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SECTION 7 INNOVATION & NEW TECHNOLOGY This section brought to you in association with
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Microwaves: More bing for your weed control buck?
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n Australian AgTech startup has secured a significant seed investment to commercialise technology that could revolutionise the agriculture industry and wipe out the need to use chemicals to control weeds. The Growave technology invented by researchers at the University of Melbourne, harnesses the power of microwaves to kill weeds from the inside and rids soil of emergent weeds, dormant seeds as well as reduces pathogens and their impact. “With the economics of the solution so compelling, the technology has the potential to have an impact on a broad range of agricultural markets,” said Paul Barrett, Growave Director and head of physical sciences at IP Group.
The seed investment came from IP Group, Grain Innovate and Artesian and will be used to take the novel, chemical-free weed treatment to a global market. “This represents the fifth investment by IP Group in Australia and New Zealand with its partnership agreement with the Group of Eight and University of Auckland,” said Paul.
Field trials “While there is strong international interest in the technology, Growave will firstly focus on domestic markets with new trials commencing on farmland at Dookie in Victoria and in southern Queensland in the Lockyer Valley on an organic vegetable farm.
University of Melbourne researcher and co-inventor of the Growave technology, Dr Graham Brodie, anticipates commercial deployment of the modular units is around 18 months away. 108 — COTTON YEARBOOK 2019
