High-flying, high-tech will be seen over Kelowna’s orchards this spring.
A partnership between the city and InDro Robotics will have drones and industrial robots patrolling 200 acres of apple, pear, and cherry trees to monitor and assess crop health and anticipate fruit yields.
“The agricultural industry is an integral part of our healthy food system and local economy,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “This initiative is an example of how council’s priority to support agriculture is being advanced.”
It is an economic sector that occupies more than 40 per cent of the city’s lands and essential part of Kelowna’s cultural identity, Dyas added.
The InDro Robotics airborne drones and ground roving robots will help farmers reach new levels of crop management, according to a media release from the city.
“Our cutting-edge system empowers farmers to harness the power of technology to revolutionize crop management,” said Philip Reece, CEO and founder of InDro Robotics.
He said the robots and drones will inspect crops, providing near real-time data on plant health, infestations, soil moisture, and more.
“Thanks to the visionary support of the City of Kelowna and funding from Agri-food Canada, we’re set to pilot this initiative over two years, starting with local farmers.”
Farm locations selected for the project are being coordinated with the Regional District Central Okanagan.
The data collected is expected to help farmers increase yields, reduce overhead, improve resiliency to climate change, improve water use efficiencies, and assure competitiveness in the global market.
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