One Step Closer to Drone Spreading

This will allow the company to collate data on optimum spread heights, widths and speeds, and to show how the Certis Belchim slug pellet product works when utilising a drone.

What is the aim of this trail?  

The aim for this project is to extract data through trials in order to submit an Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use in July for approval.  

For this pesticide, the ETP has not provided any restrictions on what crop it can be applied to. This means, the company would be able to apply and trial the slug pellets to any edible or non-edible crop. Additionally, trials that were carried out last year showed that drones could work at speeds of 30-35kph, covering 15-20 hectares per hour.

The Permit 

In order to obtain the permit, AutoSpray systems had to submit a specific risk assessment to the Civil Aviation Authority, for which then they had to provide a pesticide regulatory framework, alongside data that would show how pesticides would behave when spread through a drone, as well as the benefits of doing this.

Benefits 

Said benefits include that drones would not damage the crops and soil, when ground machinery could, in addition to decreasing pollution risk. They can also be helpful when there is a need to spay specific areas in which larger machinery may not be as efficient. 

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