18 March 2026: Landcare Australia is proud to be selected in the CRDC Innovation Call. The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) will invest more than half a million dollars across 11 feasibility studies for cutting-edge projects that aim to tackle some of cotton’s biggest future challenges.
The successful projects in the CRDC Innovation Call, delivered by some of the country’s leading startups, ventures, entrepreneurs, agribusinesses and research organisations, were selected following a national open call for innovative solutions to three cotton challenges – preparing for a low-pesticide future, optimising nitrogen use, and improving weed management. CRDC offered up to $50,000 to support each individual feasibility study, across these three key priority areas.
This project ‘Eyes in the sky: Using AI drones for weed detection and prevention’, delivered by Landcare Australia utilises drones and an advanced AI platform (WeedRemeed™) to detect hard-to-spot weeds before they spread through cotton-growing regions.
With a focus on riparian zones, where manual surveys are difficult or unsafe to carry out on foot, the system will process drone imagery using advanced colour picking and machine learning technologies to detect and geolocate weeds. Successful detection models will identify weeds at an accuracy of over 80 per cent.
The work will include defining a target weed species. This process will incorporate advice
from ecological specialists as well as knowledge shared by local landholders and community groups. This will be followed by conducting suitability assessments, undertaking drone surveys, and training the AI models before the WeedRemeed™ technology is deployed through Landcare Australia’s WildSeek hubs.
Katie Selhorst, Head of Landscape Restoration and Chief Remote Pilot, said “The WildSeek Weeds project is transforming how we detect weeds by combining cutting‑edge drone and new AI technology with on‑ground expertise. By finding infestations earlier and more accurately, we can protect productive landscapes and deliver better outcomes for growers and the environment.
Delivered alongside the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and the Tamworth Regional Landcare Association, the project will expand the existing WildSeek and WeedRemeed™ frameworks to create a scalable, community-driven weed management tool.
The 11 successful applicants will now commence their feasibility studies. Growers will have the opportunity to hear more about the projects at the Australian Cotton Conference on the Gold Coast in August.
The feasibility studies will inform a subsequent funding round, where up to $500,000 will be available to successful innovators to deliver proof-of-concept projects within the Australian cotton farming system.
