Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Spraying Capabilities in Agriculture

A Comprehensive Review

Lina Qiu (1041258)

Section 0101, Tuesday 8:30 am

AGR*1110

26 November 2018
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Product Description

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become increasingly popular and provide a

variety of uses, from military uses to uses as a hobby toy. The use of UAVs in the agi-food

system of Canada could have the potential to improve farming as we know it (Huang et al.,

2013). These machines can be designed in a variety of ways; to look like octocopters, helicopters

or drones (DJI Innovations, n.d.-a; Yamaha, n.d.). The basic concept of this technology is to have

an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying tanks of either liquid or granular fertilizer or pesticides over

a field to apply the chemicals. The UAV can run on fossil fuels, battery or renewable energy

sources (such as solar power); with UAVs running on battery or solar power they will have the

ability to automatically dock at a charging station when they are low in power. UAVs can

provide many benefits that conventional farming does not, however many issues must be

addressed with the technology before it is introduced to Canada; this report showcases how the

use of unmanned aerial vehicles to spray crops can impact the Canadian agi-food system

(9,382,003 B2, 2016).

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Current Consumers

Nations who are currently using this technology primarily reside in Asia, but Japan and

China are the two countries at the forefront of drone technology in agriculture (Purnell & Nicas,

2015b). Japan has been using and developing UAVs to spray pesticides on rice paddies,

soybeans and wheat since 1983 (Huang et al., 2013). At first large, heavy fossil fuel consuming

unmanned helicopters were used, made by Yamaha Corp., but with more research and

development the unmanned helicopters have been able to improve the machinery (Purnell &

Nicas, 2015a). Drones were first applied to Japan to solve the problem of the aging population in

the agriculture industry, but over the last 35 years, they have grown more popular as they are an

effective solution to the aging population (Cornett, 2013). Since 2013, over 2500 Yamaha

RMAX unmanned helicopters were used to spray over 2.5 million acres of rice fields alone

(Cornett, 2013). Similarly in China, drones are used predominantly in rice fields that are irrigated

terraced areas, which are almost impossible to spray with hand-held sprayers or ground-level

machinery (Mathews, 2018). Since 2017, over 8000 farms in China have been using UAVs to

spray fields, and research and development has increased into this field of study (Mathews,

2018). Other nations have successfully implemented the use of drones to spray fields for 35

years, and therefore, bringing this technology to Canada can benefit Canadian agricultural

economy.
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Current Products Available

One of the first unmanned helicopters available was produced by Yamaha Corp (Purnell

& Nicas, 2015a). Currently one of the top models is the Yamaha RMAX, a 16kg fossil fueled

unmanned helicopter which has been on the market for over 20 years (Yamaha, n.d.). The

RMAX is 2.75m long, 0.72m wide and 1.08m tall and contains a 2-stroke, 2-cylinder

horizontally opposed engine with an electric starter. The helicopter can carry two 8L tanks of

liquid (16L total), and sprays the liquid through a flat nozzle with a double acting piston at a rate

of 1.3L – 2.0L per minute. It is also able to carry two 8kg tanks of granular spray (16kg total),

discharging the granules by an impeller at 2.5kg per minute (Yamaha, n.d.). No price or contact

information to Yamaha’s precision agriculture department was available online.

Another product available is produced by the brand DJI, whose design is of an unmanned

octocopter for the use of applying liquids only (DJI Innovations, n.d.-a). This model is called the

AGRAS MG-1 and is an 8.8kg battery-powered unmanned aircraft, 1.471m long and 1.471m

wide, with a height of 0.482m. This model is considerably smaller and lighter than the Yamaha

RMAX, though it is unable to carry as much liquid, as it can only carry 10L at a time. The liquid

is distributed by four nozzles below the motor, which are located here as the wind from the

propellers helps increase spray reach, and sprays around 7– 10 acres per hour. The AGRAS MG-

1 is 40-60 times faster than hand spraying and provides increased accuracy while doing it (DJI

Innovations, n.d.-a). This model has been on the market since 2015 with sales first beginning in

China and South Korea (Purnell & Nicas, 2015b). No price was found online, and the company

did not respond when contact was initiated.

Other companies are producing similar UAVs, such as Beijing TT International Aviation

Technology. This is a less well-known company, who has multiple drone models through
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headquarters in China, for more information or a quote, they can be reached at

lan.li@ttaviation.com (Beijing TT International Aviation Technology, n.d.).

