26 June 2019: The Pesticides Risk Reduction Seminar provided a good opportunity for experts in OECD governments and stakeholders to share their knowledge, experience and possible concerns in the area of Evolving Digital and Mechanical Technologies for Pesticides and Pest Management.

1. OECD Risk Reduction Seminar: “Evolving Digital and Mechanical Technologies for Pesticide Application and Pest Management”
Evaluating Drone Application Technology
in Crop Protection:
FMC’s Experience in China and USA
John T Andaloro - Global Technical Product Mgr
Xuan Li and Edward Lang - Global Application Technology Engineers
June 2019

2. 2
Drone Technology:
FMC’s Organization and Reasons for Engagement
Global Product
Development Mgr
Responsible for Diamide insecticide-
Rynaxypyr® (Coragen®, Prevathon®)
• Product performance
• Label & stewardship
• Resistance management
• Product attributes and tech positioning
• Competitive products & disruptors
• Knowledge gap research
• Training, Life Cycle Man, Renewal
FMC’s
Coragen®:
Top Selling
Insecticide on
China Rice
2018:
Over 18 M
Hectares
Sprayed by
Drones
• Technical foundation
• Product registration
• Label and stewardship
• Product research & development
• Competitive products & disruptors
• Training
• Renewal
Country R&D
Responsible for coordinating
country research to register support,
and maintain FMC portfolio.
Application Technology
Responsible for understanding
technology that enhances or
impacts FMC pesticide portfolio.
• Product support and renewal
• New technology assessment
• Formulation optimization
• Spray quality control
• Discovery sprayer design
• Integrate technology innovations
into FMC portfolio offering

3. Drone Technology is a New Application Method
MUST MEET BASIC APPLICATION
TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS FOR CROP
PROTECTION
✓ Accurately apply the label rate.
✓ Guarantee uniform distribution of active
ingredient over target crop/plant part.
To Maximize the Insecticidal Attributes of a Product
and Crop Protection
However, this will
be challenging for
a number of
reasons

4. Application Technology Challenge #1: New Chemistry
Crop Protection Chemicals Have Advanced- Insects Must Feed:
SG&A % of
Revenue
EBITDA
(Billions)
R&D
(Millions)
AvauntAvaunt™*™* InsecticideInsecticide
Larvae walking
over a dried spray
residual are
controlled
• Older products
were active
through contact
and vapor
pressure
• These products
are also more
toxic to
mammals or the
environment
New Insecticides Have Very Different Modes of Action and Entry
Larvae ingesting
a bite of leaf, are
paralyzed, and
die
▪ Organophosphates
▪ Carbamates
▪ Pyrethroids
▪ Organochlorines
• Newer products
depend on the
insects
ingesting treated
plant material.
• These products
are much safer to
mammals and
the environment
and at some at
lower rates.
Larvae walking
over a dried
spray residual
MAY NOT be
affected
▪ Diamides
▪ Spinosyns
▪ Insect Growth Regulators
▪ Biologicals
▪ RNAi

5. Application Technology Challenge #2 - Targeted Delivery
Must Deliver Product to Where the Pest is Located/Feeding
Canopy Penetration is Required for Insect Control
Rice Stem Borer
• Stem Borer larvae are deeper in the canopy.
• Once they bore into the stem they can’t access
the insecticide.
• Brown Plant Hoppers feed at the base of the rice
plant near the water line.
• Hoppers secrete toxins that kill the plant.
Brown Plant Hopper
Rice Stem Borers and Planthoppers Can Devastate a Crop

6. Application Technology Challenge #2 - Targeted Delivery
Must Deliver Product to Where the Pest is Located/Feeding
Insecticide Must Move Down the Whorl to Control Fall Armyworm
Spodoptera frugiperda needs to be controlled at early larval stage in the whorl or it can destroy a crop
Need:
• High water volume
• Directed nozzle

7. Application Technology Challenge #3 – Maximizing Product Attributes
Need Quality Spray Technology to Deliver Value and for Product Longevity
Good Spray Coverage Improves Insecticidal Efficacy:
MAXIMIZES PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES
Suboptimized spray quality cheats
growers of promised product value
Example Coragen®

8. ✓ Very few new products
✓ Remaining products less effective – (Resistance)
✓ Products removed for human & environmental tox
✓ Many spraying methods are suboptimal (China)
✓ Resistance Management is improved through quality spraying
Greatest challenges
Food security is one of the
of the 21st century.
Pest Resistance will Impact China Rice Production!!!!
Application Technology Challenge #3: Managing Insect Resistance
Product Longevity is Improved Through Quality Application Accuracy

