February 21, 2023 • 15 mins
In this episode of "Let's Talk Farm to Fork," we're joined by Luc Labbé from Nexus Robotics, who we'll be talking to about how their autonomous weeding robots are a solution to crop protection and labour shortages in the field.
https://nexusrobotics.ca/
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Episode Transcript
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Voiceover (00:02):
Welcome to let's talk farm to fork, the PostHarvest
podcast that interviews people,making an impact in the fresh
produce sector.
We'll take a deep dive into whatthey do and find out how they're
helping to reduce the amount offood lost or wasted along the
farm to fork journey.
But before we get started, didyou know that according to the
(00:23):
UN's food and agricultureorganisation, around 45% of the
world's fruits and vegetables goto waste each year?
If you would like to learn moreabout how you can practically
play your part in maximisingfruit and vegetable supplies,
whether you're a part of theindustry or simply a consumer
visit PostHarvest.Com and tryout their free online course
(00:45):
library today.
Now time for your host MitchellDenton.
Mitchell Denton (00:50):
Hi there, and welcome to Let's Talk Farm to
Fork.
The PostHarvest podcast thatinterviews people of interest
across the food supply chain.
Today on our show, I'm joined byLuc Labbé from Nexus Robotics,
who I'll be talking to about howtheir autonomous weeding robots
are a solution to cropprotection and labour shortages
in the field.
So with no further delays, let'sget started.
(01:13):
Well, good morning, Luc.
How are you?
Luc Labbé (01:15):
I'm very good, very uh, happy to be on the podcast
here.
Mitchell Denton (01:19):
Oh, we're happy to have you.
Before we get into it though, Iwas just wondering if you could
tell us a little bit aboutyourself and what you do, and
maybe a fun fact about yourself?
Luc Labbé (01:28):
A lot of fun facts.
I'm not sure I want to tell themall, but, uh, I'm, uh, I'm an
agronomist.
You know, I just studiedagronomy, but I basically had
businesses all my life, uh, beenaround trading grains for food
and got into the non-dairysector and a few years back did
like a whole 180 degree towardAgTech innovations and
(01:52):
technology, which I, I reallyenjoy.
It's, it's like a, a secondcareer and I'm surrounded with
like a number of good peoplethat know what they're doing.
So it's, it's very fun tobasically drive those people and
structure the company here.
Fun fact, I'd say I like togolf.
I try to golf all my life and Ithink that I won't have enough,
(02:15):
days and years to master thatgame at all.
So, I don't know if it's funny,but to me, sometimes it's funny,
sometimes it's not.
Mitchell Denton (02:22):
I'm hopeless at golf.
So you're, you're, you're alonein that one.
But, um, before we get stuck ongolf talk, could you tell us a
little bit more about thehistory of Nexus Robotics and
how your innovative technologyworks?
Luc Labbé (02:36):
Sure, sure.
Um, basically Nexus was, uh, theidea comes from three young
entrepreneur out of Nova Scotia,Canada on the East coast.
Coming out of school, and one ofthem actually, uh, was running
an organic vegetable farms andreally got tired of picking
weeds.
So, basically thought forhimself, We should have a robot
(02:57):
to pick weeds".
And, uh, basically teamed upwith two of his friends.
One is a software engineer, oneis a mechanical engineer.
And he started Nexus Robotic.
They picked a technology thatwas really complicated.
They felt that we shouldbasically mimic the humans and
therefore they decided to gowith articulated arms to
precisely pick the weeds asopposed to any other means.
(03:21):
So that's how, that's how itstarted.
And, uh, I joined later, wemoved everything to Montreal and
here we are now.
Mitchell Denton (03:28):
Fantastic.
So then what would you sayseparates your technology from
other forms of weeding tech onthe market?
Luc Labbé (03:35):
Well, we, we have a technology that is very
different from anything elsethat's on the market.
The other technologies are, aremore, I would say, destructive.
You know, you drag a hoe aroundthe plant and you basically move
around everything that youencounter, or you basically use
herbicides, which you know, is,is good if you say you are
(03:57):
reduced the number ofherbicides, but, but you still
use herbicides.
Others use laser.
Very precise, very slow, veryexpensive.