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Inputs Required

After the initial purchase of the done, maintenance and repairs will be required

throughout the years of its use. If the land or farm changes, remapping of the fields may also be

required for the drone to work as efficiently as possible. Other inputs include the pesticides and

fertilizers used in the unmanned aerial vehicle; the substances used would have to be approved

for use with drones (The Government of Canada, 2018c). However, less of the fertilizer or

pesticide will be needed as the use of UAVs reduces waste (Ehmke, 2013). If a machine such as

the Yamaha RMAX is purchased, the use of fossil fuels will be required to keep the drone

running (Yamaha, n.d.), and similarly, if a machine which is battery powered is purchased,

electricity or solar power would be needed to keep the drone charged and ready for operation.
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Cost Analysis

Costs of current UAVs were not included in the company websites. During the research

period, emails were sent to the companies to inquire further information on their products,

however they did not reply. Sadly, without further information on the costs of the drones, no cost

analysis or comparison can be made.

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Issues and Concerns

One concern for using UAVs in agriculture is the battery life, as operation time is limited

to the battery duration which is currently a very short period of time (Gómez-Candón, De Castro,

& López-Granados, 2014; Puri, Nayyar, & Raja, 2017). The Yamaha RMAX, an unmanned

aerial vehicle which is powered by fossil fuels, has a flight time of around one hour; compared to

the DJI AGRAS MG-1, an unmanned aerial vehicle operating on battery power, which has a

flight time of 10 – 24 minutes (DJI Innovations, n.d.-a; Yamaha, n.d.). This is a significant

problem as operation time is limited, and the drone needs to be charged often. Flight times

should improve as new technologies, and fuel cells are continually developed (Paul, 2016). There

is research into hydrogen and ammonium battery cells, versus the traditional lithium-ion battery

cells, which should provide better flight times that will only improve more with research (Paul,

2016).

The initial cost to buy a UAV with spraying ability is also very expensive for an

individual farmer (Huang et al., 2013). Not to mention the repairs and maintenance needed,

which will be costly as special parts are needed, and knowledge of this specialized machine is

needed for a proper repair job, but is not widely available (Huang et al., 2013). However, as the

popularity in drones are rising and with continuous research, the costs for these machines are

also falling as more farmers believe that the investment in an unmanned aerial vehicle is worth it

(Paul, 2016).

The public also has many concerns about safety and privacy when using drones (Clothier

et al., 2015). When surveying the public about their concerns with drones, a study found that the

majority of concerns related to the violation of privacy that occurs with drones, with participants

particularly concerned with spying. The third most prevalent concern was with the safety of

drones, and their risk to the public in crashing or harming pedestrians. However, with time and
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more information about the technology, the public’s perception of drones can change (Clothier et

al., 2015).
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Government Constraints

In Canada, the use of UAVs when applying pesticides is not permitted under the Pest

Control Products Act (The Government of Canada, 2018c). Those who are interested in the use

of drones for pesticide application in agriculture can work with the Pest Management Regulatory

Agency (PMRA) by submitting forms and data to assess the risks of this type of application. For

a consultation in contacting the PMRA, please email HC.pmra.presubs-

prealables.arla.SC@canada.ca (The Government of Canada, 2018c).

Currently, to be able to fly a drone that is over 25kg for work purposes, the pilot is

required to apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (The Government of Canada,

2018b). The training is completed through a drone flight school, and forms must go through the

Government of Canada before the pilot can fly the unmanned aerial vehicle (The Government of

Canada, 2018b).
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Novelty to Canada

As the Government of Canada currently prohibits the use of UAVs for the application of

pesticides, this idea is entirely new to the agricultural industry (The Government of Canada,

2018c). Some companies have unmanned vehicles designed for the application of pesticides, as

long as the party who wants to bring this technology works with the PMRA and the Government

of Canada, there is a possibility of establishing the use of UAVs in agriculture in Canada.

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Benefits to Canada

The use of UAVs can reduce the spray waste while spraying plants, as the drone can

spray closer to the canopy which helps to prevent waste and reduces drift (Ehmke, 2013). The

use of a drone or a helicopter of sorts would let the vehicle fly just a few feet above the plants,

providing more accuracy, and therefore, less waste is created when more spray ends up on the

crop rather than the ground (Ehmke, 2013). In the long run, this will save on the amount of

money the farm will need to purchase in fertilizer and pesticides (9,382,003 B2, 2016). The

unmanned aerial vehicle will also save in money in the area of labour cost (Giles, 2016).

