New drone technology takes flight to protect Australian crops

The way Australian horticulture manages bird damage, is about to transform, with drones leading the charge. A new project, funded by Hort Innovation, will work to develop and commercialise a suite of drone-based deterrence solutions to help growers reduce crop and financial losses caused by birds.  

Over the next three years, trials will be conducted using fixed-wing and flapping-wing drones across key growing regions, including almonds, summer and pome fruit in the Goulburn Valley, and strawberries in Caboolture. 

Led by drone technology specialists AERIUM Analytics, the project will deliver evidence-based, best practice recommendations for growers, tailored to bird species, crop types, operating conditions, and drone configurations. These practices will be designed to support broader adoption across additional crops and regions. 

Anthony Kachenko, General Manager Sustainability and Production R&D at Hort Innovation said the investment demonstrated how important technology-driven solutions were to the future of Australian horticulture: “Bird damage is a persistent challenge for growers across Australia. This project brings together cutting-edge drone technology and expert wildlife management to deliver practical, scalable solutions that protect crops, improve productivity and do not harm local bird wildlife.” 

Delivered in collaboration with Australian industry partners and The University of Adelaide, the project will unlock new opportunities for growers to adopt innovative, non-lethal bird deterrence strategies that are both scalable and environmentally responsible. 

Having demonstrated success in international agricultural and aviation settings, AERIUM’s RoBird technology, an ornithopter drone that mimics the flight of a Peregrine Falcon, will be deployed alongside complementary deterrence tools. This approach has reduced crop loss by up to 75 per cent in overseas trials and is expected to deliver significant benefits to Australian growers through reduced habituation and improved fruit quality and yield. 

Jordan Cicoria, CEO of AERIUM Analytics added: “Our goal is to deliver a practical and scalable bird deterrence solution that integrates seamlessly into growers’ operations. By combining advanced drone technology with rigorous field testing, we’re confident this project will set a new benchmark for Bird Control in agriculture.”  

This initiative (AS24007) is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers and contributions from the Australian Government. 

AERIUM Analytics is a leading provider of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) innovations, delivering integrated drone solutions for complex, high-risk environments such as agricultural operations, airports, natural resource sites, and industrial worksites. Its flagship system, RoBird™, is a multi-platform deterrence technology featuring both flapping-wing and fixed-wing drones that provide humane and highly effective bird control. Supported by its SOLE Management System™, AERIUM ensures safety, compliance, and operational excellence across all operations.