New partnership aims to make drone pesticide application technology accessible

During an event held within Agrishow, in Ribeirão Preto, the Engineering and Automation Center (CEA), of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), formalized a technological innovation partnership with Coopercitrus. The cooperative and the body, from the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, joined efforts to bring the technology for applying agricultural pesticides via drones to small and medium-sized properties.

The launch of the initiative was attended by the Secretary of Agriculture and Supply of SP, Guilherme Piai, the vice-president of the Board of Directors of Coopercitrus, José Geraldo da Silveira Mello and the scientific researcher Hamilton Ramos, director of CEA-IAC, in addition to responsible for developing the program, called 'Drones SP'.

“As this is a new technology, the objective is to extend quality information, which allows the producer and his collaborators to be effective in using the drone to safely control pests, diseases and weeds”, highlighted Hamilton Ramos. Secretary Guilherme Piai highlighted the relevance of the innovation process driven by the Secretariat in the State, while the Coopercitrus executive highlighted the cooperative's continued encouragement of technologies that boost agricultural productivity.

One of the references in Latin America in the development of application and safety technology in agrochemical operations, the Engineering and Automation Center (CEA), of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), based in Jundiaí-SP, received equipment and training for pilots from Coopercitrus of drones. Now, the program is gaining traction in productive areas of the Circuito das Frutas, around Jundiaí. It will also reach properties owned by Coopercitrus members in the areas of soy, corn, citrus and sugar cane.

The Drones SP Program focuses on presenting basic characteristics of the application technology and the use of the equipment on small and medium-sized properties. It covers, for example, events and 'field days' centered on concepts of agrochemical application technology by drones: spray volume, coverage rate, droplet size, weather conditions, product drift, input compatibility and safety.