Ag Tech Talk Podcast: Adoption Trends for Precision Ag, Farm Management Platforms, and Drones

In this episode of Ag Tech Talk by AgriBusiness Global, we sit down with Maria McWhorter, Head of North America Ag at Kynetec, to explore the latest trends in agricultural technology adoption. A market research and data company, Kynetec accesses insights from farmers and how they make decisions about ag tech. McWhorter shares key findings on the rise of precision ag, farm management platforms, and drone adoption and how it may affect the crop protection industry across different regions.

* This is an edited and partial transcript of this podcast.

ABG: Which ag tech solutions would you say are leading the way globally in adoption? Are there specific ag technologies or categories gaining more traction than others?

Maria McWhorter (MM): Ag tech adoption is a topic of great interest for many of our clients.  We conduct several market insights projects in this area each year, and one thing is clear—precision agriculture continues to dominate.

But there are a few key categories that are really gaining traction.

First is precision ag technologies. The global positioning system (GPS)-guided machinery and precision irrigation/spraying are game-changers because they help farmers optimize inputs, to more efficient and reduce costs.

Then there are farm management platforms. These are becoming essential because they pull in multiple data sources—weather, crop monitoring, analytics—so farmers can make more informed, real-time decisions.

Finally, drones, which are more than just a trend, drone adoption is growing, especially for crop monitoring and spraying, because they provide real-time insights and reduce labor costs.

ABG: What does your research say about drone adoption in different regions and countries?

MM: For more than a decade, drones have been talked about as the next big thing in agriculture. Now, we’re finally seeing real momentum, but the level of implementation varies across regions.

In the U.S., we see cautious optimism. In a study we recently conducted to better understand perspectives on the future of robotics, we interviewed more than 300 farmers across more than 30 states. Nearly 40% of respondents say they are considering drones, but actual usage is still limited to larger, corporate-style operations and consultants.

Meanwhile, China is leading the way with large-scale deployment, covering about 200 million hectares.

In India, adoption is just getting started, but growth is expected to take off. About 3,000 drones are in use today, and the government is actively supporting expansion with extended approvals and safety guidelines.

Africa is facing real hurdles—limited technical expertise and regulatory barriers are slowing adoption. But public-private partnerships could help bridge this gap.

Our team of experts estimate that drone adoption will grow at an annual rate of 15%–20%, potentially driving the market value to around $10 billion by 2030.