EU could ease restrictions on pesticide-spraying drones

The European Union is considering expanding the use of drones for pesticide application in agriculture under the Omnibus X package, which aims to simplify food and feed safety rules. Current EU rules generally prohibit aerial spraying of agricultural land, with exemptions allowed in certain cases.

The proposed changes would take into account the technological differences between drones and conventional aerial spraying. Drones can apply pesticides more precisely to specific areas of a field and allow farmers to respond quickly to pest outbreaks, including on wet soils or in difficult-to-access areas.

By scanning fields in advance, drones could identify affected areas and apply pesticides selectively rather than treating an entire field. This approach could potentially reduce the amount of crop protection products used while lowering risks to operators.

However, some scientists warn that making agricultural drones easier to use could have the opposite effect. Greater flexibility and easier access to treatments could increase the frequency of spraying, meaning that overall pesticide use may not necessarily decline.

The Omnibus X package also includes other changes to the regulation of plant protection products and their approval procedures. The European Commission says the reform is intended to reduce administrative burdens and accelerate innovation while maintaining the EU’s fundamental risk-assessment principles and level of protection.

Tags: EU, pesticide, drones, pesticide-spraying