Brazil: Aerial spraying reaches BRL 8 billion; Expected to grow 25% by 2028

Brazilian agricultural aviation is experiencing a period of significant expansion and modernization, according to the 2025 Economic and Sustainability Perspectives for Aerial Agriculture study, released by Sindag (National Syndicate of Agricultural Aviation Companies), to which AgroPages had early access.

Authored by economist Ph.D. Cláudio Júnior Oliveira, Operational Director of Sindag, the report revealed that the Brazilian agricultural aviation sector generated BRL 8.17 billion in 2024 solely from applications carried out by manned aircraft. A total of 2,722 manned aircraft were accounted for, encompassing all stages of crop management, which increased the average price per hectare sprayed.

Also reported was that the average area sprayed per aircraft was estimated at 50,000 hectares per harvest, based on a survey of over 50 companies in the sector. With this operational volume, the study estimates that in 2024, manned agricultural aviation covered approximately 136.1 million hectares throughout Brazil.

The growth of imported fleet remains a significant factor, recording a 10.31% increase in 2024, indicating a preference for foreign aircraft. However, those aircraft manufactured within Brazil also showed recovery, growing by 4.46% in the same period. ″This scenario highlights a movement of modernization and renewal in agricultural aviation, ensuring greater operational efficiency for producers,″ the study states.

A current analysis of the fleet from 2010 to 2024 shows continuous growth, despite economic and political fluctuations. The sector faced challenging moments in 2022 and 2023. However, the recovery in 2024 suggests ″a new cycle of investments and technological innovation. The introduction of new technologies, such as the growing use of drones, also plays a fundamental role in the modernization of the sector, presenting an option for agricultural applications,″ according to the Sindag survey.

Additionally, the report outlines scenarios, such as the growth of the sector’s fleet since 2010 and projections until 2028, covering airplanes, helicopters, and drones, as well as economic impacts, crops serviced, the role of aircraft in vegetation fire-fighting operations, and other information.

In this regard, the data projects an average annual growth rate of 4.16% over the next three years. The expectation is that the Brazilian fleet will surpass 3,400 agricultural aircraft in the coming years, covering more than 170 million hectares. Simultaneously, annual revenue is projected to break the BRL 10 billion barrier in the same period, consolidating Brazil as the second-largest global power in agricultural aviation.

Drones

The fleet of unmanned aircraft dedicated to use in agriculture in Brazil recorded explosive growth between 2021 and 2024, jumping from just 355 units to an impressive 7,832 drones, according to data presented in the 2025 Economic and Sustainability Perspectives for Aerial Agriculture report by Sindag.

This increase represents an expansion of over 2,100% during the period, highlighting the rapid adoption of this technology by the national agricultural sector. The numbers show a significant acceleration, especially from 2022, when the fleet grew from 652 to 3,605 units in 2023, doubling again in the following year.

Regarding the origin of the drones, there is a clear predominance of drones from China, which accounts for virtually all models with the largest quantities, such as those from the DJI and XAG lines. No Brazilian model holds a significant share in this table. Nevertheless, national brands, such as Xmobots, GTEEX, EFFORT TECH, and SkyDrones have a modest presence, indicating an initial movement by the domestic industry in manufacturing agricultural drones, albeit on a smaller scale compared to Chinese dominance in the drone market.

New Generation of Agricultural Aircraft

Parallel to the growth of conventional drones, a new category of aircraft is revolutionizing precision agriculture in Brazil, according to Sindag. Autonomous large-scale aircraft, equipped with 300-liter reservoirs and fixed-wing technology, represent a significant qualitative leap, compared to traditional rotary-wing drones.

These platforms incorporate state-of-the-art autonomous navigation systems, high-precision onboard sensors, and integration with real-time monitoring platforms. This combination enables complex and extensive operations without the need for an onboard pilot, offering greater payload capacity and superior performance, compared to conventional equipment.

The adoption of these larger-scale aircraft requires the development of new regulations addressing critical aspects, such as flight safety, integration with conventional air traffic, and specific certification protocols. From a scientific perspective, their use drives significant advancements in agronomic modeling based upon geospatial data, optimization of input use, and a substantial reduction in environmental impacts.

The consolidation of this technology promises to completely redefine the role of aviation in contemporary agriculture, expanding possibilities beyond traditional spraying and monitoring operations. In Brazil, the company Pika stands out as a pioneer in delivering this new generation of technological solutions for the agricultural sector.

ESG

Beyond economic figures, the report underscores the massive adoption of social and environmental governance practices (ESG). The study notes that 97% of companies in the sector already implement socio-environmental responsibility actions, with 93% adopting green innovations, such as precision software, smart sensors, and drone assistance.

Oliveira’s study highlights the sector’s work, particularly in crops, such as soybeans, corn, cotton, sugarcane, rice, and pastures, as well as planted forests, such as eucalyptus and pine. It also reinforces the strategic role of agricultural aviation in areas, including pest and fire control, seeding, river repopulation, and applications in hard-to-reach areas. According to Sindag, these ESG actions position Brazilian agricultural aviation as a protagonist in food security, environmental control, and the sustainability of Brazilian agribusiness.

Meanwhile, Hoana Almeida, president of Sindag’s Board of Directors, noted that Brazil is the largest customer of agricultural aircraft manufacturers worldwide, and this is no coincidence: ″We are a country that feeds the world, and agricultural aviation is one of the pillars supporting this mission. Our work goes beyond flying over crops—it involves precision, technology, safety, environmental care, and social responsibility. The sector has evolved significantly in recent years, and our material reflects that: a detailed snapshot of who we are, what we’ve done, and where we want to go.″

″We live in times of complex challenges, with growing demands from society and accelerated technological advances impacting global agribusiness. Our sector had to adapt quickly, and it did so with excellence, incorporating DGPS, new models of booms, nozzles, aircraft, drones, artificial intelligence, sustainable practices, and a new perspective on governance and operational safety. At the same time, we continue to face the need to improve public perception of the aerial agricultural sector—something that can only be overcome with transparency, dialogue, and reliable data,″ said Almeida.

(Editing by Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages)