Technological projects portfolio

In the agricultural sector, weeding crops is an unavoidable action. Plants that compete with crops reduce growth and production, which are major effects, but they can also be toxic for consumers, present invasive risks or cause allergenic pollen production.

Furthermore, in urban areas or for public works (paths, roads, bridges, railways, airfields, etc.), undesirable plants are eliminated so as not to hinder traffic but also to limit damage to structures.

The current challenge is to find effective alternatives to chemical weedkillers. This project is part of a sustainable development approach.

The proposed innovation consists of combining physical and chemical effects obtained simultaneously by producing a plasma of air, sent by a torch onto the plants to be destroyed. Plasmas combine the advantages of different modes of action, namely thermal effects (heat), chemical effects (formation of active species such as ozone), radiant effects (UV light emission, infrared light emission and for certain plasmas, microwave radiation, which can act on plant roots. The synergy of these various characteristics recognized as weed destroyers appears to be a major asset from the point of view of effective weed control.

Agriculture, transport and urban planning will benefit from this technology. Weed control in vegetable production, orchards and large areas for cereal crops is a technical requirement that calls for disruptive innovations to reduce the use of current herbicides. This substitution is not trivial, and the solutions being developed propose devices that act by mechanical and/or physical principles.

Herbistop one such solution that allows us to take action in the many areas where weed control is essential.

Agriculture is the first to be affected. Weed control on transport infrastructure: railway lines, parking lots, bridge approaches, airport runways and parking, sidewalks and building access areas, sports fields and leisure areas is a very strong need. The list of requests is long, and we can also add the needs of private individuals for terraces and gardens.

In this context, the system developed by the Herbistop project has an important role to play. Associated with other solutions or operating autonomously, Herbistop will meet user needs.