I have recently been thinking about agricultural drones, wondering how they can cover the entire canopy from above, while many diseases spread from the ground up.
On one hand, purchasing a drone for an orchard may sound very attractive. They are more efficient, safer to use, and no longer expensive on the market.
On the other hand, drones are under-investigated because they are new to the market.
A recent 2025 study evaluating aerial application efficacy in Italy concluded that during aerial spraying, farmers should be selective with plant protection products due to the lack of coverage.
Researchers found that the efficacy of systemic pesticide application is comparable to ground spraying, whereas contact pesticides show reduced efficacy, particularly at later growth stages when it is difficult to cover the entire canopy.
What are your thoughts on investing in drones for organic orchards?
You can see the full article here:
doi.org/10.3390/agro...