Drones in Agriculture

New agreement with KISMEC connects certified drone operators to agriculture industry opportunities On March 25, 2025, Terra Drone Corporation announced that its Malaysian subsidiary, Terra Drone Agri, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kumpulan Inovasi dan Sumber Manusia untuk Pendidikan (KISMEC). KISMEC is a Malaysian vocational training institution focused on workforce development. This… Read more: Terra Drone Agri Partners with Malaysian Training Center to Support Drone Pilot Jobs

Pilot project in Andhra Pradesh surveys over 1,100 hectares to monitor tree health and estimate fruit production 3F Oil Palm Pvt Ltd has completed a major drone survey in Ayyavaram Village, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. This pilot project marks a key step in using drone technology to support palm oil farmers across India. Over… Read more: 3F Oil Palm Uses Drones to Improve Palm Plantation Yields in India

Indian AgTech Company Marut Drones Showcases How Drone Technology is Transforming Lives and Breaking Gender Barriers in Agriculture by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Marut Drones, an Indian developer of agriculture-focused UAVs, recently announced that their partnership with the Indian government to train rural women to use drones had received an important visit from… Read more: Bill Gates Witnesses Drone Revolution in Rural India

As plant diseases continue to threaten global food security, AI-powered drones and advanced machine learning models are revolutionizing early detection methods, offering scalable, efficient, and accurate solutions for modern agriculture.  DRONELIFE is pleased to publish this guest post from Khawla Almazrouei, a Robotics Engineer at Technology Innovation Institute.  DRONELIFE neither accepts nor makes payment for… Read more: AI, Drones, and the Future of Farming: A Game Changer for Plant Disease Detection and Food Security

Maharashtra’s ‘Namo Drone Didi’ Scheme to Advance Agricultural Technology and Women’s Empowerment The Maharashtra government has introduced the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ program as part of its 2024-25 budget, aiming to modernize agriculture and empower rural women through drone technology. This initiative will equip 325 Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with agricultural drones, providing them with the… Read more: India’s Plan to Provide Agricultural Drones to Rural Women

New 15L spray drone features enhanced waterproofing, AI-powered autonomy, and expanded coverage for Japanese farms by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. Japanese domestic drone developer Mazex Corporation, headquartered in Higashiosaka City, Osaka Prefecture, recently announced their new Hisuke 15 agricultural drone.… Read more: New Japanese Agriculture Spray Drone: 1.5 Hectares on 1 Battery

India’s First Drone Manufacturer Approved for Export to the U.S. and Europe Avironix Drones has received the General Authorization for Export of Drones (GAED) approval from India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for its agricultural spraying drones. This approval allows the company to export its AviSpray16 Agricultural Spraying Drone to markets in the United… Read more: Made in India: Avironix Receives GAED Approval to Export AviSpray16 Agricultural Drones

Pioneering Drone Technology for Southeast Asia Indonesia recently showcased its first-ever demonstration of multi-drone operations managed through an Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) platform. The event, held in South Jakarta on January 22–23, 2025, aimed to validate the use of UTM technology for safe and scalable drone operations. This initiative was part of the “Industrial Cooperation… Read more: Indonesia Hosts First Multi-Drone UTM Demonstration: A Milestone for Scalable Drone Operations

Collaboration Brings Advanced Agriculture Drones to U.S. Market Drone Nerds, a leading provider of enterprise and agricultural drones, has partnered with ABZ Innovation to expand its lineup of agricultural spraying drones. This collaboration aims to provide American farmers with diverse, multifunctional solutions to meet the demands of modern farming. ABZ Innovation, a Hungary-based company specializing… Read more: Drone Nerds Expands Support for American Farmers with ABZ Innovation Partnership

KDDI and DJI Flycart 30 Prove Vital in Overcoming Logistics Challenges After Heavy Rains in Ishikawa Prefecture This article published in collaboration with JUIDA, the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Natural disasters are a fact of life in rural Japan, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have devastating… Read more: Drone Technology Saves the Day: Rescuing a Rural Apple Harvest in Japan

