Emerging smart technology makes farming blueberries cheaper and more environmentally friendly
The wild blueberry market has developed into a multimillion-dollar industry in North America, with consumers pushing up demand as they seek out the prized berries for a range of health benefits.
Growing and harvesting the fruit can, however, be complicated by weeds that infest commercial fields, compete with blueberry plants for nutrients and interfere with harvesting equipment. To stem the spread of unwanted plants, farmers often rely on broadcast applications of herbicides to eliminate the weeds, some of which have become resistant to the chemicals because of repeated use.