Recipient Organization
GLOBAL NEIGHBOR, INC.
80 COMPARK RD
DAYTON,OH 454594802
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Global Neighbor (GNI) was awarded a Phase 1 to develop a design that makes weed seeds collected by a combine at harvest non-viable, saving the farmer money and reducing environmental impact. The work plan was to start with the technique developed under a DoD SBIR that made tumble weed seeds non-viable, alter that recipe, and engineer a solution to go on a combine. Our successful completion of Phase 1 showed our solution will make greater than 95% of common weed seeds non-viable.The growing number of herbicide resistant weeds and the shrinking chemical weed control options are alarming farmers, seed companies, herbicide manufacturers and government regulators across the globe. This growing problem has critical implications for agriculture, the environment and USDA's goal to encourage regenerative farming practices.For our Phase 2 proposal, we would construct and field the prototype designed in Phase 1, debug that design and make adjustments, and then design and field the weed seed destroyer (WDSD) product that we start selling at the conclusion of Phase 2. With professional investors poised to make an investment in GNI after being de-risked by the USDA Phase 2 award, we will swiftly introduce the WDSD helping farmers to realize improved profitability and decreasing the threat of new herbicide resistance evolving. GNI's Phase 2 proposal transforms our earlier scientific discovery of making tumble weeds seeds non-viable into a product that we have validated has large commercial potential, with the added environmental benefit of reduced herbicide usage to grow America's row crops.
Animal Health Component
30%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
30%
Developmental
50%
Goals / Objectives
The technical objective of this Phase II proposal is to fabricate the fieldable design and progressively test and enhance the field prototype (FP1); starting with fabrication, verification in free-standing operating mode, then verification when mounted to and powered by the combine engine, and finally, verification of the system's impact on field weed pressures.Major technical questions to be answered in Phase II include:How to insure the WDSD system operates in the field without stalling or clogging, and is capable of treating a wide range of crops under varying harvest conditionsWill the WDSD system achieve field efficacy similar to lab efficacy rates?Will the WDSD demonstrate measurable improvement in weed pressures within only a few harvest seasons?How to insure the WDSD allows the combine to operate normallyHow to adapt the WDSD design to a universal design that can be mounted on other combine models, beyond the CR940The basis of this work plan is to answer these questions, and is organized into the following engineering and testing tasks:Task 1: Fabricate field prototype 1 (FP1)Task 2: Test and debug FP1 in free standing modeTask 3: Design mounting interface to New Holland CR940Task 4: Mount FP1 to the CR940Task 5: Test and debug FP1 mounted to CR940Task 6: Design user interface to operate FP1Task 7: Test and optimize FP1Task 8: Test FP1 on CR940 in test field one (TF1)Task 9: Measure weed pressure and efficacy data in TF1Task 10: Create universal design (FP2) and installation kits for John Deere S seriesTask 11: Test FP1 on CR940 in an additional test field (TF2)Task 12: Beta Sites: Measure weed pressure and efficacy data in TF2The Phase II effort will result in a field-tested prototype that answers the technical questions needed for our successful commercial launch. During Phase II, GNI will keep investors updated via our quarterly newsletter, and will raise additional funds to support commercialization. With the technical success and the market interest generated during Phase I and continued technical and commercial success in Phase II; our pathway to commercial sales and success is a high certainty.
