The global agriculture drones market is expected to reach USD 10.27 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 24.3%, according to a new study conducted by Grand View Research, Inc. Agriculture drones equipped with various sensors, including multispectral and thermal cameras, can capture detailed data about crop health, moisture levels, and pest infestations. This data lets farmers decide precisely where and when to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides. By identifying specific areas of a field that require attention, drones enable targeted interventions, reducing the need for blanket treatments Blanket treatment refers to applying a treatment, such as pesticides or fertilizers, uniformly or indiscriminately across an entire area or field without considering specific variations or needs within that area. Thus, the use of agricultural drones in reducing blanket treatment offers a more targeted, efficient, and sustainable approach to farming by minimizing input usage and environmental impact while optimizing crop health and yield.
Integrating agriculture drones with other precision agriculture technologies, such as global positioning system (GPS), geographic information system (GIS), and data analytics, allows seamless collaboration and enhances the effectiveness of precision farming practices. By combining data collected by drones, including field mapping, crop health, crop damage assessment, etc., with other source of information such as satellite imagery, weather data, and historical crop data, farmers can gain a comprehensive understanding of their fields. Drone imagery can be processed and analyzed using specialized software to generate vegetation indices, heat maps, and 3D models. For instance, Pix4D SA offers cloud-based software that allows users to process and analyze drone imagery to create vegetation indices, heat maps, and 3D models. Integrating drone data with precision agriculture technologies significantly enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of precision farming techniques.
Furthermore, integrating machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture drone systems enhances operations and reduces costs. By leveraging AI and ML algorithms, farmers can analyze drone-collected data to monitor crop health, detect diseases, optimize resource allocation, and make data-driven decisions. This integration enables precision agriculture, variable rate application, autonomous operations, weed and pest management, and predictive analytics, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and overall productivity in the agriculture industry.
The pandemic had a negative impact on the agriculture drones market. The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant economic uncertainty across various industries, including agriculture. Farmers and the agricultural industry faced financial challenges due to market disruptions, supply chain issues, and fluctuating commodity prices. In such an uncertain economic environment, many farmers became cautious about investing significantly in new technologies like agriculture drones. Instead of allocating resources to technology adoption, they often prioritized financial stability and managing immediate operational concerns. This cautious approach led to a slowdown in adopting agriculture drones as the focus shifted away from long-term technological advancements.
The market providers have adopted several latest trends to enhance their operations and meet the growing demand for efficient agriculture drones. Agriculture drone providers are incorporating advanced imaging technologies such as multispectral and hyperspectral sensors, thermal cameras, and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems. For instance, in April 2023, Sentera announced that its high-quality multispectral 6X Sensor, designed specifically for agricultural applications, is now fully compatible with the Astro drone manufactured by Freefly Systems, an American UAV manufacturer. This compatibility enables users to effortlessly combine the 6X Sensor with the Astro drone, enabling the gathering of precise multispectral agricultural data and streamlining decision-making processes for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
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The rotary wing segment dominated the market, accounting for a market share of 62.9% in 2022. Rotary drones are considered easy to use in the agriculture drones due to their stability, intuitive flight controls, automated flight modes, obstacle avoidance systems, user-friendly software, and compact & portable designs. These features simplify drone operation, making them accessible to operators with varying experience and technical expertise, ultimately enhancing their utility in agricultural applications.
The services segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 25.9% from 2023 to 2030. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the offerings such as data processing and analysis services of various service providers help farmers to make informed decisions about crop management, irrigation, and pest control.
The outdoor farming dominated the market, accounting for a market share of 82.8% in 2022. Outdoor farming encompasses a wide variety of crops with varying needs. Drones can be employed for crop monitoring, pest and disease detection, yield estimation, and irrigation management. This diversity of applications makes drones highly relevant in outdoor farming.
The field mapping segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 25.7% from 2023 to 2030. Accurate field maps enable farmers to identify areas requiring different treatments, such as varying irrigation levels, fertilizer application rates, or pest control measures. This optimization at a micro-scale can lead to increased crop yields and improved resource efficiency.
North America region dominated the market in 2022. North America's dominance in the market is driven by its extensive and diverse agricultural sector, characterized by vast farmlands and a wide range of crops, necessitating efficient monitoring. Additionally, the region's strong technological innovation ecosystem, including leading drone manufacturers and agriculture tech startups, ensures the development of specialized, cutting-edge agriculture drones tailored to the unique needs of North American farmers.
Grand View Research has bifurcated the global agriculture drones market based on type, component, farming environment, application, and region:
Agriculture Drones Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017 - 2030)
Fixed Wing
Rotary Wing
Agriculture Drones Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017 - 2030)
Hardware
Frames
Flight Control Systems
Navigation Systems
Propulsion Systems
Cameras
Sensors
Others
Software
Services
Professional Services
Managed Services
Agriculture Drones Farming Environment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017 - 2030)
Indoor Farming
Outdoor Farming
Agriculture Drones Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017 - 2030)
Crop Management
Field Management
Crop Spraying
Livestock Monitoring
Variable Rate Application (VRA)
Others
Agriculture Drones Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017 - 2030)
North America
U.S.
Canada
Mexico
Europe
U.K.
Germany
France
Italy
Asia Pacific
China
India
Japan
South Korea
South America
Mexico
Middle East & Africa
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
UAE
South Africa
List of Key Players in the Agriculture Drones Market
DJI
Parrot Drone SAS
AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc
AeroVironment, Inc.
PrecisionHawk
Trimble Inc.
DroneDeploy
Autel Robotics
Draganfly Inc
Pix4D SA
Sky-Drones Technologies Ltd
Sentera
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