Chinese drones for British fields

A British University has formed a partnership with Chinese technology firm XAG which should see a range of agricultural drones used by British farmers for the first time.

A Chinese technician controls three XAG drones at the same time. [File Photo: VCG]

Harper Adams University, which is a specialist provider of higher education for the agricultural and rural sector, will work towards securing regulatory approval for the aircraft to be used for crop spraying.

The potential benefits of the partnership to the British agricultural industry are huge.

Unlike many other countries, crop-spraying aircraft are not widely used in the UK at the moment, due to the relatively small nature of farms and the high cost of operating traditional planes.

Therefore, the work tends to be undertaken by more labour-intensive means, and the partnership offers the potential to decrease costs and increase profits for British farmers.

Cooperation between Chinese and British agriculture is at an all time high.

For example, a stud farm in Northern Ireland had recently won the UK’s largest ever order from a Chinese customer.

Deerpark Pedigree Pigs, which has seen demand for its exports to China treble over the last few years, will now supply the frozen boar semen to Chinese pig breeders.

According to specialist publication Farming UK, the agreement will also include training for Chinese staff in Artificial Insemination and semen handling.