OPICO has expanded its precision weeding portfolio with the launch of the Rumex RXF600 and RXF900 AI spot sprayers, reinforcing a growing shift toward plant-by-plant herbicide application and ultra-targeted weed management. The new front-mounted systems are designed to reduce chemical use, lower labour requirements and improve application precision in high-value crops such as onions, carrots and vegetable production systems.
Originally developed in Bavaria by farmers seeking alternatives to manual dock weed treatment, the Rumex platform combines AI-powered camera recognition, spot spraying technology and individual nozzle control to identify and treat weeds with high precision. The flagship RXF900 uses six cameras and 222 individually controlled nozzles spaced at 40 mm intervals, allowing treatment of small weeds while minimising unnecessary herbicide application.
A notable strategic element is the system’s ability to operate with low-horsepower and older tractors, requiring only around 50 hp and a straightforward PTO and three-point linkage connection. This lowers adoption barriers and broadens the addressable market beyond highly digitalised farming operations.
According to OPICO, the technology can reduce herbicide use by up to 94%, while the AI software continues to expand beyond dock weed identification toward broader crop and weed recognition capabilities. The development reflects a wider industry transition in which crop protection increasingly shifts from blanket application toward individual plant decision-making systems driven by machine vision and AI models.
Bottom Line
The Rumex RXF600 and RXF900 launch suggests the next competitive phase in crop protection may increasingly revolve around precision of decision-making rather than spraying capacity alone. As chemical costs rise and regulatory pressure increases, AI-driven spot spraying platforms may progressively transform herbicide application from field-level treatment toward plant-level intervention.
