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Aigen’s Presence Expands in Robotic Weed Control Arena

Saturday, February 1, 2025
filed under: Weeds

        Editor’s Note:  In the January 2024 issue of The Sunflower, we visited with Kansas-based Greenfield, Inc., about its robotic weed control operations, including experiences in sunflower fields.  This month, we asked Kenny Lee, co-founder and CEO of Seattle-based Aigen, to respond to some questions about his company’s role in the robotic weed control arena.  While Aigen has not yet worked directly in sunflower, this crop is definitely on the radar, Lee affirms.
 
Where (geographically) has your company been active to date?
        Our efforts have primarily focused on the Red River Valley region, with significant activity near Fargo, N.D. These areas have been central to our development and growth strategy as we refine and scale our technology.  Starting in 2025, we’ll expand our operations to Central California, further diversifying our geographical reach and the crops we support.
        To date, our focus has been on sugarbeets and food-grade soybeans, where there’s a strong demand for precise, chemical-free weed control solutions. These crops align well with our technology, meeting the needs of farmers who seek sustainable and innovative alternatives to conventional methods.
 
Are you experiencing significantly more farmer interest than, say, two years ago? What are the primary motives behind their interest?
         We are seeing an ocean of demand from farmers, far exceeding current market offerings. The surge in interest is driven by factors like rising costs, herbicide resistance, and the need for sustainable alternatives.  We are carefully considering the best strategies for growth and expansion to ensure we can meet this demand while maintaining the quality and innovation that define Aigen.
 
In terms of pure economics—aside from a farmer's desire to use less chemical—how does robotic control stack up versus a post-emergence herbicide treatment program?
        Weed control needs to be looked as a holistic, integrated approach. Farmers often overlook the full costs of equipment, fuel, and time when comparing the cost of herbicides. Aigen’s mission is to provide a solution that competes directly with chemical weed control, offering a sustainable, cost-effective alternative. Unlike other mechanized weeding solutions, Aigen is designed with this ultimate goal in mind, delivering a viable path to replace herbicides while enhancing long-term economic and environmental benefits. With the cost of chemicals, fuel, labor rising along with decrease in its effectiveness, we believe we can achieve our mission.
 
What are Aigen's plans for 2025 in terms of geographic expansion, new machine features, and new row crops to focus on?
        In 2025, we plan to expand our operations to include premium cotton in the Central California region, further diversifying our crop portfolio. Alongside this, we’re introducing a new generation of robots that are wider and taller, designed to accommodate a broader range of crops and improve adaptability. These advancements reflect our commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving needs of farmers across different geographies and crop types.
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