Overview
Agriflight operates two types of drones: one designed for data collection, equipped with RGB cameras, thermal cameras, multispectral or LiDAR sensors, and another for field work, spreading granules and seeds or spraying liquid products.
Partnering with the Belgian agrifoodTEF Node through the Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek (ILVO), the company gains access to technical expertise, testing support, and valuable networking opportunities. The TEF team conducts drone test flights and provides hands-on guidance, allowing Agriflight to focus on scaling its business and refining its service offering. The partnership has already yielded measurable results, from time savings and improved efficiency, to new business opportunities through exposure at demonstration events.
Arable farming
Greenhouse
Horticulture
Livestock farming
Viticulture
About the customer’s need
Agriflight serves a niche yet rapidly growing market: agricultural research and field trials. Its clients include farmers, seed companies, crop protection developers, and agricultural research centres, as well as non-agricultural customers such as surveying firms.
However, operating in Belgium presents significant challenges. The country’s strict and complex drone regulations (specifically for spreading and spraying), combined with administrative bottlenecks in obtaining flight authorisations and pilot licenses, make it difficult for new companies to enter the market.
At the same time, demand for drone-based data collection and precision spraying is increasing, driven by the need for sustainable practices, reduced chemical use, and more efficient field trials. Agriflight’s goal is to provide high-quality, reliable drone services that accelerate agricultural innovation, but to do so efficiently, the company needed technical validation, testing capacity, and expert support to further professionalise its operations.
About the service
agrifoodTEF, through the Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek (ILVO), supported Agriflight with a tailored Agri Drone Operations service.
A multi-variety cereal crop field trial was sown specifically as a test and validation object for this test flight campaign.
Together with Agriflight expertise of the DJI Dock2 system was acquired, particularly on installing/relocating and maintaining the autonomous drone system.
ILVO’s drone expert team conducted around 20 test flights, saving Agriflight significant time and operational effort (approximately 40 hours of high-quality testing work, including preparation of the test field, flights and processing). The test flight helped to optimise flight path parameters and validate image quality and location data accuracy.
Using the drone supplier's software platform, post-processing Orthomosaic and DSM quality was also validated for individual flights and location accuracy over multiple flights.
Impact
The partnership with agrifoodTEF has significantly advanced Agriflight’s technical and business capabilities. With 20 expert-led test flights conducted by ILVO, Agriflight saved valuable time and resources while improving the precision and reliability of its drone operations.
Participation in agrifoodTEF demonstration events expanded the company’s visibility and led to new commercial contracts, reinforcing its position within the agricultural innovation ecosystem.
Beyond immediate results, the collaboration fostered strong knowledge transfer between Agriflight and ILVO, strengthening the company’s expertise in drone technology and operational best practices. Building on this foundation, Agriflight aims to evolve from a drone service provider into a drone consultant for agriculture, guiding farmers and agribusinesses in adopting practical, sustainable, and cost-effective drone solutions for the future of farming.
This success story showcases how AI and robotics, supported by agrifoodTEF, can benefit agri-businesses. Could your business be the next? Discover our services and join the technological revolution in agriculture.
