About the technology
Geco Strategic Weed Management is a software tool that uses artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and historical field data in agronomic models to predict where weed zones are likely to occur, including herbicide resistant weed patches.
EMILI has worked with Geco Strategic Weed Management since 2023. Projects include validating their weed detection and prediction technology as well as examining the impact of weed pressure on yield. When EMILI first began working with Geco, the tool was being used on three fields in Western Canada. By 2025, it was on 180 farms in seven countries, and growing.
Satellite-assisted/enhanced weed species ID
GROSSE ISLE (2026)
EMILI is conducting ground scouts in wheat, corn, and soybean fields on Innovation Farms to identify larger patches of certain weed species which will be compared to those identified by Geco. This aims to enhance Geco’s ability to identify weeds and species via satellite imagery, under different combinations of weed-crop-geography.
This technology is being evaluated on EMILI’s Innovation Farms and across the AIVA Network’s Validation Hubs, providing a national lens on how the technology works across Canada’s diverse agricultural regions.
Weed and yield modelling responses to VR inputs
GROSSE ISLE (2026)
A trial consisting of variable rate (VR) inputs, including baseline and elevated seeding and residual herbicide rates, is being conducted in a wheat field on Innovation Farms. EMILI is performing weed scouts in each unique treatment area at various points throughout the growing season. This trial aims to evaluate the impact of Geco’s weed mapping when associated with other weed management practices to enable growers to make better-informed decisions on controls to use in which area of a field to optimize profitability.
This technology is being evaluated on EMILI’s Innovation Farms and across the AIVA Network’s Validation Hubs, providing a national lens on how the technology works across Canada’s diverse agricultural regions.
Impact of seeding rate on weeds and yield
GROSSE ISLE (2025)
EMILI worked with Geco Strategic Weed Management to determine the impact of weed pressure on yield and to assess the agronomic and economic impacts of residual herbicides and variable rate (VR) seeding by weed zone in a field.
Weed detection and prediction
GROSSE ISLE (2023-2025)
EMILI validated Geco’s weed detection and prediction technology on both susceptible and herbicide-resistant wild oat and kochia populations, as well as validating the efficiency of satellite imagery for weed species identification.
