Global Progress
On July 10, 2024, DJI Agriculture presented our latest Agriculture Drone Industry Insight Report 2023/2024. It demonstrates the rapid growth of the agricultural drone industry worldwide—and how technology, policy, and practice are increasingly converging.
We're seeing more and more farmers, businesses, and governments embrace drones to make agriculture smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. As our Global Sales Director, Yuan Zhang, puts it:
“With smart drones and digital agricultural solutions, we want to help farmers worldwide do their work more sustainably and efficiently. This report demonstrates that we're making significant progress together.”
What stands out in the report?
- More than 300,000 agricultural drones will be in use worldwide by the end of 2023.
- A total of 500 million hectares of agricultural land will have been treated.
- Thanks to drones, the following has been achieved worldwide:
- 210 million tons of water saved.
- 47,000 tons of pesticides used less.
- 25.72 million tons of CO₂ emissions prevented—equivalent to the effect of 1.2 billion trees.
Regulations that help.
We see that governments worldwide are keeping pace with technological developments. This helps the sector move forward:
- In Brazil, drone pilots only need a registration and permit.
- In the US, the FAA has established a list of approved agricultural drones.
- In China, drone manufacturers are now allowed to train their own pilots.
“A clear and practical regulatory environment makes it easier for farmers to work with drones,” says Yuan Zhang.
Tips & Practical Applications
The report also includes advice on how farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs can best use drones. Consider:
- Training and education
- Smart use of drone technology
- Integration with agronomic expertise
- Practical applications in the field
New technology makes a difference
Drones are becoming increasingly smarter and more precise. We see, among other things:
- AI and data analysis for better decision-making
- New sensor technology for even more accurate applications
- Less waste, lower costs, higher yields
What works in the field?
We have also included several test cases from 2023 in the report. For example:
- In Mexico: 88% water savings in weed control on agave fields
- In Australia: 50% lower costs and 51% fewer chemicals used in precision spraying
- In Thailand: 20–30% less use of crop protection products on durian trees
- In South Africa: up to 1.78 tons more sugar per hectare thanks to the smart application of ripening promoters
What we're working towards
The agricultural drone industry will have made significant progress by 2023. And that's just the beginning. At DJI Agriculture, we continue to innovate with one goal: a smart, sustainable agricultural sector where technology truly makes the difference.
About us
We've been active in drone innovation since 2006, and specifically with DJI Agriculture since 2015. We now serve users in more than 100 countries, with over 10 million people using our technology in practice. We continue to build solutions that make agriculture better, cleaner, and future-proof.
View the full report or learn more at: https://www1.djicdn.com/cms_uploads/ckeditor/attachments/9171/03e81f9a23cf4df447b66c91c43d929a.pdf
