
Drones and Digital IPM
Unlocking the potential of technologies to enable precision integrated pest management across Southeast Asia

Project Description
New technologies such as drones and digital IPM approaches offer huge potential for controlling FAW and in improving IPM approaches in the field. This project will aim to exploit the potential of technology innovation to monitor and control plant health and FAW as well as explore public-private partnerships for scale-up of technology transfer across the region. Components of the programme will include:
​​
-
Information and knowledge-sharing
-
Professional training
-
Technology-transfer projects, including large-scale, bilateral or national partnership work​​​​​​
2020 Workshop on Drones and Digital IPM
Download the presentations here.
This webinar discusses the potential of drones and digital IPM with presentations on the use of drones to spray a new granular pesticide to help control FAW in China (2) the employment of drones and AI to collect plant-level data to inform IPM, (3) farmer digital IPM apps and (4) the use of earth observation technology, satellite positioning and plant-pest lifecycle information to forecast FAW outbreaks.
Speakers:
1. Dr Yuan Huizhu, Institute of Plant Protection, CAAS
"Control against FAW through drone application of tiny granules"
2. Gajendra Babu or Apoorv Vaish, Chloropy Technologies
"FAW damage assessment using drone imagery & AI"
3. Phil Abrahams, Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE)
"Experience of PRISE in Africa and opportunities for Southeast Asia"
4. Liron Brish, Farm Dog
"Digital IPM: Empowering the grower, agronomist,
and agricultural community"
5. Paul Voutier, GA
"Summary of key points/messages"
2021 Workshop on Drones and Digital
Download the presentations here.
This webinar discusses the potential of drones and digital IPM with presentations on the use of drones to apply Trichogramma parasitoids for plant pest control, (2) (3) the use of drones in Cambodia and the Philippines, (4) evaluation of barriers to digital IPM service, as well as a Panel discussion involving leaders in drones and digital IPM solutions for farmers.
Speakers
1. Dr Lian-Sheng Zang,
Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Guizhou University
2. Daniel Tan, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney
3. Nehemiah L. Caballong, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)
4. Dr Mariette McCampbell, Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation Group, Wageningen University and Research
5. Dr Elisabeth Simelton, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
​
Panel Discussion
Adrian Soe Myint
CEO, Village Link & Chief Digital Officer, Myanma Awba Group Winnie Atieno, Associate Director, PlantVillage Anthony Tan, Founder & Director, New Hope Corporation

Dr Lian-Sheng Zang also shared two videos showing drones in action.
1. Use of drones for releasing Trichogramma against corn borer.
2. Use of drones for releasing Trichogramma against soybean pod borer.


Drones and IPM Webinar Series - June 2024

Presentation 1:
Drone design and optimization for pesticide application
Speaker - Professor Daibin Yang, CAAS, China​​
Presentation 2:
Optimising Drone Operations: Pattern Testing and Calibration
Speaker - Dr Chris O’Donnell, University of Queensland​​
A PDF of the presentations from Part 1 can be downloaded HERE
Presentation 3:
Drone operations in the Mekong Delta: MiSmart Drone
Speaker - Mr Tran Thien Phuong, CEO of MiSmart, Vietnam​​​
Presentation 1:
Rapid Crop Damage Detection in Crops Utilising Drones
Speaker - Professor Yong-Lak, West Virginia University, US​​
​
Presentation 2:
Drone usage for Sustainable Agriculture
Speaker - Sachchit Vekaria, CTO of General Aeronautics, India
​
​
​
Presentation 3:
Drone for Delivery of Beneficial Insects
Speaker - Ruan Erasmus, SkyBugs
​
​
​
A PDF of the presentations from Part 2 can be downloaded HERE
Drones and IPM Webinar Series - Nov to Dec 2024
.png)
A PDF copy of both presentations
Presentation 1:
Latest developments in drone research and standards development in Indonesia.​
Speaker - Dr Elita Rahmarestia Widjaya, Indonesia Center for Agricultural Engineering Research and Development
​
​
​
Presentation 2:
Latest developments in drone research and standards development in Thailand​
Speaker - Mr Sirichai Sathuwijarn, Plant Protection Research and Development office, DOA, Thailand​​​​​
​
Presentation 1:
Drones for Climate-Resilient Rice Production in the Mekong Delta
Speaker - Dr Nguyen The Cuong, CLLRI, Vietnam
​​​​
​
​
Presentation 2:
Swarm Technology and Autonomous Drone Innovation
Speaker - Dr Richard Han, Macquarie University, Australia
​​​​​​​​​​​
Presentation 1:
Next-Generation Pest Management Tools: Drones + Sensors + Artificial Intelligence + Natural Enemies
Speaker - Professor Yong-Lak Park, West Virginia University, USA.
​​​
​
Presentation 2:
The Drones for Agriculture Project in Thailand
Speaker - Preesan Rakwatin, Executive Vice President, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), Thailand
Evaluation of the Establishment of a Southeast Asian Agricultural Drones and Data Academy
Drones and digital IPM technologies offer significant opportunities to help improve plant health surveillance and manage plant pests and diseases, including FAW, as well as contribute to broader sustainable agriculture goals. The potential establishment of a Drones and Data Academy for Southeast Asia as a centre for training excellence in the region to facilitate the responsible use of drone technology, data collection and analysis and to support economic development and innovation opportunities through the implementation of precision agriculture was evaluated from April to July 2022.
The evaluation found that skill gaps exist in operating drones in a farm situation, agronomy, crop management, data collection, analytics and interpretation, and data ownership. There is a significant opportunity in the short term to offer courses on drones and data, agronomy, and entrepreneurship, which could also evolve to offer courses on rural development, geospatial data analysis, financial management, disaster management, and climate change, to which drone-based and geospatial data collection methods can add significant value. The development of standards is also critical.
New FAO Guidance for aerial application
of pesticides
This guidance provides information on appropriate regulations and management
practices for aerial application of pesticides. It provides:
-
updated guidance on regulatory and technical requirements for authorities, licensed operators and applicators;
-
information for regulators in making informed national or regional decisions about registration and licensing of aerial applications according to different use patterns and newer vehicle types, such as UASS; and
-
information on measures to minimize off-site movement and risks associated with aerial application of pesticides.
​
The useful new Guidance can be found at the link below:
FAO & WHO. 2024. International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management – Guidance for aerial
application of pesticides. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8321en
​
​
Drone and Digital Applications for Crop and Pest Management
Dr. Tania
Neurafarm

AVAILABLE IN:

Dokter Tania is a digital agricultural platform that helps farmers, gardeners, and agribusinesses improve productivity by providing expert insights, disease management solutions, and access to a vast knowledge bank on cultivation and best practices
Agrio
SAILLOG
.png)
AVAILABLE IN:

.jpg)
Saillog, founded in 2017, is a precision agriculture company that utilizes AI technology to support farmers and agricultural professionals. Their main product, Agrio, is a mobile application designed to help users identify and manage crop diseases and pests. Agrio employs artificial intelligence and computer vision algorithms to provide real-time diagnoses and treatment recommendations for a variety of plant health issues.
Poladrone
AONIC
.png)
AVAILABLE IN:
.jpg)
_edited.jpg)
Aonic, formerly known as Poladrone, is a leading provider of drone solutions, primarily operating in Malaysia and Thailand. Established in 2016, the company specializes in delivering comprehensive drone services across various industries, with a strong focus on agriculture. Their services include aerial mapping, precision spraying, infrastructure inspection, and customized solutions aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and productivity for businesses.
FarmAI
.png)
LISTEN FIELD
AVAILABLE IN:
_edited.jpg)
.jpg)
ListenField is an agricultural technology startup founded in 2017, dedicated to enhancing farm management through data-driven solutions. By integrating data from field sensors, soil analyses, weather forecasts, and satellite imagery, ListenField provides farmers with actionable insights to optimize their operations from soil preparation to harvest.
Htwet Toe
VILLAGE LINK
.jpg)
AVAILABLE IN:
.png)
Htwet Toe is a mobile application developed by Village Link Co., Ltd. Its goal is to empower agricultural communities in Myanmar. The app provides various features aimed at improving farming practices and productivity, including professional advice, comprehensive farming guides, market updates, weather information, and community engagement.
Jiva
.png)
AVAILABLE IN:

Jiva is a technology-driven platform and mobile app designed to support smallholder farmers by improving their livelihoods and strengthening agricultural supply chains. Jiva offers a range of services, including free personalized agronomic advice, farm input loans, efficient input sales and delivery, and crop purchasing at harvest.