Key Takeaways
- SiFly and Taranis have launched a joint 2026 Field Validation Program focused on large-scale aerial crop intelligence.
- The program combines long-endurance autonomous drones with AI-driven agronomic analysis.
- The initiative aims to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability of crop data collection.
- Validation will take place during the 2026 growing season under real-world conditions.
- Results will inform future product development and operational models for U.S. agriculture.
SiFly and Taranis Collaborate on Next-Generation Aerial Crop Intelligence
SiFly Aviation, Inc., a U.S.-based manufacturer of long-endurance autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones, and Taranis, a provider of AI-powered, leaf-level crop intelligence, have announced the launch of a joint Field Validation Program scheduled for the 2026 growing season. The initiative is designed to validate a new operational model for collecting and analyzing crop intelligence at scale across large agricultural regions.
The program will assess how extended autonomous flight, combined with artificial intelligence-based agronomic analysis, can address one of the key challenges in modern agriculture: collecting high-quality, consistent data efficiently across large acreages.
“This program reflects a shared focus on solving real operational challenges in agriculture,” said Joey Cline, Vice President of Operations at Taranis. “As farms, cooperatives, and retailers continue to scale, it’s critical to explore new mission models that improve how efficiently data is collected and transformed into insights.”
SiFly's Long-Endurance Drones Enable Wide-Area Agricultural Monitoring
At the center of the collaboration is SiFly’s Q12 drone platform, designed for persistent, wide-area operations. The Q12 offers up to three hours of continuous flight time while carrying advanced sensor payloads capable of capturing high-resolution imagery. According to SiFly, this extended endurance allows larger regions to be surveyed in fewer missions, improving data consistency and reducing operational complexity.
“When aircraft can fly for hours instead of minutes, the entire model for aerial data collection changes,” said Brian Hinman, Founder and CEO of SiFly. “Long-endurance flight enables more consistent, large-scale data capture while reducing the operational friction that has historically limited agricultural intelligence.”
The companies stated that fewer takeoffs and landings, combined with longer flight durations, can lower per-acre data collection costs and improve mission reliability.
AI-Driven Analysis for Actionable Agronomic Insights
From Imagery to In-Field Decisions
Taranis will apply its AI-based analytics to the imagery collected during the validation program. Its platform is designed to deliver leaf-level insights, enabling the detection of pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and other crop stress indicators.
By pairing extended aerial coverage with AI-driven analysis, the Field Validation Program aims to test whether scalable, repeatable intelligence can be delivered without increasing complexity for growers, agronomists, or advisors.
Field Validation During the 2026 Growing Season
During the 2026 season, SiFly and Taranis will jointly evaluate operational performance, coverage efficiency, and data quality under real-world field conditions. The companies stated that insights from the program will guide future technology development and commercial strategies.
Both partners emphasized that the collaboration supports broader efforts to enable data-driven decision-making in U.S. agriculture, particularly as farm operations continue to increase in size and complexity.
