Lincolnshire-based manufacturer Garford Farm Machinery has been presented the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.
Garford was handed the gong for its product, the Robocrop InRow Weeder - the first commercial product to use vision analysis techniques to control weed removal between vegetable plants.
The Robocrop InRow Weeder uses digital cameras and image analysis to locate crop plants and then uses this information to control special weeding discs which hoe the area between the plants in order to kill competing weeds.
This process is also beneficial in breaking up the soil and so improving plant growth with many vegetable growers claiming considerable growth stimulation.
The firm’s managing director, Philip Garford, said: “This is a great honour and we are pleased to be able to work with the farmers to create machinery not only to improve the processes in the farming industry but also to contribute to the environmental practices in the country. We look forward to growing the business in the future, producing ever-evolving technology, for the benefit of the grower and consumer.”
The award ceremony will take place later in the year, with the gong presented by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Queen’s representative.
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