Brazil: Ministry of Agriculture launches drones in genetically modified sugarcane fields

After receiving training on using drones for inspection purposes, employees of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) of the State of São Paulo began adopting the technology in the field. 

The first operation took place this week, when an unmanned aircraft flew over and mapped experimental areas of genetically modified sugarcane. The product has not yet been approved for commercial use, and Mapa restricts its use.

Monitoring with drones makes work more agile and reduces employees' exposure to adverse conditions in the field, in addition to minimizing travel.

The data and images captured by the aircraft allow measurements to be taken, comparing what is in the field with the data presented by the inspected company. While one server checks the documentation, another controls the flights.

All tests involving Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are regulated and strictly detailed and must comply with biosafety measures approved by the National Biosafety Technical Committee, such as delimitations and dimensioning of cultivation areas.

The high-resolution image allows the inspection of details of the cultivated area and the calculation of the size and quantity of plants on site. Before using this technology, the inspector would have to manually measure the area and mark the latitude and longitude points, among other things.

Three civil servants accompanied the first operation in São Paulo, which took place in the Campinas region. Patricia Schober, head of the MAPA regional office, said she considered it important to incorporate technologies into the ministry's actions that contribute to technically supporting the work of tax auditors. 

″The use of drones in GMO inspections makes the action more agile and effective, in addition to allowing important records for this type of inspection. Since MAPA in the State of São Paulo has an expert on the subject and the equipment available, it would be a mistake not to incorporate technology into this type of action,″ she said.

The ministry trained civil servants from the State of São Paulo to use drones in their activities. The training content included everything from legislation to practical aspects of flying, obtaining, and processing images.

All flights, even during inspections, were authorized by the Department of Airspace Control (Decea), the agency responsible for controlling airspace in Brazil. The aircraft used is duly registered with the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac), which is essential for the data generated by the aircraft to be used legally.

The intention is to use this tool increasingly in inspections in 2025. The Superintendence of Agriculture and Livestock in São Paulo (SFA-SP), which represents Mapa in the state, will soon receive two more state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft acquired by the ministry. One of them has a thermal sensor, a technology that allows it to detect temperature variations and visualize the heat emitted by objects. This aircraft can be used in night operations or low visibility conditions.