Drones Reshape Farming Worldwide, Experts Say
Regulations and case studies on agricultural drone use were presented at a conference in Bologna, Italy.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Agriculture
Live Poll
Should farmers in your country be encouraged to use drones on their fields?
Regulations and case studies on drone use in agriculture were presented at the 'Drones in agriculture' conference at EIMA in Bologna. More than 600,000 drones, operated by as many pilots, are used in fields across over 100 countries.
Why it matters
Drones are estimated to have saved 410 million tonnes of water and cut 51 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2025. Because no single rulebook governs agricultural drones, operators must navigate a patchwork of European and national regulations.
Estimates credit drones with saving 410 million tonnes of water and cutting 51 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2025, though the baseline behind these figures was not disclosed. Drones cover one hectare in under five minutes, but the source does not say how these estimates were calculated.
The players
DJI Agriculture Italia
The Italian arm of drone manufacturer DJI, which has introduced agricultural drones to the market and whose machines cover one hectare in less than five minutes.
ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority)
Italy's national civil aviation regulator, which governs drone operations, issues pilot certificates, and publishes a manual for operators.
The details
Speakers at the EIMA conference in Bologna outlined regulations for agricultural drones, noting that Italy's civil aviation authority, ENAC, does not require authorisation for Open-category drones weighing up to 25 kilograms. Case studies included a rice field in Italy sown across three hectares in five minutes, a United States maize operation that recorded a 50% yield increase, and a Romanian vineyard that reduced plant protection product use by 53%.
Timeline
2016 to 2026: DJI Agriculture Italia introduced agricultural drones to the market.
2025: Drones were estimated to have saved water and reduced emissions.
Market Landscape
DJI agricultural drones, which cover one hectare in under five minutes, are now deployed across more than 100 countries under frameworks such as ENAC's Open category rules. The expansion positions aerial application as a competitor to conventional ground-based spraying and sowing methods.
Farmers considering drone services should check the authorisation rules that apply in their country, since drones up to 25 kilograms in Italy's Open category need no ENAC approval. Operators in other categories must obtain clearance before flying over fields.
The takeaway
Drone-based field work can cut water and chemical use, but operators need to confirm the rules in their own jurisdiction before deploying one. Checking local aviation authority requirements early avoids costly delays.
Further reading
Explore more on Agriculture to see how farm technology is changing production worldwide.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Farmers Review Africa.
Live Poll
Should farmers in your country be encouraged to use drones on their fields?
