TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's agricultural scientists have achieved a breakthrough in farm automation that could transform fruit production across the island. The Agricultural Chemicals Research Institute (ACRI, 農業部農業藥物試驗所), Taiwan's primary agricultural pesticide research agency, revealed Tuesday (June 24) that its pioneering drone-based pesticide application system has yielded impressive results in field trials conducted in Nanzhou Township (南州鄉), a major agricultural district in southern Taiwan's Pingtung County. The experimental program, initiated in 2024, specifically targets the pineapple mealybug, a persistent pest that damages fruit quality and reduces yields. Officials highlighted that the aerial application method slashes labor requirements by more than 50 percent compared to traditional manual spraying techniques.
According to the institute's detailed technical statement, researchers utilized two government-approved commercial pesticide formulations — Diazinon 56% EW and Malathion 50% EW — enhanced with a specialized surfactant developed specifically for aerial dispersal patterns. Hsieh Feng-chia (謝奉家), who leads ACRI's Product Development Division (資材研發組), addressed concerns about efficacy by presenting data confirming that the drone delivery system achieves pest control results equal to or better than conventional manual application methods. Encouraged by these outcomes, Hsieh outlined an ambitious expansion roadmap that includes adapting the technology for Taiwan's economically significant banana industry through comprehensive training programs for agricultural extension workers and farmers across the island's tropical southern regions.
The precision agriculture project employed a team of ACRI-trained drone pilots who executed carefully calibrated flight patterns designed to maximize pesticide coverage while minimizing environmental drift. The unmanned aircraft operated at a precisely maintained altitude of 1.5 meters above the crop canopy while traveling at a consistent speed of 3 meters per second, distributing just 80 liters of water-pesticide mixture per hectare — a fraction of the volume required for traditional ground-based application methods. Subsequent field monitoring produced compelling efficacy data: pineapples treated with Diazinon showed virtually complete pest elimination at both the crown ("eyes") and base regions when assessed 21 days post-application. Similarly impressive results emerged from the Malathion trial, which maintained mealybug populations below detection thresholds at the crown and at manageable levels below ten insects per fruit at the base after two treatment cycles over a 14-day period.
Beyond pest control efficacy, the drone system delivers substantial operational advantages that directly benefit agricultural workers' health and productivity. Field technicians documented completion times of just 30 to 60 minutes per hectare — a dramatic improvement over manual methods that typically require multiple laborers working several hours to cover equivalent areas. This efficiency translates to significantly reduced pesticide exposure for farm workers, addressing long-standing occupational safety concerns in Taiwan's agricultural sector. Participating farmers provided enthusiastic feedback during post-trial interviews, noting that the drone operations not only streamlined their pest management workflows but also improved overall pesticide distribution uniformity, resulting in higher quality fruit with fewer blemishes and increased marketable yields. ◼
