2025 agricultural drone use is up 90% since 2020

Global use of agricultural drones has skyrocketed — up 90% since 2020, with 400,000 drones now in use worldwide. That’s according to DJI Agriculture’s just-released 2025 Agricultural Drone Industry Insight Report, which also recorded agricultural done use across 100 countries.

Drone use on that scale suggests that companies now no longer see drones as merely a test project for R&D teams, but rather a sort of technology that’s making a transformative shift in agricultural practices. From coffee fields in Brazil to vineyards in Romania, drones are proving they’re more than just high-tech novelties — they’re essential farm tools.

Here are some of the most surprising figures from DJI’s 2025 Agricultural Drone Industry Insight Report:

• 400,000 agricultural drones were in use by the end of 2024 — up 90% from just four years earlier.
• These drones are operated by 400,000 trained pilots, many of whom are young people and women, thanks to more accessible training programs.
• Agricultural drones are now used to treat 300 crop types in 100 countries.
• Drone-powered farming has saved an estimated 222 million tons of water.
• The shift to drones has also reduced carbon emissions by 30.87 tons.

A look at the 2025 agricultural drone market

Estimates suggest that the agricultural drone market, valued at approximately $2.74 billion in 2024, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.0% from 2025 to 2030.

While DJI remains a dominant player, holding an estimated 70% global market share as of 2024, other companies are making significant strides. For instance, XAG’s P100 agricultural drone has gained traction in various markets, and Parrot’s Bluegrass series offers versatile solutions for crop monitoring and analysis.

Why the 2025 agricultural drone market is suddenly exploding

More favorable policy developments and regulatory landscapes

A huge factor in the expansion of drone usage in agriculture? ore accommodating policies from aviation authorities worldwide.

Countries like Argentina and Spain are easing restrictions and streamlining approvals for drone use in agriculture. Brazil has standardized pilot training, making it easier than ever to get certified to fly legally.

In the United States, however, the regulatory environment presents challenges. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of developing Part 108, a regulation aimed at standardizing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This regulation is anticipated to introduce requirements such as detect-and-avoid technology and specific pilot certifications.

Despite these efforts, the FAA has yet to finalize Part 108, leading to a backlog of over 1,200 pilot applications in the first half of 2024. This delay has resulted in some operators flying without proper certification, raising safety and legal concerns.

Innovations in agricultural drone technology

DJI first began investing in research and development for the advancement of spray drones way back in 2012. By 2015, DJI formalized its agricultural division, creating a team within the company called DJI Agriculture.

And since then, the tech innovation has exploded. For example, one of DJI’s breakthroughs was when it optimized nozzle designs and airflow dynamics in its drones to minimize pesticide drift, a common issue in aerial spraying.

In practice, that means spray drones can now deliver pesticides and fertilizers with greater precision, reducing waste and off-target contamination. DJI shared an example of coffee farms in Brazil, where DJI’s Agras T40 and T50 drones have reduced operational costs by up to 70% compared to manual spraying. Similarly, a vineyard owner in Romania managed to cut chemical usage by half and reduced spraying time from several days to just 2.5 hours.

Increased care for the environment

The benefits of drones extends beyond cutting back on chemical usage. Drones have also made it possible to better conserve water. For example, a case study on drones in banana cultivation found that banana farmers who used drones were able to drop their water usage by 90% annually, and decrease their application of fungicides and pesticides has decreased by 40%, according to DJI’s 2025 agricultural drone report.

Challenges for the 2025 agricultural drone market — and the road ahead

That new DJI report signals that we’re just now entering the early majority adoption phase of agricultural drones. But despite the promising outlook, challenges remain.

Regulatory hurdles, particularly in the U.S., need to be addressed to facilitate broader adoption. The finalization of Part 108 is crucial for enabling routine BVLOS operations, which are essential for large-scale agricultural applications.

Moreover, concerns over data security and the dominance of Chinese manufacturers like DJI have sparked debates about the need for diversification in the drone supply chain.

And then there are concerns about availability, particularly has DJI dominates the market of agricultural drones. Many customers fear that new tariffs on products imported into the U.S. could drive up the cost of all sorts of drones — both those made internationally and those made in America.

That’s because even American-made drones typically rely on products made in other countries for at least some parts, whether that’s a simple screw or plastic piece, or a full computer. For example, the eBee X from AgEagle Aerial Systems is largely made in Switzerland, despite AgEagle itself being based in Kansas.

For its part, DJI says it isn’t backing down on agricultural drone production.

“Agricultural drones have become essential farm equipment around the world,” Yuan Zhang, Head of Global Sales at DJI Agriculture. “As the industry continues to mature globally, DJI Agriculture remains steadfast in our mission to help farmers improve efficiency and sustainably increase their yields through innovative drone technology.”

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