DJI Agras V50 Drone Targets Regenerative Rice Farming

The V50 pairs upgraded RTK positioning with soil moisture sensors that relay real-time data to DJI's SmartFarm cloud. Farmers can map paddies and program variable spraying that respects buffer zones and biodiversity plots.

Trials in Guangdong's Pearl River Delta saw water usage drop 20% while yields held steady. Cooperatives say the drone's foldable frame eases transport between terraces, and its battery swaps now take under a minute.

DJI is bundling the drone with agronomy consulting through provincial extension offices. The company plans to pursue EU approvals so the V50 can support rice growers in Italy and Spain next season.