Traditionally, in Western countries, the most significant cost of pesticide application is not the

cost of purchasing the pesticide, but the labour costs of applying it. The unmanned vehicles will

allow for fewer workers, which means saving on labour costs (Giles, 2016).

These aerial vehicles are also able to fly in harsher weather conditions in comparison to

traditional aerial application methods, such as with airplanes or helicopters (Ehmke, 2013). This

increases the operation time possible versus traditional application methods.

The drone will also become a viable option for a farmer to use instead of hand spraying

pesticides or fertilizers on particular crops. Some models, such as the DJI AGRAS MG-1 is 40 to

60 times faster than hand spraying, while providing increased accuracy (DJI Innovations, n.d.-a).

This will, in the end, save on time, labour costs and amount of pesticide/fertilizer purchased.

In the agriculture industry, the exposure to toxins from chemicals is unacceptably high,

an estimated 3 million people a year in developing countries experience severe poisoning from

pesticides and around 25 million people a year from developed countries experience mild

pesticide poisoning (9,382,003 B2, 2016). Automated vehicles can reduce these numbers by

significantly reducing the number of workers and the time the workers are exposed to these

chemicals (9,382,003 B2, 2016).

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Conventional farming can have many environmental side effects such as soil compaction

and pollution from fertilizers and pesticides (9,382,003 B2, 2016). The use of UAVs reduces

compaction, as no machine will be driving on the field, which therefore increases soil health and

yields. Typically, around 3% to 5% of crops in a field is lost due to tracks from machinery, but

when aerial vehicles are used this is reduced, increasing yields. The drone is more accurate and

can place fertilizer or pesticides exactly where it is needed, and this avoids runoff and pollution

of the environment (9,382,003 B2, 2016). The drones are also able to reduce spray drift, which in

the end also helps improve the environment (Ehmke, 2013). Overall, with the use of UAVs, there

will be a reduction in costs for the farmer, as well as time saved, and there will be an

improvement for human health and soil health.

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Manufacturing Logistics

No information can be found online about where current UAVs for agriculture are

manufactured. Many of the companies, such as DJI and Beijing TT International Aviation

Technology are located and based in the Eastern hemisphere (DJI Innovations, n.d.-b). This

would lead to an assumption that the manufacturing also takes place in the Eastern hemisphere in

places such as China and India, where manufacturing and labour are cheap (Chaudhuri et al.,

2007). As prices of the machines are already very high, keeping the manufacturing, producing

and assembly in Asia will lower the prices. This product will not have a mass market and will

most likely be made to order or have a small inventory, as it is a very niche market with few

potential buyers. Products can either be shipped by boat or by plane to Canada but considering

the weight and price of UAVs, it is evident that shipping by boat will be the better option. Once

in Canada, delivery to each farm individually with an expert in the field to help set up the

technology and equipment will be ideal.

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Environmental Sustainability

The drone is more environmentally conscious than the traditional farm machinery, as it

can be powered by renewable environmental resources instead of fossil fuels (9,382,003 B2,

2016). Modern farming is currently very dependent on fossil fuels, which raises many questions

on how sustainable modern farming will be for the increasing world populations food supply

(9,382,003 B2, 2016). The agricultural industry in Canada is responsible for around 10% of

greenhouse gas emissions, however if the industry can reduce their use of fossil fuels, the

amount of greenhouse gases released can be drastically decreased (The Government of Canada,

2016). UAVs can be powered with electrical energy, such as solar power, which provides the

world with a sustainable option for the application of fertilizers/pesticides in agriculture

(9,382,003 B2, 2016).

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Critic Evaluation of Market Potential

It is predicted that the agricultural industry for drones will reach $480 million by 2026

and that this new development will soon be entering its growth years (Newswire, 2016). This

growth is primarily occurring in the Asian markets and will continue to improve as the drones

are improved, with better technology, and have friendlier costs for the consumers, allowing a

competitive market in the agricultural drone industry (Newswire, 2016).