Cutting-Edge UAV Technology Strengthens Marine Resource Protection The Department of Fisheries in Maharashtra has launched an innovative fisheries surveillance project, marking the first drone-based enforcement initiative of its kind in India. Collaborating with ideaForge Technology Limited and Schnell Drone Technologies Ltd., the project leverages advanced UAV technology to monitor and protect the state’s marine resources… Read more: Drones Enhance Fisheries Surveillance in Maharashtra

3,548.46 Hectares Covered with Precision Spraying Technology Terra Drone Agri, a subsidiary of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, has implemented an advanced pest control initiative across 3,548.46 hectares of oil palm plantations in Malaysia. The program, launched under the company’s Terra Agri service, focuses on combating bagworm infestations—a significant threat to plantation health and yield. This… Read more: Terra Drone Agri Launches Drone-Based Bagworm Control for Malaysian Oil Palm Plantations

How Drones Are Revitalizing Rural America: Two Videos Showcase Their Impact on Agriculture Drones are transforming agriculture and creating new entrepreneurial opportunities across the United States, particularly in rural areas. A story out of Springfield, Missouri, highlights how drones are not just tools for innovation but catalysts for revitalizing communities. Dakota Crow, the founder of… Read more: These Two Videos Demonstrate Why We Need Drones for Agriculture More than Ever

Congressman Kean Advocates for Federal Funding to Boost WCCC’s Innovative Programs Warren County Community College (WCCC) hopes to receive nearly $980,000 in federal funds to support advanced training in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) for agricultural and food processing industries. Congressman Tom Kean Jr. is advocating for the funding, which will help further develop the… Read more: WarrenUAS Advances Robotics and Precision Agriculture with Federal Funding Support

New Heavy-Lift UAVs Aim to Revolutionize Agricultural and Utility Operations with Extended Flight Times and Unmatched Payload Capacity by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magil A New Hampshire-based company is combining the durability, extended flight time and heavy-lifting capabilities of helicopter technology with the maneuverability and autonomous operation of unmanned aircraft, to introduce the two largest… Read more: Rotor Unveils Airtruck and Sprayhawk: Drones with Helicopter DNA

A new initiative focuses on drone technology to improve pollination in UK strawberry crops, enhancing food security. A project titled “Precision Pollination for Higher Strawberry Productivity and Quality” is exploring how drones can help improve strawberry yields and fruit quality in the UK. The initiative brings together expertise from the UK Agri-Tech Centre, Angus Soft… Read more: Precision Pollination Project Aims to Boost Strawberry Yields and Quality

USDA Funds Five-Year Project to Explore Drone Use in Herding and Monitoring The University of Kentucky’s Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment has received a $910,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to advance the use of drone technology in livestock management. The five-year project, titled “Precision Livestock Management: Cattle Monitoring and… Read more: University of Kentucky Secures Grant to Develop Drone Technology for Cattle Management

Learn Remote Sensing and Data-Driven Farming Techniques to Optimize Crop Health, Irrigation, and Yield with UAV Technology from the University of Twente by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab Florian Ellsäßer, an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources ITC – Faculty of Geoinformation Science and Earth Observation, at the University of Twente in… Read more: Unlocking the Power of Drones: Free Online Course on UAVs in Precision Agriculture

Congress Members Send Letter to USDA and CISA: DJI Responds to Growing National Security Concerns In a recent letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), 12 members of Congress expressed concerns about the use of Chinese-manufactured drones in U.S. agriculture. The letter highlights the potential risks… Read more: Concerns Over Chinese Agricultural Drones Spark Debate

Indian Drone Leader Targets Agricultural Sector and Strategic Partnerships Garuda Aerospace, India’s leading drone technology company, has announced its expansion into Sri Lanka, marking a significant step in its global growth strategy. The company aims to leverage its advanced drone technology to enhance farming practices in Sri Lanka while exploring opportunities in homeland security and… Read more: Garuda Aerospace Expands Global Presence: Launches Operations in Sri Lanka