Syngenta, DJI plant seeds for agricultural drone partnership

The world’s largest consumer drone-maker, DJI Technology Co. Ltd., has teamed up with Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta AG to secure a foothold in China’s booming agricultural drone market.

The deal aims to improve the technology of DJI’s drones by taking advantage of Syngenta’s expertise in spraying pesticides on crops, the companies announced last Wednesday.

A trial program will be rolled out in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang before expanding to other provinces like Zhejiang and Anhui, Caixin has learned.

Established in 2006, DJI has developed quickly with its consumer drones — mainly used for film shooting in the media and entertainment industries. But the company began flying its drones into the agricultural sector in 2015, tapping the growth potential of the market.