Agriculture Drones Market – Trends Forecast Till 2030

Market Snapshot

Market Overview

The global agriculture drones market size was estimated at USD 2,760 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 14,707.3 million in 2030 at a CAGR of 27 % during the forecast period 2024-2030.

The global agriculture drones market refers to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in agricultural practices to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. These drones are equipped with advanced technologies such as GPS, sensors, cameras, and imaging systems to collect real-time data on crop health, soil conditions, and overall field performance. By providing farmers with actionable insights, drones have become an essential tool for precision farming, enabling better decision-making and resource management. The market for agriculture drones is rapidly expanding as farmers seek innovative solutions to address challenges such as climate change, labor shortages, and the need for increased food production.

The scope of the global agriculture drones market spans various applications such as crop monitoring, irrigation management, field mapping, pest control, and livestock management. Drones can perform tasks like aerial surveying, plant counting, and spraying fertilizers and pesticides, providing substantial cost and time savings. The technology is applicable across different farming sectors, including crop farming, livestock farming, and horticulture, with a growing demand for drone services among large-scale commercial farmers as well as smaller agricultural enterprises. The market is also witnessing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, enabling drones to make autonomous decisions based on the data they collect, further enhancing their utility in farming operations.

The agriculture drones market is driven by several key factors, including the increasing adoption of precision farming techniques, the demand for sustainable farming practices, and the need to optimize resource use. The rising global population and the pressure to meet food security goals are pushing farmers to adopt advanced technologies to boost crop yields while minimizing the environmental impact. Moreover, government support through favourable regulations and incentives for drone usage in agriculture is further propelling market growth. Technological advancements in drone design, battery life, data analytics, and cloud computing are also contributing to the adoption of these systems by farmers worldwide.

Key trends in the agriculture drones market include the shift toward automation and data-driven farming, with an emphasis on using drones to monitor crops and optimize agricultural inputs. There is also a growing focus on the development of lightweight, affordable, and easy-to-operate drone systems, which cater to a broader range of users, including smallholder farmers in developing countries. In addition, partnerships between drone manufacturers, agriculture technology companies, and research institutions are fostering innovation in drone capabilities, further expanding the market. As the industry matures, the integration of drones with other technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) and blockchain is expected to enhance their potential, offering comprehensive solutions for farmers to manage their operations more effectively.

Delvens Industry Expert's Standpoint

Experts in the Global Agriculture Drones Market highlight several key trends driving growth and innovation. The global agriculture drones’ market is rapidly growing, driven by the increasing demand for precision farming solutions that enhance productivity, sustainability, and resource management. Drones equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies are revolutionizing farming practices by enabling real-time data collection for crop monitoring, pest control, irrigation management, and field mapping. The market's growth is fuelled by the need to address challenges such as climate change, labour shortages, and food security, with governments providing support through regulations and incentives. Trends like automation, the integration of AI and IoT, and the development of affordable, user-friendly drones are further propelling the market, offering innovative solutions to both large-scale commercial and smallholder farmers.

Market Portfolio

Key Findings

• Based on type, the global agriculture drones market is segmented into fixed wing and rotary wing drones, with the rotary wing segment holding the largest revenue share in 2024. The growth of smart farming ecosystems is a key driver of this dominance. Rotary-wing drones are increasingly integrated into farms using technologies like IoT, AI-powered analytics, and cloud computing. These drones connect with other smart devices, such as soil sensors, weather stations, and irrigation systems, creating automated and interconnected farming environments. The data they collect is fed into centralized farm management platforms, helping farmers optimize resource use, improve operational efficiency, and enhance crop yields.

• Based on component, the market is divided into hardware, software, and services, with hardware leading the market in 2024. The demand for drones with longer flight times and higher payload capacities is fueling the growth of this segment. As farms expand and precision agriculture becomes more widespread, drones need to cover larger areas without frequent recharging. Innovations in battery technology and energy-efficient motors are enabling drones to fly longer, making them more practical for large-scale farming operations. Additionally, advancements in payload capabilities allow drones to carry sophisticated sensors or deliver inputs like fertilizers and seeds, driving the need for more robust hardware.