9. 2014: Introduction to Drone Applicators - 1st Observations
Guangxi Tianyuan Co. (GXTY) Spinning disc generates
small droplets

10. 2014: Introduction to Drone Applicators - 1st Observations
Guangxi Tianyuan Co. (GXTY) Spinning disc generates
small droplets
• Single rotor- Similar to Yamaha
• Fixed boom- Accurate gr ai/ha
• Consistent speed- Uniform coverage
• Grower safety during application
• Spinning disk- LV to ULV -
…..Small droplets → Drift potential
• Human pilot- Pest control = skill level
• End row spotter- Inefficient

11. Fixed boom, constant speed,
stable pressure prevail over
highly human variables
Battery Operated Back-Pack
Vacuum Pump
Gas Powered Pump-Large Hose Hand Pump Back-Pack
2014 Observation
vs
Despite issues, drone application should be an
improvement over some ground spraying methods.

12. 2014 Observation:
China Ministry of Ag Was Depending on UAV Technology
Can Drone Application:
▪ increase efficiency YES
▪ improve application accuracy YES
▪ reduce pesticide loss ??
▪ improve crop protection ??
➢ EFFICIENCY OF PESTICIDE USAGE IN CHINA IS ONLY 35%
➢ MIN OF AG IS AIMING TO IMPROVE BY 5% BY 2020.
“Zero” pesticide and fertilizer growth:”
Ministry of Ag (NATESC) Policy
Article 32: Reduced use of agrichemicals: increase
biologicals and advanced spraying devices
Application accuracy is the key driving
force to reduce pesticide use.
NOT
REDUCING LABELED USE RATES!!!!

13. After 2014:
The Drone World Transformed….and became more complicated
Area Treated By All China Drone Manufacturers
UAV Units Doubled -Treated Acreage Tripled
UAV Units Acreage treated
2017 14 K 5.5-6.7 MM Ha
2018 24K-30K 13.3-20 MM Ha
▪ Multi-Rotors & nozzle types
▪ Various spray system integrations
▪ New models yearly. Drone Swarms
▪ Contracted Spray Services
▪ 100’s Drone Manufacturers
▪ 40,000 Drone units by 2020
▪ Evolving pilot and drone standards
▪ Spray parameters not standardized

14. Manufacturers Focus On Drone
New Model Promotions
▪ Higher capacity
▪ RTK cm precision
▪ Flight pattern programmable
▪ Integrated imaging
▪ Better flight control
▪ Next gen radar
▪ Intelligent battery
▪ Flight stability
▪ AI integrated
Slow to Address:
✓ Spray system design
✓ Application accuracy
✓ Better pest control
✓ Improved crop protection
Less on the spray system and integration with the drone
Upgraded spray system
(tank design)
Customer → Spray Service
Providers (not grower)

15. 2019 - Challenges to China’s Agriculture Drone Industry
STAKEHOLDERS MUST TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES
❑ Current aircraft flight time and payload capacity
❑ Affordability of drones and crop management services
❑ Training for Farm Owners
❑ Supply and Training of Drone Pilots
❑ Regulatory Restrictions to VLOS and Day-time Operations
We anticipate China’s prominent drone
manufacturers and major crop science
organizations to lead the unification
process of agriculture drone standards.
Crop science organizations will
move towards standardizing
formulations and product mixes
to fit drone delivered solutions.
IPSOS Consulting 2019 Report:
As part of our assessment, we have met with drone associations, institutions,
manufacturers, service providers, value chain stakeholders and industry experts.
Need quality
low drift
formulations
Need spray system
standards!!