So, we're different, becausewe're non-destructive, we're
organic, and we basically are soprecise that we can remove those
weeds that are very close to thecrop and we remove the weeds
(04:17):
with its root system so it neverregrows.
So I think that's how, that'show we separate ourselves from
the pack.
Mitchell Denton (04:23):
Yeah, great.
So currently Nexus has beenrolling out the second
generation of field robots.
What improvements can we expectto see over the original field
robots?
Luc Labbé (04:34):
Well, I, I guess we have to separate like the
hardware to the software at thispoint in time on that question.
You know, the, the hardware isthe robot itself.
It's, you know, the wheels andthe autonomy and everything
else.
That is our V3, which is thethird iteration.
And that is, uh, we like it.
It's, it's, it's commercial,it's fast, it's reliable, it's,
(04:57):
it's rugged.
We have six of those right nowand ah, not much to expect out
of the hardware, but thesoftware is, is what we, you
know, all the models that we useto move the arms around.
And we're constantly inevolution there Where we, we
basically change parts to gofaster.
(05:18):
We gather more data, more imagesto be more precise, and that's
going to be a neverending, uh,work, because, you know, what we
want to do is get the model tobe as resilient as possible and
be able to say,"Oh, I'm in thelettuce field now, so let's pick
around lettuce".
Mitchell Denton (05:36):
Hmm.
Luc Labbé (05:36):
Like, right now, we need to have a model on lettuce.
We have a model for each crop.
We want to basically bring themall together eventually.
Mitchell Denton (05:43):
So then what would you say has been your
team's biggest challenge so farwith your innovative product,
and how did you overcome it?
Luc Labbé (05:50):
The biggest challenge technically is around the fact
that we're the only one that,while the robot moves, we pick
the weeds.
So, we basically identify andlocate the weed at a certain
spot, and then by the timeeverything is computed, the
robot has moved.
So therefore the, the weed is nolonger at the same place.
(06:10):
So basically be able to keep theprecision and go and pick the
weed exactly where it is now, asopposed to two seconds ago.
Uh, you know, required a lot oftesting and a lot of back and
forth, and the team has beenputting a lot of hours, but
tremendous work around that, toa point where, you know, we
master it now.
Mitchell Denton (06:31):
Yeah.
Fantastic.
So then what's the biggestdiscovery you've uncovered while
working in the AgTech industry?
Luc Labbé (06:38):
Well, I, I, I don't think it's a discovery, but you
know, there's the farmers haveso many needs and so many
different needs.
We work towards weeding rightnow, but we quickly realised
that this is our entry to marketbecause the farmer's have needs
for many different things.
Uh, they, they, they want toknow when, when they will be
ready to harvest, they want toknow what their yields will be,
(07:02):
they want to know, is my soilokay?
Do I have insects?" And they canget answers to all of that
through different means.
But what we aim to do is tobasically put everything under
the same roof under our robot.
Mitchell Denton (07:16):
Yeah.
Okay.
So then outside of the issue oflabour shortages in the field
that Nexus is directlyaddressing, what would you
identify as being one of thebiggest pain points in the Ag
industry?
Luc Labbé (07:28):
You know, to be able to have the data they have to
talk to them.
Farmers on farm, there's, youknow, everybody has a lot of
data, but, you know, if it's notcrunched properly, it basically
means nothing.
You know, like I would say it'slike, a bunch of zeros and ones,
you know, to the extent where,you know, it's okay, I have all
(07:49):
the data, I don't know what todo with it.
And our, our goal is tobasically be able to crunch that
for them and make sure that wehave an interface that basically
gives them all the data that wecan get from their farm and
that, and to do that, like liveright now and crunch it.
Not, they don't need the datafrom two weeks ago, they need
the data from now.
Mitchell Denton (08:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
Okay then, so then has the Covidpandemic, for better or worse,
had any effect on yourday-to-day operations?
Luc Labbé (08:17):
We were pre-commercial over Covid, so I
guess, yeah, I have to say yeshonestly because, uh, you know,
I couldn't have the team aroundthe robot all the time,
although, It was possible towork remotely.
I would say that probably thatthe meetings were not as
productive.
I guess the biggest challengewas that, you know, we, we need
(08:38):
the growers to, to work, uh,with us and tell us what they
need.
