Kelowna Welcomes Ag-Tech as Aerial Army Descends on Okanagan Orchards

The City of Kelowna is tapping into aerial technology as the Okanagan ushers in what it calls a “new era of high-tech agriculture.”

Kelowna is partnering with Vancouver-based robotics firm InDro Robotics to leverage drone tech aimed at monitoring crop health and anticipating orchard yields, the City announced this month.

A pilot project will see a fleet of drones and other robots cover 200 acres of apple, pear, and cherry trees across a range of farms selected by the Regional District Central Okanagan.

“The agricultural industry [is] an integral part of our healthy food system and local economy,” says Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas.

Days says agriculture is an “economic sector that occupies more than 40 per cent of our city’s lands and is also an essential part of our cultural identity.”

“Council is committed to supporting innovative ideas to help farmers better navigate changing conditions to be more resilient and sustainable,” the mayor stated. “This initiative is an example of how Council’s priority to support agriculture is being advanced.”

The InDro Robotics army of airborne drones and ground roving robots will help farmers reach new levels of crop management, believes Philip Reece, the founder of InDro Robotics.

“As we embrace the future of agriculture, we’re not just introducing robots and drones,” says Reece, who serves as chief executive officer of his upstart. “We’re ushering in a new era of precision farming.”

Reece says that InDro’s “cutting-edge system empowers farmers to harness the power of technology to revolutionize crop management.”

“Our autonomous robots and drones will inspect crops, providing near real-time data on plant health, infestations, soil moisture, and more,” he says.

The pilot is slated to run for two years, according to Reece.

The data collected by the orchard roving technologies is expected to help local farmers increase yields, reduce overhead, improve water use efficiencies, and assure competitiveness in the global market, according to the City of Kelowna.

“Through innovative drone and robot technology, we aim to equip farmers with valuable insights to enhance crop yields, reduce costs, and bolster their resilience in the face of challenges,” said Jazz Pabla, City of Kelowna Information Services Director.