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Drone patrol to keep 91Ƶeye in the sky91Ƶ 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 Kelowna91Ƶs 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.

91ƵThe agricultural industry is an integral part of our healthy food system and local economy,91Ƶ said Mayor Tom Dyas. 91ƵThis initiative is an example of how council91Ƶs priority to support agriculture is being advanced.91Ƶ

It is an economic sector that occupies more than 40 per cent of the city91Ƶs lands and essential part of Kelowna91Ƶs 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.

91ƵOur cutting-edge system empowers farmers to harness the power of technology to revolutionize crop management,91Ƶ 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.

91ƵThanks to the visionary support of the City of Kelowna and funding from Agri-food Canada, we91Ƶre set to pilot this initiative over two years, starting with local farmers.91Ƶ

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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