So, In that time span whentravel was difficult, where we
were not allowed to go to the USor vice versa, but it was not
even planes, uh, that kind ofslowed us down to basically talk
to them and, you know, get thatpulse on what we were doing and,
(08:58):
you know, were we heading in theright direction.
So I'd, I'd say it, it did touchus and slowed back the design
and the work of what we weredoing.
It's not been the end of theworld, but, uh, you know, it was
a bit of a challenge.
Mitchell Denton (09:13):
Okay.
Okay.
You, you mentioned datacollection earlier.
I was just wondering when itcomes to food loss and
sustainable farming, what aresome of the things your team are
researching the most right now?
Luc Labbé (09:25):
Well, we want to make sure that, um, I mean, as I said
earlier, weeding is our firstgoal, but then after that it's
like, helping the farmers tohave better information down the
road, down the chain, and thenlink the farm to the distributor
and to the plant that willbasically process the processor.
(09:48):
And, and that's why we'reworking very hard at being able
to better predict harvest date,harvest yield, and be able to
give that to the farmers so theycan have a better idea of what
they're going to deliver to theprocessor and when.
So in this case, they canmaximise their yield, they can
maximise their return, and alsominimise, uh, just, you know,
(10:13):
example on lettuce, if you waittoo long, the lettuce is no
longer palatable, you know.
So, uh, this is all informationthat they can always get with a
scout and be in their fields,but, uh, they would really like
to have it right on their iPador telephone.
Mitchell Denton (10:29):
Okay then.
So is there a particular groupor innovation within the
industry that you're excitedlykeeping a watchful eye on?
Luc Labbé (10:37):
Well, I, definitely the laser.
Uh, I mean, I, it's, you know,that that technology does exist.
Uh, it exists as is.
I think that there's very highpotential for laser and, and I
shouldn't say that because youknow, it's a competition.
But I think that to, to, to worksomething like our technology in
(10:58):
conjunction with, with lasers.
Because, lasers are good whenthe, when the, when the weeds
are very, very, very small.
As soon as the weeds get alittle bit bigger, the lasers
don't work, you know, they juststunt them and it's, it's no
good.
So, so to, to have bothtechnologies working in tandem
is interesting because then youtake care of all the small ones
(11:20):
and then the articulated armscan take care of the bigger one.
But then in tandem you can gotwice, twice as fast or three
times faster than, than ourtechnology or that technology
alone.
So, so it's, it's interestingand, uh, I don't know where
that, where, you know, what'sgoing to happen in the future
(11:41):
for that, but we're, we'recertainly looking at it.
Mitchell Denton (11:43):
Yeah, wow, I've, I've never really, uh,
thought of the concept of thelasers kind of being obsolete on
bigger weeds.
That wouldn't be any form oflike a fire hazard, would it?
I'm not sure.
Luc Labbé (11:55):
While you're not talking to a laser expert in
terms of, uh, You know, I'm notan expert, but you know, lasers
are lasers.
Uh, I put it that way.
I mean, a laser can ricochet on,uh, on a little piece of glass
and hit someone.
Yes, I think there's, I thinkthere's a, a risk there.
(12:15):
Um, How high is that risk?
It's tough for me to say, to behonest with you.
There's different types oflasers also, currently lasers
that are used in the Ag sectoror CO2 lasers, which basically
what happens is that when thelaser hits something, it
basically make the humidity, thewater boil.
So that's how they kill theweeds.
But, um, there are differentother types of laser and we're
(12:38):
definitely looking at othertypes of laser right now.
Mitchell Denton (12:41):
Yeah.
Okay.
Well I'll keep an eye out forthat.
What's one thing you wish youhad known when you began your
career in developing autonomousweeding tech?
Luc Labbé (12:50):
I think I would have tried to make things happen
faster and in parallel, thatwould've probably required at
the beginning a little bit morefunding for the company.
Um, you know, I I, I got into apoint where there was a funding
specific, uh, funding.
(13:11):
And I, in retrospect I would'veprobably tried to double that so
that at the beginning we couldhave gone faster to the market
because there's a window ofopportunity right now in the
AgTech market and um, we have tojump in there and that's what
we're doing.
But we had to battle fast latelyto basically be ready on time.
