Drone technology tested to detect and remove foreign plants in Finnish fields

A pilot project in Isossakyrö, Finland, is testing drone and mobile technology to locate and potentially remove foreign plants from fields, Yle reports.

The system, developed by the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI), uses drones equipped with AI to identify foreign plants—such as barley in pure oat fields—while a mobile app guides farmers to their exact locations. Early tests show the app reliably detects foreign plants in oat crops.

Researchers are also exploring whether drones fitted with cutters could automatically remove the unwanted plants. A functional prototype, built from an old drone frame with a hedge trimmer attached, may be operational within a few years. The drone would follow pre-mapped coordinates, cut the foreign plants, and continue to the next target.

The technology is particularly valuable for pure oat production, where fields must remain free of gluten-containing grains like barley. Pure oats are a key raw material for gluten-free food production.

Farmers in Isossakyrö tested the mobile app, which successfully directed them to foreign plants. Pekka Kultti, a farmer and grain procurement manager at Helsinki Mill, noted that the app already works well, and a fully automated removal system could be available in a few years. The project is a collaboration between FGI, the Natural Resources Institute Finland, and an innovation group of pure oat farmers.