Bioguard: the intelligent weeder from Cavalleretti

Cavalleretti, a company located in Copparo (Ferrara) that has been operating in the mechanical steel sector for about thirty years, is expanding its production line into agricultural mechanization and focusing on camera-guided weeders, pruners, de-compactors, and harrows. With a turnover of approximately EUR 14 million, the Emilia-based company is confident about the growth of its agricultural division: international expansion over the last two years has allowed the company to record a 500% increase in turnover. Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria and, of course, the United States, are its main client countries. Against this backdrop, the company will showcase a highly innovative machine at Agritechnica: the Bioguard, a weeder equipped with artificial intelligence and cameras capable of accurately distinguishing cultivated plants from weeds, thus improving the effectiveness of mechanical weeding operations. The weeder is also able to maintain constant alignment with the seed row, an essential element for ensuring uniform and precise cultivation, and to avoid compromising the crops. Another distinctive feature of the machine is the synchronized opening and closing system of the hoes, which allows the soil to be worked efficiently without damaging the plants. This function contributes to more accurate and targeted cultivation, improving not only the quality of the weed control, but also the soil structure. In fact, the work performed between the rows of plants promotes greater permeability of the soil and facilitates the absorption of water and nutrients, so essential for the healthy growth of crops. Cavalleretti emphasizes its commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing the use of chemical herbicides: the aim is to avoid compromising the ecological balance while simultaneously ensuring increased productivity. In this context, Bioguard represents an important step forward towards smarter and more sustainable agriculture.