Mitchell Denton (13:33):
Sure, sure.
I'm assuming funding would'veallowed for more time in the
field where obviously a lot ofthe research and development
needs to take place.
So that, that makes sense.
Luc Labbé (13:44):
Yes.
More, More, more, manpower.
Mitchell Denton (13:46):
Yeah, absolutely.
We are coming to a close Luc,but before we do, I just wanted
to ask, what is the main pointyou really want the listeners to
take away from this episode?
Luc Labbé (13:57):
Well, I, I think we're still not well known at
Nexus Robotics.
Um, we've been under the radarand it was my personal decision
to go under the radar untilwe're ready.
Uh, we, we are ready right now.
We're going commercial thissummer, so I'd like the auditors
to, you know, look out for usand look for the, the Nexus, uh,
(14:18):
robot we're finalists for Robotof the Year.
And, uh, for us, 2023 is theyear where we're entering the
market and, you know, hopefully,uh, going through podcasts like
that would, would, would like tobasically, uh, sow the seeds of,
there's a new technology in andit's, it's a good technology.
(14:39):
It's one of the best.
Mitchell Denton (14:40):
Finalist Robot of the Year, that's exciting
news.
That's fantastic.
Luc Labbé (14:43):
It is Actually.
Yeah, it came kind of a lastminute.
Mitchell Denton (14:48):
Well, I'll keep an eye out for the launch and I
look forward to seeing what'sahead for Nexus.
That's all for today's episode.
Let's talk farm to fork.
Thanks for listening, and thankyou, Luc for joining me today.
Luc Labbé (15:00):
It's been a pleasure.
Mitchell Denton (15:01):
If you'd like to know more about Luc and Nexus
Robotics, check out the link inthe description of this episode.
Make sure to subscribe to thepodcast so that you never miss
an episode, and don't forget toleave a review and share with
your friends.
Until next time, you've beenlistening to Let's Talk Farm to
Fork, a Post Harvest podcast.
Voiceover (15:17):
We appreciate you joining us for this episode of
let's talk, farm to fork, besure to rate, review and
subscribe.
Also, if you would like to learnmore about how you can
practically play your part inmaximizing fruit and vegetable
supplies, whether you're asupplier, consumer, or anyone in
between the farm to forkjourney, visit PostHarvest.Com
(15:40):
and try out their free onlinecourse library today.
Welcome to let's talk farm to fork, the PostHarvest
podcast that interviews people,making an impact in the fresh
produce sector.
We'll take a deep dive into whatthey do and find out how they're
helping to reduce the amount offood lost or wasted along the
farm to fork journey.
But before we get started, didyou know that according to the
(00:23):
UN's food and agricultureorganisation, around 45% of the
world's fruits and vegetables goto waste each year?
If you would like to learn moreabout how you can practically
play your part in maximisingfruit and vegetable supplies,
whether you're a part of theindustry or simply a consumer
visit PostHarvest.Com and tryout their free online course
(00:45):
library today.
Now time for your host MitchellDenton.
Mitchell Denton (00:50):
Hi there, and welcome to Let's Talk Farm to
Fork.
The PostHarvest podcast thatinterviews people of interest
across the food supply chain.
Today on our show, I'm joined byLuc Labbé from Nexus Robotics,
who I'll be talking to about howtheir autonomous weeding robots
are a solution to cropprotection and labour shortages
in the field.
So with no further delays, let'sget started.
(01:13):
Well, good morning, Luc.
How are you?
Luc Labbé (01:15):
I'm very good, very uh, happy to be on the podcast
here.
Mitchell Denton (01:19):
Oh, we're happy to have you.
Before we get into it though, Iwas just wondering if you could
tell us a little bit aboutyourself and what you do, and
maybe a fun fact about yourself?
Luc Labbé (01:28):
A lot of fun facts.
I'm not sure I want to tell themall, but, uh, I'm, uh, I'm an
agronomist.
You know, I just studiedagronomy, but I basically had
businesses all my life, uh, beenaround trading grains for food
and got into the non-dairysector and a few years back did
like a whole 180 degree towardAgTech innovations and
(01:52):
technology, which I, I reallyenjoy.
It's, it's like a, a secondcareer and I'm surrounded with
like a number of good peoplethat know what they're doing.