• Based on farming environment, the market is segmented into indoor farming and outdoor farming, with outdoor farming accounting for the largest share in 2024. The growing need to manage large-scale agricultural operations is driving this trend. Agricultural drones equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technologies enable farmers to monitor vast fields in real-time, optimizing resource use such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides. This is crucial for maintaining crop health and improving yields in outdoor farming, where managing large tracts of land efficiently is becoming increasingly important as farms grow and expand.

• Based on application, the market is segmented into crop management, field mapping, crop spraying, livestock monitoring, variable rate application (VRA), and others, with crop management dominating the market in 2024. The growing awareness of the need for crop monitoring, especially in the face of climate change, is a key driver for this segment. Drones are crucial in monitoring crop conditions during extreme weather events, helping farmers assess damage and take corrective actions quickly. This ability to respond rapidly to changing environmental conditions enhances crop resilience, improves yields, and contributes to food security, making crop management the leading application for agricultural drones.

• The market is also divided into various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East and Africa. North America region is projected to hold the largest market share. Factors such as Increasing adoption of precision farming, rising demand for sustainable agriculture practices, technological advancements in drone capabilities, government support and favourable policies, growing popularity of remote sensing technologies, increasing need for efficient resource management, rising global population and food security concerns, integration of drones with IoT. have triggered the Global Agriculture Drones Market in the region.

Regional Analysis

North America to Dominate the Market

• North America is poised to maintain a substantial share of the agriculture drones market, accounting for approximately 32.5% of the market in 2024. The increasing use of remote sensing technologies, such as multispectral and thermal imaging, is a major factor driving growth in this region. These sensors allow farmers to gather detailed aerial data about crop health, moisture levels, and nutrient deficiencies. Remote sensing provides insights that were previously difficult to capture, enabling more efficient monitoring and decision-making. As farmers in North America continue to embrace these advanced technologies to improve crop management, the demand for agriculture drones is expected to rise.

• The agriculture drones market in the Asia Pacific region is projected to experience the highest growth rate, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 66.0% during the forecast period. Government initiatives and favourable policies aimed at promoting technological adoption in agriculture are key drivers of this rapid expansion. Several countries in Asia Pacific, including China and India, are actively encouraging the integration of drone technology in farming through subsidies, training programs, and supportive regulatory frameworks. These efforts are helping to accelerate the adoption of drones, improving agricultural efficiency and sustainability across the region.

• In the U.S., the agriculture drones market is expanding as a result of the growing focus on sustainable farming practices. There is a rising demand among farmers to reduce their environmental impact, driven by consumer preferences for eco-friendly products. Drones play a key role in this shift by enabling precise applications of fertilizers and pesticides, reducing chemical runoff, and minimizing environmental harm. Additionally, drones are increasingly being used for soil health assessments and crop rotation planning, contributing to more sustainable land management. As sustainability becomes a central concern in agriculture, the use of drones is expected to continue to grow in the U.S. market.

Competitive Landscape

• DJI
• Trimble Inc.
• Parrot Drone SAS
• Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
• Ageagle Aerial Systems Inc
• DroneDeploy
• Sentera
• XAG Co., Ltd.
• Autel Robotics
• Yuneec
• Microdrones
• Aerialtronics DV B.V.
• Gamaya
• Hylio
• Hiphen
• Jouav
• Shenzhen GC Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Aries Solutions
• Wingtra AG
• Sky-Drones Technologies Ltd
• Delair
• Shenzhen Grepow Battery Co., Ltd
• Applied Aeronautics
• Vision Aerial, Inc.
• Quantum-Systems GmbH
• Colena Ltd
• Blue Skies Drones
• FlyUAV247
• Rantizo
• Terra Drone Corp.

Recent Developments

• In April 2024, DJI, a leading manufacturer of civilian drones, unveiled the global release of its Agras T50 and T25 models. The T50 is designed to deliver high efficiency for large-scale farming operations, while the T25 is more compact and portable, making it ideal for smaller fields. Both models are fully compatible with the upgraded SmartFarm app, offering comprehensive aerial application management for enhanced operational efficiency

• In July 2023, Pix4D SA introduced PIX4Dfields 2.4, an enhanced version of its software to improve precision agriculture applications. The new Targeted Operations feature allows users to streamline the process of creating customized prescription maps, offering a more efficient workflow for farmers seeking to optimize their operations.

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Report Scope