Garford Farm Machinery, based at Frognall, Deeping St James, Peterborough, has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its Robocrop InRow Weeder.

The Robocrop is the first commercial product to use vision analysis techniques to control weed removal between vegetable plants.

It uses digital cameras to locate crop plants and then uses this information to control special weeding discs which hoe the area between the plants to kill competing weeds. This process is also beneficial in breaking up the soil and improving plant growth.

Garford is a family-run company founded in 1986 and employing 19 staff. The award will be presented at a ceremony later in the year by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, who is the Queen’s representative.