Growing in large patches on old army shooting ranges seeded with land mines the weeds have the potential to save lives. The start-up uses a hose called a “hydroseeder” similar to the ones that groundskeepers use to grow grass on golf courses, to cover a football field size area in one day. Then they wait for approximately four to five weeks for the thale-cress to sprout and perhaps change to red in color indicating that the nitrogen dioxide has fused with the enzyme that creates red pigment within the weed.

It appears to be working, however it is difficult to get the weed to grow large enough to be visible, but Aresa estimates within two years the thale-cress will be reliable enough to use to detect land mines.