Key Takeaways
- Terra Drone Corporation acquires Avirtech, a startup specializing in agricultural drone spraying and mapping in Southeast Asia.
- The acquisition led to the establishing of a new company, Terra Drone Agri, focusing on Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Drones are increasingly recognized for their role in sustainable farming, reducing pesticide use and carbon footprint.
- Avirtech's technology has led to a 30% reduction in operating costs for palm oil-focused farmers.
- The partnership aims to address labor shortages, enhance worker safety, and boost productivity in the palm oil industry.
Expanding into Precision Agriculture
Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology provider, is venturing into the precision agriculture sector by acquiring Avirtech. This startup offers agricultural drone spraying and mapping services in Southeast Asia. The acquisition has led to the formation of a new company, Terra Drone Agri, based in Malaysia. The new business will operate under the “Terra Agri” brand in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Rise of Agricultural Drones
As agricultural drones gain traction among farmers globally, governments and regulators are starting to acknowledge the technology's numerous benefits. Drones enable farmers to reduce pesticide use and lower carbon footprint, aligning with climate-smart agricultural practices.
Global Recognition and Expertise
Terra Drone is recognized by leading drone research firms like Drone Industry Insights as one of the top drone service providers globally. The company has successfully completed over 3,000 surveys and inspection projects in 10 countries. Its subsidiary, Unifly, has developed an unmanned traffic management (UTM) system widely adopted in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
Avirtech's Contributions
Avirtech specializes in pesticide spraying and mapping services using drones and artificial intelligence (AI). The company's solutions have helped palm oil-focused farmers and plantation companies minimize crop failures, resulting in a 30% reduction in operating costs. Avirtech executes up to 4,000 flights daily and has contributed to the scientific cultivation of over 200,000 hectares of land in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Addressing Industry Challenges
Indonesia and Malaysia are significant palm oil producers, accounting for about 80% of global production. These countries face deforestation, ecological impacts, labor shortages, and other environmental issues. Avirtech's technology addresses these problems by enhancing worker safety, boosting productivity, and supporting sustainable palm oil production.
A Strategic Partnership
The integration of Terra Drone's global UAV technology leadership with Avirtech's precision farming expertise has led to the expansion of Terra Agri. Toru Tokushige, Founder and CEO at Terra Drone Corporation, stated, “The integration of our expertise with Avirtech's groundbreaking crop intelligence technologies opens doors to unprecedented opportunities for enhancing productivity, optimizing resource allocation, and promoting environmental sustainability in farming.”
Rendy Ferixsen, CEO at Avirtech, and Wilson Ong, COO at Avirtech, expressed their enthusiasm for the acquisition, highlighting its potential to redefine agricultural drone solutions and bring further advancements into Agriculture 4.0.
Image provided by Terra Drone
