Futurology is actively shaping new horizons for the use of agrodrones in agriculture, introducing alternative solutions for a variety of economically significant industries. As part of the Spray Drone End User Conference 2025, held in Mobile, Alabama, Valerii Iakovenko, co-founder of Futurology, joined the panel discussion “Novel & Specialty Applications” alongside leading industry experts.
As a result, the discussions drew particular attention from experts to less obvious—but already widely adopted — methods of using drones across various sectors. These include everything from the release of entomophagous insects to tasks in the renewable energy sector, such as spraying solar panels.
“We see an opportunity to diversify the market, where specific industries can deeply integrate modern agrodrones technologies to perform tasks that previously weren’t accessible to unmanned systems. From mosquito control and crop pollination to protecting solar panels — we’re offering the experience we’ve gained in the Eastern European market,” emphasized Valerii Iakovenko.
In particular, during the panel, Iakovenko shared practical experience on the use of agrodrones to spray bee attractants over rapeseed fields. The application was carried out by drone at a flight height of 9.84 feet above crop level, at a rate of 0.85 gallons/acre. Four smart hives with two bee species, located 0.62 miles from the fields, were monitored over 17 days. Results showed a 10% increase in bee visits to sunflower heads, which led to a yield increase of 440 pounds per acre—equivalent to an additional $28.30/acre in profit.
Iakovenko also discussed drone-based release of Trichogramma, a revolutionary approach in agrotechnology. The first recorded use of Trichogramma by drones in Ukraine dates back to 2008. Ukraine now demonstrates unique practices in drone-based Trichogramma release, offering high cost-efficiency and the ability to cover large areas with exceptional precision. This experience holds global significance, especially as U.S. companies are also beginning to adopt Trichogramma release methods.
Plant protection using entomophages can also be carried out with small drone platforms equipped with modules such as Tricho VRC-2.0, developed by DroneUA, which operates as Futurology’s Ukrainian office. This module has already attracted interest from countries like Brazil.
Another key focus of the discussion was the differential application of crop protection products. In the U.S., current testing involves 2 gallons per acre, while in Ukraine, the standard is just 1 gallon per acre. These differences in application approaches open up new possibilities for optimizing agri-business processes in various markets.
“Using agrodrones isn’t just about automation — it’s about unlocking new possibilities in precision agriculture. We have extensive experience developing and implementing technologies that not only perform tasks efficiently but also set new standards in the ag sector, especially in terms of dosage precision and resource savings,” Iakovenko emphasized.
Futurology continues to shape new approaches to drone use — not only in traditional agricultural applications but also in emerging, progressive directions. The company extends its sincere thanks to Steve Li (Extension Professor, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Auburn University) for organizing the event, as well as to all partners, conference participants, and speakers: Jaclyn Bennett (General Manager, ParaBug), Mike Eaton (NA Sales Manager, Lumiforte), Ed Horvath (Founder and Owner, Three Rivers Mosquito and Vector Control), and Kirk Babcock (Owner, OnPoint Applications Group) for an engaging discussion and the valuable opportunity to exchange expertise.
