Drone Imaging in Agriculture, Another Tool to Achieve Global Food Sustainability
The picture above is LIDAR imaging from a drone over an orchard courtesy of Dr. Pourreza, Ph.D.
****This article was reviewed for corrections and clarity.****
In an era where the balance between food production and consumption sways on the edge of sustainability, the quest for more efficient agricultural practices has never been more critical. Amidst this search for innovation, drone crop imagery and analysis offer an approach to farming and food security. Dr. Alireza Pourreza, Ph.D., an associate professor of extension in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at UC Davis and co-founder of Kobin Analytics, stands at the forefront of this technological revolution. I caught up with him to discuss the importance of drones in agriculture.
Background
Dr. Pourreza’s journey through academia saw him acquire a Bachelor’s in agriculture mechanization, two master’s degrees, and a Ph.D. His expertise includes digital and precision agriculture, remote sensing, big data analytics, and hyperspectral/multispectral modeling. He is the director of the Digital Agriculture Lab at UC Davis, where his research focuses on solving immediate challenges in crop production systems. They develop practical and data-driven decision tools that help farmers determine crop optimization approaches that increase profit while decreasing waste and environmental footprint.
Why Agriculture Drones?
Dr. Pourreza’s motivation behind his focus on agriculture drones is clear: to improve our food production systems’ efficiency and sustainability. Farm management methods based on subjective assessments will not only be inaccurate but also expensive and inefficient. Drones will solve these challenges by offering detailed, objective data that can inform better farm decision-making. The data-driven insights will not replace the farmers’ decision-making but will enhance it. Dr. Pourreza mentioned that farmers are creative and resourceful and that the data will guide them in making better decisions. All plants on a farm may have the same genetics and grow in the same environmental conditions; however, they do not yield all equally. Drones allow for spatial and temporal monitoring, and Dr. Pourreza added that within-field variability is not always evident to our eyes.
Impact on Specialty Crops
California’s diverse agricultural landscape, with hundreds of specialty crops, presents unique challenges not seen in regions with less local biodiversity (trees, soil, etc.). Drones are particularly beneficial, as they offer higher spatial resolution data than satellites, making them one of the reasons they are ideal for managing these specialty crops. This detailed data allows for tailored management strategies that can significantly improve the efficiency of resource use and crop performance.
Addressing Climate Change
With climate change intensifying farmers’ challenges, agriculture drones offer a way to adapt and mitigate its impacts. By providing detailed maps of farm conditions, drones help farmers address issues such as water stress, pest infestations, and soil health before they lead to significant crop loss. This proactive approach is vital for maintaining crop yields in the face of changing weather patterns.
The Economic Perspective
“The return on investment (ROI) for agriculture drones is variable depending on the crop, climate, and management practice,” Dr. Pourreza said. However, the potential for improved yield and efficiency makes a compelling case for their adoption. He believes that by demonstrating the value of drone data in predicting and preventing potential losses, farmers will be more inclined to integrate drones into their practices.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, Dr. Pourreza emphasizes the importance of national resources in educating farmers about the benefits of agriculture drones and the need for government incentives to support their adoption. California is more advanced than other states in terms of technology. However, Central Valley agriculture still uses 30 to 40-year-old technologies. On the opposite, drone technology is already very advanced. The collective effort of researchers, farmers, and policymakers will be crucial in spreading the use of agriculture drones. Let’s face it: This only works if drones are available to farmers and if they use the technology.
Data-driven decision support tools developed by Dr. Pourreza’s lab
The most notable for drone pilots is the When2Fly app https://digitalag.ucdavis.edu/decision-support-tools/when2fly. It is designed to plan the best time to fly a mapping mission to avoid hot spots, thus insuring high-quality aerial imagery. When inputting latitude/longitude, date, and camera type, the app will crunch these data and recommend the best time to fly. The app got some attention within the College of Engineering. It was the subject of an article in the March/April 2024 issue of Resource Magazine, Engineering, and Technology for a Sustainable World. https://www.asabe.org/Portals/0/aPubs/Resource/PDF/Resource31-02MarApr2024.pdf
A GDD (Growing Degree Days) calculator. By inputting a location and crop type, it helps make better decisions by knowing the best time to plant, irrigate, and harvest. https://digitalag.ucdavis.edu/decision-support-tools/GDDCalculator
A RTM (Radiative Transfer Modeling) simulator based on the PROSPECT model. This model specifically looks at how electromagnetic radiation behaves when it hits leaves. It helps scientists simulate and predict how leaves reflect, transmit, and absorb light, which can be useful for various applications like monitoring plant health or growth.
Conclusion
As the world grapples with food sustainability challenges, the work of visionaries like Dr. Pourreza offers a glimpse into a future where technology and agriculture converge to create more efficient, sustainable food systems. Agriculture drones, with their ability to provide precise, actionable data, are becoming critical in our quest for food sustainability. Through collaboration and innovation, the dream of optimizing our food systems for a secure future is near at hand.
Thank you to Dr. Pourreza, Ph.D., for taking the time to chat with me. When you have a chance, check Kobin Analytics on the web. Dr. Pourreza is the company’s co-founder. Kobin Analytics is a UC Davis IP-enabled Startup that utilizes aerial drone data analytics for precision agriculture.