AGRI-ROBOTICS · ESA BIC
GuardenAI
GuardenAI’s autonomous robots protect crops with targeted laser technology instead of chemicals, patrolling fields from the start of the season.
GuardenAI · Autonomous crop-protection robot01 — Overview
A Budapest-based company building physical AI for the realities of the field, backed by the ESA Business Incubation Centre and the NVIDIA Inception programme.
Zero residues left in soil, crops or local water systems.
Saves the cost of labour while collecting plant-level data across every field.
Fully species-selective, protecting pollinators and preserving the ecosystem.
Patrols fields from the start of the season, preventing early losses from insect infestations.
02 — How it works
GuardenAI operates the technology, plans the season and keeps the system performing. Farmers pay per hectare, per season, and never buy or manage another machine.
03 — Results
Per hectare, per season, from field trials in potato and soybean crops: GuardenAI compared with conventional insecticide-based pest control.
| Conventional | GuardenAI | |
|---|---|---|
| Pest control cost | €95 | €95 |
| Pesticide use | 0.45 kg active ingredient | 0 kg |
| Water use | ~2,000 L | 0 L |
| Labour requirement | ~0.49 h | 0 h |
| CO₂ emissions | ~40 kg CO₂e | 0 kg CO₂e |
Figures published by GuardenAI (guarden.ai), per hectare per season.
04 — Field validation
At the teaching farm of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Szárítópuszta, a laser-treated parcel targeting the Colorado beetle was compared with a pyrethroid-sprayed parcel and an untreated control from planting in late May to harvest in early October. The laser approach worked: a real-world proof of concept for pest control that is both environmentally friendly and effective.
RecognitionESA BIC programmeNVIDIA InceptionEU-Startups 2025 finalistForbes accelerator 2024Hungarian Innovation Grand Prize · recognition, 2026
guarden.ai
Service scope, seasonal pricing, field notes and contact are on GuardenAI’s own site.
Want to know more about the project or discuss a collaboration? Leave your details and we will get back to you.