Project Methods
Design work and off-combine prototype testing will be conducted at GNI facilities, where our prior SBIR work on DE was conducted. GNI will use its CAD system and other computer equipment, instrumentation, and other electrical test equipment. Field testing and debugging, as well as field efficacy and weed pressure impact assessments will be performed at committed farm trial sites (see referenced letters of support), first in Ohio, followed by Tennessee, Minnesota, and Iowa, and continuing on an ongoing basis beyond product introduction. Our Phase II effort supports 2 farm trial sites with the CR940 in Ohio, whereas additional farm trial sites will be initiated as part of our Phase III commercialization effort.Task 1. Fabricate field prototype (FP1)GNI will fabricate the design from Phase I, assemble and make any adjustments required for consistent operation, to achieve greater than 95% efficacy with hand fed chaff and weed seeds.Task 2. Test and debug FP1 free standingGNI will test FP1 operationally using the hydraulic accessory port from a Bobcat skid steer loader that we have access to, with a hydraulic accessory port similar to that of the CR940. During this activity, the team will (a) measure the power output of the DE sources, (b) the performance of subsystems such as fans and controls, and (c) measure the auger's peak rpm and rpm consistency, when power is supplied from the hydraulic generator.Task 3. Design mounting interface to New Holland CR940For this task, the updated design produced in Task 2 will be used to create a representative foam model.The field spreader on the CR940 combine will be removed, and the foam model will be attached to the combine, and the final mechanical attachment elements will be designed and fabricated for both the generator and the auger.Task 4. Mount FP1 to the CR940The team will mount the entire FP1 system resulting from Tasks 1-3. FP1's auger and electronics will be driven from the combine's hydraulic source that was previously used to drive the field spreader. The combine will be operated and driven around the farm to test that the FP1 design is securely attached and operational.We will mount the WDSD (FP1) to a CR940 owned and operated by Kevin Davidson.Task 5. Test and debug FP1 mounted to CR940 Satisfactory operational performance will be achieved when the WDSD unit runs without stalling, clogging or exhibiting faults, and the combine's normal operating speed is maintained while the WDSD runs.Task 6. Design user interface to operate FP1As described in Task 4, the FP1 will be powered by the combine's hydraulic accessory lines. Enabling the hydraulic power to the FP1 will be accomplished through a standard hydraulic accessory switch mounted within the combine's cabin.Task 7. Test and Optimize FP1With the in cab displays and controls installed, operational performance will again be validated (largely a repeat of Task 5), and controls and display functions will be tested and evaluated.Task 8. Test FP1 on CR940 in test field one (TF1)In Kevin Davidson's conventionally farmed property (using herbicide treatments for weed control), in a field (TF1) with a soybean crop rotation, we will operate the WDSD (FP1). In control and test plots, Mr. Davidson will operate the combine on the control plot without the WDSD system activated, and in the test plot with the WDSD system activated.The test field (TF1) will consist of both a contiguous 25-acre plot, and a contiguous 110-acre plot, as shown in Figure 11. In 15 acres of the 25-acre plot, the farmer will intersperse the test and control plots in approximately 1.25-acre strips based on 3 header widths (approximately 100ft x 500ft), alternating between test and control plots, processing 6 test and 6 control strips in total. The remaining 10 acres of the 25-acre plot will be a contiguous control plot. The 110-acre plot will consist of a 100-acre test plot and a 10-acre control plot, located contiguously.Task 9. Measure weed pressures and efficacy data in TF1In TF1, we will verify the WDSD's (FP1's) operational performance, field efficacy, and impact on weed seed bank and weed density. By showing that there is a reduction in the weed seedbank and germinating weed seeds, and that there is no impact on the combine's operation, we can clearly demonstrate to customers that our WDSD system is viable for fighting herbicide-resistant weeds.For operational performance: The WDSD unit must run without stalling, clogging or exhibiting faults and the combine's normal operating speed must be maintained while using the WDSD.For field efficacy testing: GNI staff will collect chaff out the back of the WDSD system (FP1), with the WDSD's DE system ON in the test field, and with the DE system OFF in the control field. This process is described below:Collect 55 dry gallons of chaff generated from both the control and test plots, from the cleanout on the WDSDRemove the seeds from the treated chaff collected in the test plot, and the non-treated chaff collected in the control field.Measure chaff moisture contentSend both treated and untreated seeds to an independent university (CSU or OSU) for germination studies, as was described in Section E.Germination studies will follow the standard procedures developed in conjunction with CSUFor weed pressure impact measurements: In the 25-acre and 110-acre plots described in Task 8, soil samples will be taken from both test and control plots at consistent times (preliminarily planned for April of 2022 and 2023, and pre and post each harvest) and sent to Oregon State University's seed lab for weed seedbank level analysis. Also, GNI staff will conduct weed density measurements in both the test and control fields at specific times (preliminarily planned for prior to first chemical herbicide application of the year, and pre and post each harvest).Task 10. Create universal design (FP2) and installation kits for John Deere S seriesTo simplify the first steps of the planned Phase II work, the team verified the basic design works in the field using a design tailored to the New Holland CR940, which was readily accessible. The team will then evolve that system into a universal WDSD that uses installation kits to match up with the specific design of various combine models.Task 11. Test FP1 on CR940 in an additional test field (TF2)The FP1 design for the CR940 will be updated based on knowledge gained from operating the FP1 in Tasks 8 and 9, after one harvest. Once the design is updated, in the following harvest season, we will repeat Task 8 on a second field (Test Field 2 - TF2) managed by Kevin Davidson.Task 12. Post-harvest weed pressures and efficacy data In Test Field 2 (TF2), we will verify the WDSD's (FP1's) operational performance, field efficacy, and impact on weed seed bank and weed density. With the updated FP1, in TF2, we repeat the data gathering and analysis described in Task 9. Our goal is to demonstrate a reduction in the weed seedbank and germinating weeds, and that there is no impact on the combine's operation.