Arable farm saves €250,000 annually through use of Andela Robot Weeder
Marien and Joos Poppe from the Dutch village of Nagele have had very positive experiences with the Robot Weeder and Electro Weeder from Andela Techniek & Innovatie. They participate in the National Field Lab for Precision Agriculture (NPPL) project to increase knowledge and collect data.
On 17 April 2025, the onions at Poppe Landbouw in the Noordoostpolder had already emerged a week earlier. “Exceptionally early. We already carried out the first between-row weed control using the Electro Weeder,” says Marien Poppe. Together with his brother Joos, he is one of the new NPPL participants in 2025. In 2003, their father had already converted the farm to organic production. “The organic market was more favourable than the struggling conventional sales channels at the time, and we also wanted to work more sustainably and focus on improving soil health,” says Marien. In 2008, he and his brother took over the business.
Collaboration with Andela Innovatie & Techniek
Poppe Landbouw has been working for several years with Andela Techniek & Innovatie in Nagele, which develops and supplies electric weeders. “In 2022, we gained experience with a prototype of the Robot Weeder ARW-912 in onions and carrots. The robot was subsequently adjusted considerably. In 2023, we purchased the ARW-912 and used it throughout the season on onions, carrots and chicory,” says Marien Poppe. “This 9-metre-wide autonomous robot with cameras identifies weeds using AI. Electric rods on 12 weeding units touch the weeds in the row, causing them to die.”
In 2022, Poppe began testing the prototype of the Andela Electro Weeder. Since 2024, Poppe has been testing and demonstrating the demo model Electro Weeder AEW-180. The weeder removes weeds between onion rows. Poppe plans to also use this machine later in the season for carrots and chicory. This machine operates with a closed electrical circuit. Current flows through the weeds into the ground, heating them due to resistance and causing them to die.
Why participate in NPPL?
Automating weed control was prompted by the brothers’ increasing labour costs. “And because good personnel for manual weeding is hard to find.” They have several years of experience with the autonomous Robot Weeder and the Electro Weeder mounted behind the tractor.
Their experiences so far have been positive. “Until 2022, we hired approximately 20,000 hours annually for manual in-row weeding. By using the Robot Weeder, we save half of those labour hours. That saves us around €250,000 per year in personnel costs. That is worth investing in.”
Robot Weeder ARW-912 costs €800,000
The 9-metre-wide Robot Weeder ARW-912 with 12 weeding units costs €800,000. “It pays for itself within 3 years.” Andela also sells cheaper, narrower models. The ARW-609 (6 metres wide, 9 weeding units) costs €650,000, the ARW-608 (6 metres, 8 units) costs €600,000, and the ARW-606 (4.5 metres, 6 units) costs €500,000. “The base unit of the Electro Weeder costs €75,000,” says Paul Andela, owner of Andela Techniek & Innovatie. “You can then select various desired tools, priced between €10,000 and €25,000.”
Poppe combines hoeing, harrowing and flaming with these innovative machines. “This year, I want to use the Electro Weeder more between the rows. Operating costs are comparable to flaming.”
Pros and cons of innovative technology
In addition to significant labour cost savings, the Robot and Electro Weeder enable Poppe to begin earlier and literally nip weeds in the bud. “The robot detects tiny weeds that we can hardly see and removes them very precisely. The Electro Weeder skims the soil without disturbing it like a hoe would and does not create a new seedbed. The electric shock is also more effective than flaming before crop emergence,” Poppe observes. “We rarely see thistles and grasses return, or only much later. And chickweed is better controlled in carrots. Chickweed tends to creep and is difficult to hoe. Because weeds return less or much more slowly, the Electro Weeder is needed less frequently than a hoe. Two passes are often enough, whereas with hoeing you need 4 or 5 passes per season.”
Drawbacks of the Electro Weeder
One drawback of the Electro Weeder is that it cannot be used in moist conditions. “Electricity and water don’t mix — the tractor cuts out. But in wet conditions, you don’t go hoeing either, and hoeing risks damaging crop roots. If the weeds are too woody, only the upper part of the plant is destroyed, and it regrows from below. And if a weed leaf is touching an onion plant, the onion may also die from the current.”
Soil conductivity
Poppe’s fields contain both lighter and heavier clay soils, which differ in soil conductivity. A student from Aeres University of Applied Sciences is conducting research on behalf of Andela into the driving speed of the Electro Weeder in relation to conductivity. The higher the conductivity (more moisture in the soil), the more energy is required. “The student determines soil conductivity per field based on soil samples beforehand. We are studying how fast we can drive on lighter and heavier clay soils and what the effect is on weed control and power consumption,” says Poppe
Marien and Joos are eager to share their positive experiences with electric weeding with other farmers “The Robot Weeder replaces manual labourers working in the row, and that’s a real solution to the labour problem.”