So it's, it's very fun tobasically drive those people and
structure the company here.
Fun fact, I'd say I like togolf.
I try to golf all my life and Ithink that I won't have enough,
(02:15):
days and years to master thatgame at all.
So, I don't know if it's funny,but to me, sometimes it's funny,
sometimes it's not.
Mitchell Denton (02:22):
I'm hopeless at golf.
So you're, you're, you're alonein that one.
But, um, before we get stuck ongolf talk, could you tell us a
little bit more about thehistory of Nexus Robotics and
how your innovative technologyworks?
Luc Labbé (02:36):
Sure, sure.
Um, basically Nexus was, uh, theidea comes from three young
entrepreneur out of Nova Scotia,Canada on the East coast.
Coming out of school, and one ofthem actually, uh, was running
an organic vegetable farms andreally got tired of picking
weeds.
So, basically thought forhimself, We should have a robot
(02:57):
to pick weeds".
And, uh, basically teamed upwith two of his friends.
One is a software engineer, oneis a mechanical engineer.
And he started Nexus Robotic.
They picked a technology thatwas really complicated.
They felt that we shouldbasically mimic the humans and
therefore they decided to gowith articulated arms to
precisely pick the weeds asopposed to any other means.
(03:21):
So that's how, that's how itstarted.
And, uh, I joined later, wemoved everything to Montreal and
here we are now.
Mitchell Denton (03:28):
Fantastic.
So then what would you sayseparates your technology from
other forms of weeding tech onthe market?
Luc Labbé (03:35):
Well, we, we have a technology that is very
different from anything elsethat's on the market.
The other technologies are, aremore, I would say, destructive.
You know, you drag a hoe aroundthe plant and you basically move
around everything that youencounter, or you basically use
herbicides, which you know, is,is good if you say you are
(03:57):
reduced the number ofherbicides, but, but you still
use herbicides.
Others use laser.
Very precise, very slow, veryexpensive.
So, we're different, becausewe're non-destructive, we're
organic, and we basically are soprecise that we can remove those
weeds that are very close to thecrop and we remove the weeds
(04:17):
with its root system so it neverregrows.
So I think that's how, that'show we separate ourselves from
the pack.
Mitchell Denton (04:23):
Yeah, great.
So currently Nexus has beenrolling out the second
generation of field robots.
What improvements can we expectto see over the original field
robots?
Luc Labbé (04:34):
Well, I, I guess we have to separate like the
hardware to the software at thispoint in time on that question.
You know, the, the hardware isthe robot itself.
It's, you know, the wheels andthe autonomy and everything
else.
That is our V3, which is thethird iteration.
And that is, uh, we like it.
It's, it's, it's commercial,it's fast, it's reliable, it's,
(04:57):
it's rugged.
We have six of those right nowand ah, not much to expect out
of the hardware, but thesoftware is, is what we, you
know, all the models that we useto move the arms around.
And we're constantly inevolution there Where we, we
basically change parts to gofaster.
(05:18):
We gather more data, more imagesto be more precise, and that's
going to be a neverending, uh,work, because, you know, what we
want to do is get the model tobe as resilient as possible and
be able to say,"Oh, I'm in thelettuce field now, so let's pick
around lettuce".
Mitchell Denton (05:36):
Hmm.
Luc Labbé (05:36):
Like, right now, we need to have a model on lettuce.
We have a model for each crop.
We want to basically bring themall together eventually.
Mitchell Denton (05:43):
So then what would you say has been your
team's biggest challenge so farwith your innovative product,
and how did you overcome it?
Luc Labbé (05:50):
The biggest challenge technically is around the fact
that we're the only one that,while the robot moves, we pick
the weeds.
So, we basically identify andlocate the weed at a certain
spot, and then by the timeeverything is computed, the
robot has moved.
So therefore the, the weed is nolonger at the same place.
(06:10):
So basically be able to keep theprecision and go and pick the
weed exactly where it is now, asopposed to two seconds ago.
Uh, you know, required a lot oftesting and a lot of back and
forth, and the team has beenputting a lot of hours, but
tremendous work around that, toa point where, you know, we
master it now.
Mitchell Denton (06:31):
Yeah.
