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IWMPRAISE · Project

Practical Weed Control Toolbox That Cuts Herbicide Use Without Losing Yield

foodPilotedTRL 6
iwmpraise.eu

Farmers across Europe are stuck between a rock and a hard place — regulators are banning herbicides, but weeds still eat into profits. IWMPRAISE brought together 43 partners from 8 countries to build a practical toolbox of weed control methods that actually work on real farms, not just in labs. They tested everything from spraying robots and flame weeding to smart harvest techniques that destroy weed seeds before they hit the soil. The goal was simple: keep fields clean, keep yields up, and use far fewer chemicals doing it.

By the numbers
43
consortium partners involved in development and testing
8
European countries where strategies were field-tested
4
contrasting crop management scenarios validated
8
proof-of-concept demonstrations delivered
58
total project deliverables produced
13
SMEs participating in the consortium
42%
industry ratio in the consortium
The business problem

What needed solving

European farmers face mounting pressure from herbicide bans and the EU Green Deal's 50% pesticide reduction target, while weed resistance to remaining chemicals keeps growing. Without practical alternatives, farms risk yield losses, higher labor costs, and regulatory non-compliance. The industry needs a validated, crop-specific toolkit of non-chemical weed control methods that actually work at commercial scale.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered 8 proof-of-concept tools including a localized spraying robot, weed seed destruction and collection systems for harvest equipment, intra-row flame weeding for sugar beet, minimum-herbicide maize management, barrier-forming polymers for weed suppression, and complete IWM strategies for perennial woody crops. An end-user evaluation tool was published to help farmers select the right methods for their situation, backed by 58 total deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Large arable farms and cooperatives growing maize, cereals, or sugar beet under increasing herbicide restrictionsAgTech companies developing autonomous weeding robots or precision spraying equipmentVineyard and orchard operators needing non-chemical weed management between rowsAgricultural advisory services helping farmers comply with EU pesticide reduction targetsFarm equipment manufacturers looking to integrate weed seed destruction into combine harvesters
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Arable Farming & Crop Production
any
Target: Large-scale arable farms and farming cooperatives growing maize, cereals, or sugar beet

If you are a crop producer dealing with increasing herbicide bans and resistant weed populations — this project developed and field-tested integrated weed management strategies across 4 contrasting crop scenarios with 8 proof-of-concept tools, including minimum-herbicide maize weed control and intra-row flame weeding for sugar beet. These were validated in on-farm experiments across 8 countries with 43 partners.

Agricultural Robotics & Precision Spraying
SME
Target: AgTech companies developing autonomous field robots or precision spraying equipment

If you are an ag-tech firm building smart spraying or weeding equipment — this project delivered a proof of concept for a localized spraying robot that targets individual weeds instead of blanket-spraying entire fields. With 13 SMEs in the consortium and 18 industry partners validating the technology, the robot concept is backed by real field data from multiple European growing conditions.

Perennial Crop & Vineyard Management
any
Target: Vineyard operators, orchard managers, and olive grove companies seeking non-chemical weed control

If you manage vineyards, orchards, or olive groves and struggle with weed control between rows — this project published dedicated IWM strategies for perennial woody crops and tested them in on-farm experiments. With 42% of consortium partners coming from industry and research spanning 8 countries, the strategies are designed for real commercial growing conditions, not just experimental plots.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to adopt these weed management tools?

The project data does not include specific pricing for any of the tools or strategies developed. Costs would depend on which tools from the toolbox you adopt — a localized spraying robot involves capital investment, while changed tillage practices may reduce input costs. Contact the consortium partners for implementation cost estimates.

Have these methods been tested at commercial farm scale?

Yes. IWMPRAISE specifically designed on-farm experiments across 4 contrasting crop management scenarios representing typical European crops. With 43 partners across 8 countries including 18 industry partners, the strategies were validated in real farming conditions, not just research plots.

What about intellectual property and licensing for the spraying robot?

The localized spraying robot is documented as a proof of concept. IP rights likely sit with the consortium partners who developed it. Based on available project data, licensing terms are not specified — you would need to contact the relevant consortium partner directly.

Does this help with EU pesticide regulations like the Green Deal targets?

Directly. The EU Farm to Fork Strategy targets a 50% reduction in chemical pesticide use by 2030. IWMPRAISE built a toolbox of validated non-chemical weed control methods — flame weeding, weed seed destruction at harvest, seed collection systems, and reduced-herbicide crop management — all designed to maintain yields while cutting chemical inputs.

How quickly could a farm implement these strategies?

The project ran from 2017 to 2022 and produced 58 deliverables including an evaluation tool that checks which IWM strategies are relevant for your specific situation. Some practices like adjusted tillage can be adopted within one growing season; others like the spraying robot require further commercialization.

Can these tools work with my existing farm equipment?

Several of the approaches — conservation tillage, reduced tillage, and harvest-integrated weed seed destruction — are designed to work within existing farming systems. The project explicitly addressed integration across whole cropping systems for 4 contrasting management scenarios. The evaluation tool helps assess which methods fit your current setup.

Is there ongoing support or training available?

IWMPRAISE developed knowledge exchange tools and used mental modelling approaches to transfer results to end users. The project website at iwmpraise.eu hosts published strategies and resources. With 13 SMEs in the consortium, several partners may offer commercial advisory services based on the project results.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a strong, practice-oriented consortium with 43 partners across 8 countries — unusually large, which signals broad geographic validation of the results. The 42% industry ratio (18 industry partners, 13 of them SMEs) means these tools were shaped by companies with skin in the game, not just academics. The mix of 10 research institutes and 4 universities provides scientific rigor, while the SME-heavy industry side ensures the outputs are commercially grounded. Coordinated by Aarhus University in Denmark, a leading agricultural research institution, the consortium spans key European farming regions including France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and the UK.

How to reach the team

Aarhus University, Denmark — contact through university's agricultural research department

Order a report on this consortiumSee AARHUS UNIVERSITET profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the team behind the spraying robot or the weed seed destruction technology? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the right consortium partner for your specific crop and region.

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