Intelligent technologies for sustainable grassland management
Permanent grassland shapes the agricultural landscape in Germany and fulfills vital ecological and economic functions. However, due to changes in agriculture, species-rich grassland areas are increasingly being lost. The AimGrassland project develops innovative technologies for the sustainable maintenance of grasslands. Using modern sensor technology, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, problem species can be detected early and treated specifically – resource-efficiently and environmentally friendly.
Data Collection & Monitoring
Sustainable grassland management begins with precise data. In the AimGrassland project, grassland areas are recorded using modern sensors and optical systems. High-resolution cameras and positioning data enable a detailed analysis of the plant population. The resulting digital maps form the basis for targeted monitoring of problem species and indicator species.
AI Training & Identification
To help our technology learn to "see," we train neural networks with thousands of real and synthetic images. Our AI reliably distinguishes between valuable forage plants, protected indicator species, and problematic weeds such as ragwort.
Selective Control
Precision instead of broad-spectrum impact: Once the AI has localized a problem plant, it is specifically removed using minimally invasive mechanical or physical methods. This protects the turf, reduces herbicide use, and ensures forage quality.
Biodiversity & Environment
Our "protection through use" approach secures biodiversity in permanent grasslands by keeping the management of endangered areas economically viable. Through the pinpoint removal of toxic plants, the valuable accompanying flora for insects and birds remains fully preserved.
The European market for agricultural service robotics alone is estimated to be worth around €1.2 billion by 2030.
