecting aquatic ecosystems. It also contributes to reducing the overall carbon footprint of farming operations, a critical factor in the global effort to combat climate change.

In the context of climate change and extreme weather conditions, the resilience offered by sustainable weed management becomes even more crucial. crop.zone’s technology is adaptable to various climatic conditions, offering farmers a reliable tool in their fight against weeds, regardless of the environmental challenges they face.

Furthermore, crop.zone’s approach is not just environmentally sound but also economically viable. By offering an effective and efficient alternative to chemical herbicides, it helps farmers manage costs and maintain profitability in an increasingly competitive and challenging market.

In conclusion, as the agricultural sector grapples with the challenge of resistant weeds and the limitations of traditional chemical herbicides, crop.zone emerges as a beacon of hope. Its innovative and sustainable approach to weed management offers a pathway to more resilient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable farming practices. As such, crop.zone is not just a solution for today’s problems but a step towards a more sustainable and secure agricultural future

matthias_eberius, veröffentlicht am 07.12.2023

matthias_eberius, veröffentlicht am 07.12.2023

Weeds adapt

A recent large American study compared weed control strategies based solely on glyphosate with those using other weed control methods prior to crop emergence (https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/12/pgad338/7457920). The result was clear. The more and more glyphosate is used, the faster the weeds adapt. MirageNews also reports (https://www.miragenews.com/glyphosates-weed-control-efficacy-declines-over-1137489/).

How do the plants adapt?

 In some cases there are mutations that detoxify the herbicide and render it ineffective. Only mixtures with additional herbicides remain.

In other cases, the entire plant changes in such a way that, for example, less herbicide is absorbed in the leaves and transported to the roots. In this case, an ever-increasing dose still helps against the weeds, but not the environment or the costs.

Selection for evasive behavior is similarly effective but even more exciting. For example, if glyphosate is always sprayed in an region on a certain date, the plant germinates so much earlier that the normal glyphosate dose no longer kills the plant, as it is already too large. The dose must therefore be increased. Or the plants germinate later so that they are no longer affected by the first spray. In this case, the crop has to be treated more often to maintain the effect, which puts an increasing strain on both the wallet and the environment.

The already visible consequence: according to study results, the efficiency of glyphosate decreased by up to 31.6 % within 10 years when glyphosate was used alone (Conyza canadensis, Canadian horseweed). There will soon be no effect at all.

Is KI a solution?

According to the authors, artificial intelligence and partial area or spot treatments do not help against all these efficacy losses. Although the technology reduce the current pure spraying agent costs, it leads to the same pressure to adapt and the same loss of efficiency – just a little more efficiently with  less actual glyphosate use.

What helps?

Only when different herbicide strategies were used in the same year was such a reduction not observed.

 Glyphosate is therefore not the “silver bullet” cure for everything and forever. Even its efficiency in areas that are more difficult to replace will only be sustainable in the long term if completely different weed control measures are used regularly and wherever possible. To this end, the authors of the study clearly recommend all non-chemical strategies. In order to make a better selection, these must be tested for their main beneficial properties and undesirable side effects and used accordingly.

matthias_eberius, veröffentlicht am 21.11.2023

The EU is thus sending out a clear signal as part of the “Farm to Fork” strategy for the avoidance of glyphosate residues in food.  You can find the full approval text here:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017R2324

As desiccation for harvest protection is basically a sensible concept, crop.zone now has the opportunity to offer an environmentally friendly alternative to siccation without residues in food and without endangering small mammals and insects.

matthias_eberius, veröffentlicht am 31.03.2023

In a comprehensive report, BCG and NABU found that everyone will benefit from a rapid shift to regenerative agriculture: “Regenerative agriculture offers a triple win: higher farming profits, more resilient food production, and less impact on land and climate..”            

Regenerative agriculture offers the urgently needed way out to keep food reliable and affordable even under conditions of climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection.

„Building on Conservation Agriculture, which is demonstrating exponential growth in its application on farms worldwide, Regenerative Agriculture offers a transformational path for both conventional and organic farms.

Regenerative agriculture is an adaptive farming approach applying practically proven and science-based practices, focused on soil and crop health aimed at yield resilience and a positive impact on carbon, water, and biodiversity.”

NABU (only German)

https://www.nabu.de/natur-und-landschaft/landnutzung/landwirtschaft/umweltschutz/32775.html

BCG

https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/regenerative-agriculture-benefits-germany-beyond

Study

https://web-assets.bcg.com/76/27/7d265e864fa3b9b68bf4196497da/bcg-the-case-for-regenerative-agriculture-in-germany-and-beyond-jan-2023-rev.pdf

Comment crop.zone:

Core elements of regenerative agriculture include no-till, minimizing soil movement, more catch crops and minimally invasive mulching. Even with this cropping system, it is necessary to be able to precisely control plants in the field when needed without soil movement. To date, this control has been done in non-till agriculture in many cases with glyphosate, and globally with other non-selective herbicides.

Here, crop.zone offers Hybrid Herbicide, the innovative and residue-free alternative using electric current as the active ingredient. Thus, crop.zone can provide farmers with an important building block for sustainable and innovative agriculture in this area as well. In this way, another challenge facing agriculture is being solved in a targeted and future-oriented manner through innovation.