Ecorobotix announces its 2027 AI model lineup, expanding its range of crop- and weed-specific solutions. The launch includes 10 new commercial models, including garlic, leek and potato, plus 55 upcoming models open for free testing, such as pepper, zucchini and yellow nutsedge.
In 2026 alone, Ecorobotix together with its customers tested the crop models that have now reached commercial status on more than 11 000 hectares in over 20 countries, with an average input reduction of 86% in comparison to broadcast spraying. The reliability that these models have shown over many different contexts now enables Ultra High Precision crop care in contexts which previously only relied on broadcast spraying. Weeds can now be treated with minimal impact on soil while maximizing crop health.
Rising Up to the Challenge of Yellow Nutsedge
Yellow Nutsedge is one of the most invasive and difficult-to-control weeds worldwide. Agroscope research institute has shown that Yellow Nutsedge caused yield losses of 40% to 71% in sugar beet and potato fields in Switzerland highlighting the need for effective control measures. However, in addition to being highly invasive, it is difficult to eradicate, as common weed control methods, including selective herbicides, are often unsuccessful or unavailable.
Yellow Nutsedge in a cabbage field.
“Yellow Nutsedge is an increasingly common problem across Europe, spreading rapidly in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, while already being well established in southern countries like France, Italy, and Spain,” says Simon Gasser, Agronomist and Crop Algorithm Product Manager at Ecorobotix. “With the development of this new algorithm, we are offering the first precision spraying solution capable of detecting Yellow Nutsedge and applying a non-selective herbicide directly to the weed without damaging the crop.”
This innovation reflects the company's commitment to providing farmers with solutions that address current challenges in the field. As an upcoming model, it will be available for free to ARA users in March, as are all our upcoming models.
Ultra-High Precision Weed Control in Potatoes Now Possible
The potato model, commercially available and accessible to growers in March, is one example of how Ecorobotix tests the effectiveness of its models. During development, Ecorobotix compared ARA's weed control efficacy using the potato model with conventional broadcast spraying (Figure 1). The results demonstrated that the algorithm successfully controls common weeds present in potato crop context.
Weed Control Efficacy 20 days after treatment
While trials like these provide valuable data, users’ feedback plays an equally important role in the development process. Luc Détroz, potato grower in Belgium, used the ARA™ potato model to control weeds across 300 hectares of potatoes on his farm.
Source: Trial conducted in Switzerland Treatement stage of potato crop 10cm high
"This clearly saved the crop. In a single pass, we were able to control goosefoot and knotweed, and the field remained weed-free until the end,” says Luc. “Without this treatment, the goosefoot would have become overgrown and woody, which would have been very difficult to manage."
ARA, a well-appreciated partner to growers
The 2027 crop model lineup continues the company’s mission in providing farmers with tools to address both current and emerging weed management challenges. The over 1000 ARAs in use worldwide and over 600 000 hectares treated to date show the confidence our growers have in our algorithms to deliver Ultra-High Precision crop care.
Meanwhile the current carrot model has proved its worth among growers. The number of hectares treated by this award-winning model increased by over 80%, while proving a concrete solution against the loss of metribuzin.
About Ecorobotix
Ecorobotix is a Swiss B Corporation® certified company whose mission is to transform agriculture through agronomic intelligence and its exclusive Plant-by-Plant™ technology. This technology, unique in the world, identifies and treats each plant individually with unmatched precision, reducing the use of crop protection products by up to 95% while maintaining treatment effectiveness and crop health. With more than 120 crop models, Ecorobotix offers the industry's largest crop model portfolio. Its flagship product, ARA, is the world's most versatile Ultra-High Precision Sprayer, capable of targeting both specific crops and different types of weeds. Present in more than 30 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, Ecorobotix is redefining the standards of sustainable crop protection.