However, there is an enormous initial cost which most farmers will back away from

(Psirofonia et al., 2017). Not only is the farmer required to buy the physical machinery, but

farmers must pay for the software, including the mapping of the field on which they intend to

using the unmanned aerial vehicle (Psirofonia et al., 2017). This presents a big problem when the

industry is first introduced to Canada, but as the technology develops, prices will drop, creating a

bigger incentive for farmers to use this technology (Newswire, 2016).

The UAVs for agriculture markets is very niche, and it will be an uphill battle to win over

enough consumers here in the Western hemisphere (Purnell & Nicas, 2015b). Many experts,

such as Robert Blair, a farmer and the vice president of an agricultural, commercial drone

company called Measure LLC, says that he is extremely skeptical about the possibility of a large

drone spraying market, as the drones are only able to carry a limited amount of

pesticide/fertilizer (Purnell & Nicas, 2015b). The evidence and research suggest that there is

limited market potential for agricultural spraying drones here in Canada. With time and the

improvement of technology and prices, this market could grow and succeed in Canada, but it

would seem that the market for UAVs will continue to be a niche market in this country.
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Sales/Marketing Strategy

Due to the market of unmanned aerial spraying vehicles in agriculture being extremely

niche, marketing can prove to be a challenge (Purnell & Nicas, 2015b). Trade shows and exhibits

may be the best way to market these products, and at these events demonstrations and experts in

the field should be available to better explain the technology. No big advertisements to the

general public are needed, and companies should be exact in targeting farmers who are interested

and active in precision agriculture, those who do not have a large farm and those interested in

new technologies. As this is a niche product, customer service should be of significant concern to

companies, in order to maintain their clienteles’ support. Support systems should be readily

available to the farmer if the machine breaks or malfunctions, or if the farmer has any general

questions or concerns, as information on this topic would be hard to find if it does not come

directly from the seller.

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Loan/Grant Programs

The Government of Canada does offer does offer the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act

(CALA) program, which provides loans to farmers for these purposes (The Government of

Canada, 2017). A farmer can receive a loan of up to $350,000 to fund the purchase of an

unmanned aerial vehicle, and the loan must be paid back within ten years, but opportunities to

refinance is available. More information is available by emailing fgp-pgf@agr.gc.ca or calling

the Agriculture and Agi-Food Canada Canadian Agricultural Loans Act Financial Guarantee

Programs Division at 1-866-367-8506 (The Government of Canada, 2017).

There are also programs such as the Agrilnnovate Program, which provides repayable

contributions for projects attempting to commercialize and adopt innovative technologically

advanced products (The Government of Canada, 2018a). The applicants can receive up to 50%

of their costs, with a maximum of 10 million dollars, and the projects must be completed by

March 31, 2023. For more information on how to apply the Agriculture and Agi-Food Canada

Agrilnnovate Program can be reached at cap-aip.pca-pai@agr.gc.ca, or by phone at 1-877-246-

4682 (The Government of Canada, 2018a).

Along with programs to help farmers, many research grants and funding is available

through the Government of Canada (The Government of Canada, 2018d). Programs such as the

Agriculture Clean Technology Program and the AgriScience Program offer up to 25 million

dollars for research. For more information and programs, a comprehensive list is available at

http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/programs-and-services/?id=1362151577626 (The Government of

Canada, 2018d).
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with Spraying Capabilities in Agriculture 19

Future Studies Required

Numerous future studies will be necessary on this topic to improve the technology,

battery life of the drone and price for consumers. The technology, ideally, will be cheaper, and

more customer friendly to the user. Price analysis should also be done on the use of spraying

unmanned vehicles in agriculture, as most prices are unavailable and hard to find. A price

analysis would be able to better inform a farmer about whether or not the investment is worth it

for them. Many grants, funding and loans are available through the Government of Canada for

further research into this topic, to view these, please visit http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/programs-

and-services/?id=1362151577626 (The Government of Canada, 2018d).

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Conclusion

Through all the evidence and research, it is evident that the market for UAVs with

spraying capabilities is an extremely niche market. For the technology to be introduced to

Canada and for the companies to make a profit, the cost will have to be cheaper and the

technology more advanced and user-friendly. It is believed that this technology will come to

Canada, however it may not be for many years and when the use of drones is common in other

Western countries. As of now, it is not recommended that the use of UAVs be introduced to the

Canadian agi-food system. In Canada, the technology will be extremely expensive, and a profit

will be small or non-existent for companies who introduce this technology here. There will also

not be many consumers as the market is very niche.

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