Achieving the safe and sustainable use of drones for phytosanitary treatments in Mediterranean agriculture is both desirable and feasible soon. This is the aim of the DRONSafe Operational Group, which hosted a theoretical-practical conference at Ava-Asaja's Sinyent Farm to demonstrate how this objective can be realized. Over one hundred professionals from the sector participated in the event.
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The partners of this new project explained the challenges, opportunities, and benefits that this technology brings to agriculture within a legislative context that prohibits the use of drones unless exceptional authorization is granted by the corresponding autonomous community, as they are classified as aerial treatments according to European regulations. Afterward, the attendees enjoyed several simulations of applying phytosanitary products with different types of drones in citrus plots and compared the results with conventional techniques using terrestrial equipment.
"The DRONSafe project is necessary to evaluate, with sufficient data, the appropriate safety measures (for both the applicator and bystanders) and the environmental impact of conducting drone applications of certain plant protection products to control specific pests and diseases. The project's findings could assist the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Union in authorizing this type of drone treatment," stated Mamen Márquez, head of good agricultural practices of the Business Association for Plant Protection (AEPLA), which coordinates the technical part of the consortium.
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"We expect the tests carried out at Sinyent farm, under conditions and crops typical of the Valencia Region, will prove that drone applications do not pose a greater risk to people and the environment than the terrestrial spraying we are used to. We will work to demonstrate to the administrations and the agricultural sector itself that this is a faster, safer, and more efficient application and that it can solve many of the farmers' problems," stated Carlos Montesinos, head of innovation at AVA-ASAJA.
Antonio Sánchez, the head of the National Agri-Food Technology Center's R+D+i projects, opened the "Application of phytosanitary products with drones as a tool to reduce exposure" conference, presenting the project's objectives, scope, and expected results. Iván Carrillo, the manager of ICEBE AGRO, clarified attendees' doubts about the regulations and practices of drone-based phytosanitary applications. Finally, Patricia Chueca, a researcher from the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA), discussed past experiences and recommended configuring the drone according to the type of application and target pest.
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DRONSafe partners at the national level include AEPLA, CTAEX, the State Agency Higher Council for Scientific Research-National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), AVA-ASAJA, the Agricultural Union of Álava-Arabako Nekazarien Elkartea (UAGA), the Cuatro Rayas Winery Agricultural Food Cooperative Society, and FTS AgroConsulting. The group also has three technical subcontracts: the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (NEIKER-BRTA), the Research Foundation of the University of Seville, and the Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA).
The European Union is co-financing 80% of DRONSafe through the Strategic Plan of the CAP-FEADER with an aid of 584,391.17 euros.
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