Fantastic.
So then what's the biggestdiscovery you've uncovered while
working in the AgTech industry?
Luc Labbé (06:38):
Well, I, I, I don't think it's a discovery, but you
know, there's the farmers haveso many needs and so many
different needs.
We work towards weeding rightnow, but we quickly realised
that this is our entry to marketbecause the farmer's have needs
for many different things.
Uh, they, they, they want toknow when, when they will be
ready to harvest, they want toknow what their yields will be,
(07:02):
they want to know, is my soilokay?
Do I have insects?" And they canget answers to all of that
through different means.
But what we aim to do is tobasically put everything under
the same roof under our robot.
Mitchell Denton (07:16):
Yeah.
Okay.
So then outside of the issue oflabour shortages in the field
that Nexus is directlyaddressing, what would you
identify as being one of thebiggest pain points in the Ag
industry?
Luc Labbé (07:28):
You know, to be able to have the data they have to
talk to them.
Farmers on farm, there's, youknow, everybody has a lot of
data, but, you know, if it's notcrunched properly, it basically
means nothing.
You know, like I would say it'slike, a bunch of zeros and ones,
you know, to the extent where,you know, it's okay, I have all
(07:49):
the data, I don't know what todo with it.
And our, our goal is tobasically be able to crunch that
for them and make sure that wehave an interface that basically
gives them all the data that wecan get from their farm and
that, and to do that, like liveright now and crunch it.
Not, they don't need the datafrom two weeks ago, they need
the data from now.
Mitchell Denton (08:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
Okay then, so then has the Covidpandemic, for better or worse,
had any effect on yourday-to-day operations?
Luc Labbé (08:17):
We were pre-commercial over Covid, so I
guess, yeah, I have to say yeshonestly because, uh, you know,
I couldn't have the team aroundthe robot all the time,
although, It was possible towork remotely.
I would say that probably thatthe meetings were not as
productive.
I guess the biggest challengewas that, you know, we, we need
(08:38):
the growers to, to work, uh,with us and tell us what they
need.
So, In that time span whentravel was difficult, where we
were not allowed to go to the USor vice versa, but it was not
even planes, uh, that kind ofslowed us down to basically talk
to them and, you know, get thatpulse on what we were doing and,
(08:58):
you know, were we heading in theright direction.
So I'd, I'd say it, it did touchus and slowed back the design
and the work of what we weredoing.
It's not been the end of theworld, but, uh, you know, it was
a bit of a challenge.
Mitchell Denton (09:13):
Okay.
Okay.
You, you mentioned datacollection earlier.
I was just wondering when itcomes to food loss and
sustainable farming, what aresome of the things your team are
researching the most right now?
Luc Labbé (09:25):
Well, we want to make sure that, um, I mean, as I said
earlier, weeding is our firstgoal, but then after that it's
like, helping the farmers tohave better information down the
road, down the chain, and thenlink the farm to the distributor
and to the plant that willbasically process the processor.
(09:48):
And, and that's why we'reworking very hard at being able
to better predict harvest date,harvest yield, and be able to
give that to the farmers so theycan have a better idea of what
they're going to deliver to theprocessor and when.
So in this case, they canmaximise their yield, they can
maximise their return, and alsominimise, uh, just, you know,
(10:13):
example on lettuce, if you waittoo long, the lettuce is no
longer palatable, you know.
So, uh, this is all informationthat they can always get with a
scout and be in their fields,but, uh, they would really like
to have it right on their iPador telephone.
Mitchell Denton (10:29):
Okay then.
So is there a particular groupor innovation within the
industry that you're excitedlykeeping a watchful eye on?
Luc Labbé (10:37):
Well, I, definitely the laser.
Uh, I mean, I, it's, you know,that that technology does exist.
Uh, it exists as is.
I think that there's very highpotential for laser and, and I
shouldn't say that because youknow, it's a competition.
But I think that to, to, to worksomething like our technology in
(10:58):
conjunction with, with lasers.
Because, lasers are good whenthe, when the, when the weeds
are very, very, very small.
As soon as the weeds get alittle bit bigger, the lasers
don't work, you know, they juststunt them and it's, it's no
good.
