GUDP project: Sustainable solutions for agriculture

WeedFighter recently initiated the GUDP project in Flakkebjerg, which officially started on January 1, 2024.
The project tests sustainable solutions for agriculture, with focus on alternatives to pesticides for weed control and desiccation of eg potatoes. The potential is much greater, but one must start somewhere.

During the visit, WeedFighter worked in the test environment, treating weed plants for the first time.

Pesticides in agriculture

With the latest media coverage, it has become clear that the use of pesticides remains a hot topic. Although Denmark and the EU have banned many pesticides in agriculture, permissions are still granted year after year, for example, for potato desiccation. This primarily aims to ensure the economic survival of agriculture and is due to the lack of effective sustainable alternatives.

The need for sustainable alternatives

Environmental and health concerns require stricter legislation. Pesticides have harmful effects on both the environment and human health, which increases the need for regulatory pressure and strict rules. These should be accompanied by economically affordable and effective alternatives, so dispensations are not necessary to support an industry.

The role of research and industry involvement

Thanks to the GUDP project, Aarhus University can now test and evaluate WeedFighter as an alternative method that can offer both economic and environmental sustainability.

Research and development are key to finding solutions that can eliminate the need for the use of pesticides in agriculture.

It is crucial that agriculture actively engages in the development and approval of new, sustainable methods. To avoid the “Not invented here” approach to results, it is essential for these research projects to collaborate with private stakeholders. In the GUDP project there is a collaboration with KMC and Klarskov Fruit, as well as agricultural advisors Agrovi.

This involvement is a critical factor in ensuring the technology’s relevance and applicability in practice.

WeedFighter technology: A potential solution

WeedFighter technology, which combines steam treatment, a biodegradable accelerator, and microwaves, has proven its worth in effective weed control on municipalities and is now being tested in Flakkebjerg. The technology has the potential to replace conventional chemicals used for desiccation of potatoes, for example.

WeedFighter could be a step towards a more sustainable future in agriculture. It is important that all stakeholders—from researchers and industry to politicians—work together to implement and promote sustainable solutions that can protect both the environment and public health. The technology is here.