Some of the latest technology could be used to help farmers tackle one of their oldest problems.
Researchers at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, are using drones and AI to scan fields and identify weeds.
Fighting weeds can be difficult and time consuming for farmers and it is hoped the new technology will save time and reduce the need for large-scale chemical spraying.
“[This way] you are precisely identifying the area that weeds are [in], that means that rather than applying pesticides or herbicides to an entire field, you select specific areas,” said Dr Emmanuel Zuza, senior lecturer in Environmental Management and Sustainability at the university.