The American company Guardian Culture received this Monday, April 23, approval from the Federal Avion Administration (FAA) to commercially operate its Guardian SC1 drone. An opening of the drone market…
The American company Guardian Culture received this Monday, April 23 the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to exploit commercially son drone Guardian SC1. An opening of the agricultural drones market which should reach $5.7 billion in revenue by 2025according to a report by MarketsandMarkets of 2020.
The drone market is taking a new turn in the United States
Guardian Agriculture’s SC1 will be the first to spray agricultural fields in California’s Central Valley. The model had been in testing since 2020. After authorizing UPS, Wing et Amazon Prime Air to develop their drone delivery service, the FAA looks into the agricultural field.
By 2020 the FAA had implemented a number of changes to US law. Owners must have a license to fly their drones at night and above people. For the time being, the need for piloting a license for the SC1 is not clarified in the Guardian Culture press release.
In addition, since 2023 flying drones over 0.25 kg in the United States must be located and provided with an identification number. A way for the authorities to control what really steals.
Among the major players in the market is Chinese DJI which controls about 54% of the global drone market according to Drone Analyst. He too recently launched an agricultural drone model, the Agras T40, in response to exponential demand. In recent years the market has been propelled by strong demand from farmers wishing increase production and reduce their operating expenses.
Guardian Agriculture Founder and CEO Adam Bercu confirms in a statement: Crop protection powered by eVTOL is better for crops, better for the environment and better for grower bottom lines ».
In terms of advantages, agricultural drones do not damage the ground or roll over plants. They are completely autonomous. They allow farmers to retrieve details about crop health, soil moisture levels and other environmental conditions. Arguments that seem convincing, Guardian already has more than $100 million in commercial agricultural customer orders across the United States. Deliveries which will begin at the end of 2023, planned until the end of 2025.
And in France ?
In France, the market is a little slower. 4 years ago, the solution of agricultural drones was already considered. In 2019, a three-year test phase was launched to authorize the use of agricultural drones. This experiment was initially provided for by the so-called “EGalim” law of 2018. A law that governs commercial relations in the agricultural sector, working for healthy and sustainable food.
Far outstripped by the Chinese and American giants, some SMEs are trying to find a place for themselves. Most have struggled to grow in the face of competition. French manufacturers, unlike others, have focused mainly on professional areas, such as precision agriculture.
Parrot, a major French player in the drone market, managed to stand out. With 100 million in turnover, it has become the major player on the French market and has developed a drone specifically for agriculture in 2018. To date, legal authorizations have not yet been given for the operation of commercial drones in the French air.
While the United States is taking a turn, the market for drones for professional use is still modest in France. However, technologies are increasingly emerging in the field of agriculture.
