Destroying Weed Seed

Tim Hammerich

News Reporter

Farmers are always having to come up with new tools and strategies for controlling weeds. Ohio-based company Global Neighbor sees a future where weed control starts long before the crop is planted. In fact, as the previous crop is being harvested, says company president Jon Jackson.

Jackson… “At harvest, many of the problem weeds are non shattered and the combine collects these seeds and then spreads them all over the field. This problem is experienced by all grain farmers in all regions, across the U.S.”

Rather than spreading weed seeds, Global Neighbor’s technology destroys them as they go through the combine.

Jackson… “We developed directed energy floral control. And what that means is we use light to kill weeds, and make weed seeds non-viable.”

This would allow farmers to proactively begin reducing weeds in their field without any extra passes or herbicide.

Jackson… “And when we run chaff containing Palmer amaranth, and other wheat seeds through it, we make greater than 90% of them non-viable. Our next step is to put a full-scale prototype on a Case combine this fall. It represents a large opportunity to us to help farmers produce and solve a big problem that's getting worse.”

The company was one of five to participate in the recent pitch event put on by AgLaunch an organization that attracts, creates, and grows agtech startups.