The introduction of exotic plant species into New Zealand and other countries has long been a problem with weeds both taking over productive pasture and displacing native plant species with the knock on effect of the impact on local habitat to both the fauna and a less obvious effect on the relationship between and reliance upon endemic fauna for propagation of native flora.

Even more recently introduced species such as pine, farmed as timber producing forestry has become a problem with wilding pine self-seeding well outside of the areas where their growth is intentional creating an environmental issue that is managed at significant effort and cost.

Herbicides have long been problematic with these potentially harmful organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides persisting for very long periods in soils and ultimately entering the human food chain through the food that we eat be that crops or the animals grazing on contaminated pasture.

While very probably some way away, autonomous robots deployed with non-toxic technologies my be a way forward for the future.

Robots with lasers killing weeds - Newsroom