Drones in Agriculture — REENFORCE Educational Material #6

[Audio] Hello and welcome! In this video we are going to talk about one of the most exciting technologies in modern agriculture: drones. You have probably seen them flying at events or in news coverage. But what can a drone actually do in a field? What are the real benefits — and what are the limitations nobody talks about? By the end of this video you will have a clear, honest picture of where drone technology stands today in European agriculture. This video was produced in the framework of the REENFORCE project, funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme. Let's get started..

[Audio] A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle. In agriculture you will hear several acronyms: UAV, UAS, or UASS — Unmanned Aerial Spray System. They all refer to an aircraft that flies without a pilot on board, controlled remotely or by a pre-set GPS flight path. In agriculture, drones serve two main purposes. First: monitoring — flying over fields to collect images and data, helping farmers detect pest outbreaks, water stress, or disease early. Second: spraying — carrying a tank of crop protection product and applying it precisely where needed. Depending on the model and task, a drone can cover 1 to over 40 hectares per hour. That is a significant capability..

[Audio] Let's start with the good news. Number one: field mapping and scouting. Using multispectral cameras, a drone can generate a detailed map showing exactly where crops are stressed, diseased, or nutrient-deficient in a matter of minutes. Number two: precision spot spraying. Instead of treating an entire field, drones target only affected areas. Research shows this reduces chemical inputs by 30 to 50 percent compared to blanket applications. Number three: difficult terrain. Steep vineyards, terraced olive groves, hillside orchards — drones reach places too dangerous for tractors. Number four — linking directly to REENFORCE — drones are excellent for applying biopesticides. Products like Bacillus thuringiensis or Beauveria bassiana require precise, even coverage. A drone delivers exactly that. Number five: real-time data fed into decision support systems for smarter farm management. Number six: environmental benefits. Up to 90–95% less water per hectare than conventional sprayers. And zero soil compaction from tractor tracks. [References: Zhang & Kovacs, 2012; DJI Agriculture Industry Insight Report, 2025/2026 (published April 2026)].

[Audio] Now — equally important — what drones cannot do. First: drones cannot replace conventional sprayers for large-scale flat field crops. For hundreds of hectares of wheat on flat terrain, a tractor is still faster and more economical. Second — critical for EU operators — drones cannot spray freely in most European countries right now. Directive 2009/128/EC prohibits aerial spraying by default. The European Commission proposed changes in December 2025, but the legislative process is expected to conclude only in late 2026 or early 2027. Third: drones don't like bad weather. Wind above 3 metres per second, rain, or extreme heat grounds the drone or makes spraying ineffective. Fourth: a drone is a tool, not a decision-maker. The data it generates needs an expert to interpret it. Fifth: even where drone spraying is legally permitted, each crop protection product must be individually authorised for drone application — a separate legal step from the flight permission. Sixth: you cannot simply buy a drone and start spraying commercially. Under EASA rules, this requires formal certification. [References: Directive 2009/128/EC; EU Parliament 2024; EASA ED Decision 2025/018/R; Reg. EC 1107/2009].

[Audio] The regulatory picture is complex, so let's walk through the key milestones. 2009: Directive 2009/128/EC prohibited aerial spraying by default. When written, nobody anticipated drones — but legally they are caught by the same rule. 2019: EASA Regulation 2019/947 introduced EU-wide drone rules. Agricultural spraying falls in the Specific category, requiring formal Operational Authorisation or an LUC. September 2025: EASA published Decision 2025/018/R with updated SORA 2.5 risk assessment methodology, specifically addressing agricultural spraying drones. December 2025: The European Commission's Food and Feed Safety Omnibus proposed a new Article 9a allowing Member States to grant drone spraying exemptions. Legislative conclusion expected late 2026 to early 2027. Bottom line: always check your country's current rules before planning any drone spraying operation. [References: Directive 2009/128/EC; EASA Reg. 2019/947; EASA ED Decision 2025/018/R; EU Omnibus COM(2025)1021].

