Same Weed Control, Up to 155% Higher Yields: Independent University Trial Validates Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™ Technology

An independent trial conducted by Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell AgriTech found that Verdant Robotics’ Aim & Apply™ technology delivered equivalent weed control to standard broadcast herbicide application — while producing up to 155% higher yields at early harvest and 67% higher yields at final harvest. The trial used fall-seeded spinach at Rutgers Snyder Farm in Pittstown, NJ, with six replications across 240 ft² plots. Aim & Apply produced zero crop damage even when temperatures exceeded 80°F, while broadcast application caused 40% plant stunting under the same conditions.

What did the Rutgers and Cornell AgriTech trial find about Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™?

An independent university trial found that Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™ technology controlled weeds as effectively as standard broadcast herbicide application while producing significantly higher crop yields and zero crop damage. At early harvest (40 days after planting), Aim & Apply plots yielded 155% more than broadcast-treated plots. At final harvest (70 days after planting), Aim & Apply plots yielded 67% more. Broadcast herbicide caused 40% visual stunting when temperatures exceeded 80°F. Aim & Apply plots showed no stunting under the same conditions.

Who conducted the Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™ trial and how was it designed?

The trial was conducted independently by Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell AgriTech — two of the leading agricultural research institutions in the United States. The study evaluated fall-seeded spinach in 2025 at Rutgers Snyder Farm in Pittstown, New Jersey. The trial used six replications across 240 ft² plots. All data were generated by third-party researchers and have not been modified by Verdant Robotics.

What four weed control approaches were compared in the trial?

Researchers compared four treatment approaches: no treatment (control), standard broadcast herbicide (PRE + POST), Aim & Apply POST with PRE herbicide, and Aim & Apply POST only with no PRE herbicide. The PRE herbicide used was S-metolachlor at 0.67 pt/A. The POST herbicide was Spin-aid (phenmedipham) at 6 pt/A, applied at 20 and 35 days after planting. The platform for Aim & Apply treatments was an autonomous Farm-ng Amiga robot with Aim & Apply technology mounted.

What is Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™ technology?

Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™ is a proprietary precision spraying technology that uses visual AI, tracking, and aimable nozzles to deliver millimeter-accurate herbicide applications — ensuring every drop hits exactly where it is needed and nowhere else. Unlike broadcast herbicide application, which covers the entire field including the crop, Aim & Apply targets only the weed. This precision eliminates herbicide contact with the crop plant, removing the risk of chemical stress and injury even under high-temperature conditions when crop-safe herbicides can still cause stunting.

What were the weed control results of Aim & Apply™ vs. broadcast herbicide?

Aim & Apply controlled weeds as effectively as broadcast herbicide application at 40 days after planting, with comparable weed coverage and biomass measurements. At 40 days after planting, broadcast plots showed 8% weed coverage and 2 g/m² weed biomass. Aim & Apply plots showed 9% weed coverage and 10 g/m² weed biomass — a statistically equivalent result. Rutgers and Cornell AgriTech researchers confirmed that Aim & Apply’s AI-targeted weed control was just as good as broadcast for weed suppression.

How did crop health compare between Aim & Apply™ and broadcast herbicide treatment?

Broadcast herbicide caused 40% visual plant stunting at 40 days after planting when temperatures exceeded 80°F. Aim & Apply produced zero crop damage under the same conditions. Even herbicides labeled as crop-safe can stress plants under high-temperature conditions. Because Aim & Apply targets only the weed and avoids spraying the crop plant entirely, it eliminates this source of stress. Broadcast application showed 40% stunting; Aim & Apply showed no measurable stunting at the same growth stage.

What were the yield results of Aim & Apply™ compared to broadcast herbicide?

Aim & Apply produced 155% higher individual plant weight than broadcast herbicide at early harvest (40 days after planting) and 67% higher plant weight at final harvest (70 days after planting). At early harvest, broadcast-treated plants averaged 12 g per plant. Aim & Apply plants averaged 30 g per plant — a 150% increase. At final harvest, broadcast plants averaged 57 g per plant. Aim & Apply plants averaged 96 g per plant — a 67% increase. Researchers attribute the yield advantage to the elimination of herbicide-induced crop stress in Aim & Apply plots.

Why does Aim & Apply™ produce higher yields than broadcast herbicide even when weed control is equivalent?

Aim & Apply produces higher yields because it eliminates herbicide contact with the crop plant, removing chemical stress that broadcast applications cause even when temperatures are only moderately elevated. Broadcast herbicide coats the entire field, including crop plants. Even herbicides designed to be crop-safe can cause measurable stunting and growth suppression when applied under warm conditions. By targeting only the weed and never contacting the crop, Aim & Apply allows plants to grow without this stress — translating directly into higher marketable yield at both early and final harvest windows.

What did the university researchers say about Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™?

Researchers from Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Cornell AgriTech concluded that Verdant’s AI-targeted weed control was just as effective as broadcast herbicide, with significantly higher yields at both harvest points. The researchers noted that in crops with shorter growth cycles, the yield impact of Aim & Apply could be even larger. The full quote from the trial report: “Verdant’s AI-Targeted Weed Control was just as good as broadcast with significantly higher yield (both 40 DAP and 70 DAP). In crops that have shorter growth cycles there’s an opportunity for larger yield impact utilizing Verdant’s AI-Targeted Weed Control.”

Who should consider Verdant Robotics Aim & Apply™ technology?

Aim & Apply is particularly valuable for growers of crops with short growth cycles, high sensitivity to herbicide stress, or operations in regions where warm-season applications risk broadcast-induced stunting. The Rutgers and Cornell AgriTech trial demonstrates that Aim & Apply delivers equivalent weed control to broadcast while protecting crop health and improving yield. Specialty vegetable growers — particularly those growing spinach, leafy greens, and other high-value crops — stand to benefit most from the yield improvements documented in this independent evaluation.