The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and smart agriculture specialist XAG are collaborating to promote digital agriculture and precision farming in the Philippines.

Through its Philippine partner Agridom, XAG has donated agricultural drones to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). These will support IRRI’s mission of advancing precision agriculture and sustainable farming practices.

“Drones have been increasingly used for high throughput phenotyping, crop monitoring, improving agricultural productivity, and supporting precision farming. By providing efficient tools for crop monitoring, precision input application, and data-driven decision-making, drones provide the potential to significantly reduce costs and increase yields, optimising resource use and minimising environmental impact,” said IRRI scientist Steve Klassen.

Drones can rapidly provide measurements of traits related to growth, yield, and stress adaptation. But drone adoption in the Philippines has been hindered by limited access to technology, lack of standard protocols, financial resources, and regulatory constraints. “To overcome these challenges, we need a comprehensive approach that involves targeted training, guidelines for best practices, financial incentives, and supportive government policies.”, Klassen said.

Klassen’s team is also working with the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) – National Programme, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), and their allied bureaux on the Drones4Rice Project. The latter aims to streamline and standardise drone protocols for applying seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides in the Philippines. The donated drones will support the ongoing Drones4Rice project and other IRRI global initiatives on sustainable farming and digital accelerators.

“IRRI is a key research and technology partner in the Philippines, and through this effort, we hope to contribute to the country’s agricultural competitiveness through drone-based technologies.” said XAG Head of International Business Wei Tong. “XAG’s agricultural drones can be applied to various precision farming scenarios, specifically but not limited to direct seeding, pesticide spraying, fertiliser operation, and remote sensing. We hope to expand our engagements abroad to strengthen global food security and tackle climate change, as rice is the primary staple food that feeds over half of the world’s population.”