[Audio] This slide brings together two of REENFORCE's core themes: biopesticides and smart spraying technology. Why are drones particularly well-suited for biopesticide application? First, timing. Most biopesticides need to be applied at a specific pest stage — drones can be deployed quickly and precisely when the moment is right. Second, coverage. Products like Beauveria bassiana need to make contact with the target pest. Drones can achieve even canopy coverage, including the underside of leaves, that is difficult with ground equipment in dense crops. Third, operator safety. The applicator does not walk through the spray. Fourth, adjustability. Flight height can be changed to optimise the droplet size and deposition pattern for each product. And fifth — the most powerful combination: using a monitoring drone to identify pest hotspots, then using a spraying drone to treat only those areas. This is integrated precision agriculture. For REENFORCE specifically: smart spraying is one of our three core research pillars. Our sister project ICAERUS, also led by the Agricultural University of Athens, has extensively studied drone spraying use cases across Europe. And the PERA project characterises how spray deposits on different surfaces — informing drone application parameters. During REENFORCE secondments, researchers will gain hands-on experience with these systems at AAMS in Belgium and the University of Ghent..

[Audio] Let's talk about what you actually need to think about before getting started with drones in agriculture. From a technical perspective: choose the right drone type. Multirotor drones — the ones with multiple rotors — are best for spraying. Fixed-wing drones cover more area per charge and are better for large-scale mapping. Nozzle type and spray pressure directly affect droplet size — for most biopesticide applications, aim for medium droplets of 250 to 350 micrometres. And remember that battery life is a real constraint — plan your operation in flight segments. Operationally: always run a pre-flight check of battery, nozzles, tank seals, and GPS before every flight. Weather must be logged before and during operations. Maintain buffer zones near water bodies and beehives. And keep detailed records — this is a legal requirement under EU regulations. Economically: entry costs for spraying drones currently range from 5,000 to over 50,000 euros depending on the model. Service models where you hire a certified drone operator are a lower-cost entry point. The return on investment is strongest in high-value crops like vineyards, orchards and vegetables, and in terrain where tractors cannot go. Training and certification add cost but are legally mandatory for commercial operations. [Reference: EASA Reg. 2019/947; Directive 2009/128/EC].

[Audio] Let's finish with a look at where things are heading. The numbers tell a compelling story. By the end of 2025, more than 600,000 DJI agricultural drones were operating in over 100 countries. Drone spraying uses 90 to 95 percent less water per hectare than conventional equipment. The global biopesticide market is growing at around 14 percent annually according to MarketsandMarkets — and drones are positioned as the ideal delivery system for these new precision biocontrol tools. And on the regulatory side, the EU is expected to finalise its framework for drone spraying by late 2026 or early 2027. This will substantially open the market for European farmers. Looking further ahead: AI-powered target detection will allow drones to identify individual infested plants and apply biopesticides only to those specific locations. And integration with farm management platforms will mean drone data feeds directly into advisory and spray decision tools in real time. The future of drone-based precision agriculture is not a distant promise. It is happening now, and REENFORCE is part of building that future. [References: DJI Agriculture Industry Insight Report 2025/2026 (April 2026); MarketsandMarkets Biopesticides Market Report, 2025; EU Omnibus COM(2025)1021].

[Audio] Let's close with four key messages to take away. One: drones offer real, proven benefits for precision agriculture — particularly in difficult terrain and for delivering biopesticides with the precision they require. Two: EU regulations currently restrict drone spraying by default — but this is actively changing. The new regulatory framework is expected to be in place by 2026 or 2027. Three: before starting any commercial drone spraying in the EU, you need training and certification under EASA rules, and each product must be authorised for drone application. Four: REENFORCE is actively contributing to this space — developing the knowledge, protocols and training materials needed to support the responsible adoption of smart, sustainable spraying practices across Europe. Thank you very much for watching. If you have questions about the REENFORCE project or our secondment opportunities, visit our website or reach out by email. [ON CAMERA — closing] This video was produced with support from the European Union's Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement No. 101181300. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the European Union. Thank you — and we hope to see you in one of our upcoming training activities!.