UF researches develop tool that targets chemical spray directly to plants

Keeping your food clean, while saving money. Researchers came up with a prototype to target the plants they spray, rather than spewing chemicals over crops that don't need it. "Reduce the amount of chemicals we apply, and that will help us help growers to increase profit, so reduce costs, input costs," said Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis, assistant professor, UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Southwest Florida Research and Education Center. The prototype uses cameras and artificial intelligence to target specific weeds or crops. It can even fit underneath something as small as a golf cart and as big as a blueberry harvester. Gene McAvoy, the associate director for stakeholder relations at UF/IFAS SWFREC, works directly with farmers and growers.