So, so to, to have bothtechnologies working in tandem
is interesting because then youtake care of all the small ones
(11:20):
and then the articulated armscan take care of the bigger one.
But then in tandem you can gotwice, twice as fast or three
times faster than, than ourtechnology or that technology
alone.
So, so it's, it's interestingand, uh, I don't know where
that, where, you know, what'sgoing to happen in the future
(11:41):
for that, but we're, we'recertainly looking at it.
Mitchell Denton (11:43):
Yeah, wow, I've, I've never really, uh,
thought of the concept of thelasers kind of being obsolete on
bigger weeds.
That wouldn't be any form oflike a fire hazard, would it?
I'm not sure.
Luc Labbé (11:55):
While you're not talking to a laser expert in
terms of, uh, You know, I'm notan expert, but you know, lasers
are lasers.
Uh, I put it that way.
I mean, a laser can ricochet on,uh, on a little piece of glass
and hit someone.
Yes, I think there's, I thinkthere's a, a risk there.
(12:15):
Um, How high is that risk?
It's tough for me to say, to behonest with you.
There's different types oflasers also, currently lasers
that are used in the Ag sectoror CO2 lasers, which basically
what happens is that when thelaser hits something, it
basically make the humidity, thewater boil.
So that's how they kill theweeds.
But, um, there are differentother types of laser and we're
(12:38):
definitely looking at othertypes of laser right now.
Mitchell Denton (12:41):
Yeah.
Okay.
Well I'll keep an eye out forthat.
What's one thing you wish youhad known when you began your
career in developing autonomousweeding tech?
Luc Labbé (12:50):
I think I would have tried to make things happen
faster and in parallel, thatwould've probably required at
the beginning a little bit morefunding for the company.
Um, you know, I I, I got into apoint where there was a funding
specific, uh, funding.
(13:11):
And I, in retrospect I would'veprobably tried to double that so
that at the beginning we couldhave gone faster to the market
because there's a window ofopportunity right now in the
AgTech market and um, we have tojump in there and that's what
we're doing.
But we had to battle fast latelyto basically be ready on time.
Mitchell Denton (13:33):
Sure, sure.
I'm assuming funding would'veallowed for more time in the
field where obviously a lot ofthe research and development
needs to take place.
So that, that makes sense.
Luc Labbé (13:44):
Yes.
More, More, more, manpower.
Mitchell Denton (13:46):
Yeah, absolutely.
We are coming to a close Luc,but before we do, I just wanted
to ask, what is the main pointyou really want the listeners to
take away from this episode?
Luc Labbé (13:57):
Well, I, I think we're still not well known at
Nexus Robotics.
Um, we've been under the radarand it was my personal decision
to go under the radar untilwe're ready.
Uh, we, we are ready right now.
We're going commercial thissummer, so I'd like the auditors
to, you know, look out for usand look for the, the Nexus, uh,
(14:18):
robot we're finalists for Robotof the Year.
And, uh, for us, 2023 is theyear where we're entering the
market and, you know, hopefully,uh, going through podcasts like
that would, would, would like tobasically, uh, sow the seeds of,
there's a new technology in andit's, it's a good technology.
(14:39):
It's one of the best.
Mitchell Denton (14:40):
Finalist Robot of the Year, that's exciting
news.
That's fantastic.
Luc Labbé (14:43):
It is Actually.
Yeah, it came kind of a lastminute.
Mitchell Denton (14:48):
Well, I'll keep an eye out for the launch and I
look forward to seeing what'sahead for Nexus.
That's all for today's episode.
Let's talk farm to fork.
Thanks for listening, and thankyou, Luc for joining me today.
Luc Labbé (15:00):
It's been a pleasure.
Mitchell Denton (15:01):
If you'd like to know more about Luc and Nexus
Robotics, check out the link inthe description of this episode.
Make sure to subscribe to thepodcast so that you never miss
an episode, and don't forget toleave a review and share with
your friends.
Until next time, you've beenlistening to Let's Talk Farm to
Fork, a Post Harvest podcast.
Voiceover (15:17):
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let's talk, farm to fork, besure to rate, review and
subscribe.
Also, if you would like to learnmore about how you can
practically play your part inmaximizing fruit and vegetable
supplies, whether you're asupplier, consumer, or anyone in
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(15:40):
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