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Drone patrol to keep 㽶Ƶֱeye in the sky㽶Ƶֱ on Kelowna orchards

airborne drones and ground-roving robots will help farmers reach new levels of crop management

High-flying, high-tech will be seen over Kelowna㽶Ƶֱs 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.

㽶ƵֱThe agricultural industry is an integral part of our healthy food system and local economy,㽶Ƶֱ said Mayor Tom Dyas. 㽶ƵֱThis initiative is an example of how council㽶Ƶֱs priority to support agriculture is being advanced.㽶Ƶֱ

It is an economic sector that occupies more than 40 per cent of the city㽶Ƶֱs lands and essential part of Kelowna㽶Ƶֱs 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.

㽶ƵֱOur cutting-edge system empowers farmers to harness the power of technology to revolutionize crop management,㽶Ƶֱ 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.

㽶ƵֱThanks to the visionary support of the City of Kelowna and funding from Agri-food Canada, we㽶Ƶֱre set to pilot this initiative over two years, starting with local farmers.㽶Ƶֱ

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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Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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