16. 1. Low spray volume - 30 l/ha (RSB, BPH FAW coverage & efficacy concerns)
Will drone application control high pest pressure??
2. Micron-size droplets.
Potential for drift/poor coverage – herbicide app liability??
3. Need standard reference for spray system parameters to guide manufacturing.
Are drone models optimally integrated with spray systems and validated by spray quality & best crop protection??
4. Need validated spray models for all multi-rotor UAV’s.
Do we understand the dynamics of aerial droplet dispersal based on drone size, speed, rotor down-draft,
windspeed, temp, boom length, nozzle type, orifice size, pump pressure, distribution by droplet size …etc.??
5. Require quality control/certification process for spray service providers to deliver best quality app.
Train users on drone, spray system, product, pest/crop knowledge→ Crop Protection partnerships needed.
6. Lack of detailed industry best management practices (BMP’s) for grower, pilot, spray team.
Guidance on how to mitigate variables (biological, env, chemical, spray system parameters, safety).
7. Regulatory agencies lack data and experience to provide label guidance
- Most drone sprays are off-label (below min spray volume)!
- ICAMA leadership needed to regulate drift management, minimal equipment and procedural certification,
develop biological data to verify product label claims with drone method of application.
2019 - Challenges to China’s Agriculture Drone Industry
FMC Global Technology Team

17. 2019 - Challenges to China’s Agriculture Drone Industry
✓ Need standard reference for spray system parameters.
✓ Need validated spray models for all multi-rotor UAV’s.
Fixed Boom Under Multi-Rotor?
Boom width & Distance from Rotor?
Drop Nozzles:
Distance from Rotor?
Assume it doesn’t matter?

18. ✓ Low spray volume & Micron-size droplets
✓ Need validated spray models for all multi-rotor UAV’s
2019 - Challenges to China’s Agriculture Drone Industry
Assume it doesn’t matter?
Small droplet-size nozzles. Not drop nozzles.
At mercy of rotor speed and pump pressure

19. Spray service upon demand may result in:
✓ Poorly timed sprays vs recommended technical positioning
✓ Large larvae – mediocre crop protection
✓ Need to meet a schedule-ignore weather conditions
Drone Market: Predicted Operational Models in China
Future TrendPrevalenceType of Operational Model
Leaser Service Provider
Farm Owner-Operator Uncommon
Common
Present Short-Term Long-Term
Present Short-Term Long-Term
IPSOS Consulting 2019 Report:

20. 2019 – Drone Issues Exist But Significant Improvements Are In Progress
▪ Signs of recognizing the importance of quality
crop protection as drone benefit
▪ Service providers receiving bio training
▪ Flight path planning - Autonomous flight
▪ RTK differential positioning
▪ Better sensing technology
▪ Minimal pilot training needed
▪ Efforts underway to certify drone
▪ Remote sensing - > safety
▪ Ground and spray verification
▪ Real-time image processing
▪ Increased biology pilot training
▪ Variable rate spraying
▪ Multi-sensing data fusion
▪ Larger spray tanks
• FAO
• ISO
• WHO
• EASA
• CLI
• OECD
• EPA
• USDA
• Univ Calif
• ICAMA
• SCAU
• CAU
• Min of Ag
• NATESC
• FAA
• NAAA
• ASTM
• ASABE
Many National and International Agencies
are Addressing UAV’s for Pesticide
Application: Focus on Safety
Technical and Procedural
Currently very hard to keep track of players, topics,
objectives, progress since little has been completed or
yet communicated; no base or reference to upgrade.

21. FMC Initial Attempt to Develop Guidelines for Drone Application Excellence
BEST
MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES
2019 | version 2.0
First launch in 2018

22. FMC China R&D: Drone Testing in Replicated Large Plot Trials
Two Years and Six Trials: Drone Testing in
Rice vs Rice Stem Borer and Rice Leaf Folder
Key Results and Observations – Rice Trials
Altacor® 35 WG: 30 gr ai/ha
Coragen® 20 SC: 30 gr ai/ha
Drone Spray Vol: 7.5, 15, 22.5 L/Ha
Backpack Spray Vol: 225-450 L/Ha
Timing: Tillering – Peak egg hatch
Adjuvants: Malfei®, Felwa®, Red Swift®
Drones: DJI MG-1P and Xaircraft P20, MG1S
Backpack: Electric power with single wand
✓ Crop protection by drones statistically equal to backpack sprays
- Regardless of spray water volume
✓ MG1S drone had greater variation vs MG-1P and P20
✓ Crop protection with autonomous flight control was better than manual control
✓ Adjuvant tank mixed with Altacor® had less variation vs no adjuvant
DJI MG-1P XAIR P20 DJI MG1S
Some trials conducted with Dr Guobin Wang from College of Engineering, South China Agricultural
University/National Center for International Collaboration Research on Precision Agricultural Aviation Pesticides Spraying Technology (NPAAC)

23. Test Results
Field deposition: 50-100 l/ha
Field capacity: 2-3 ha/hour
• No significant differences in mildew
control between ground spray, RPA
spray and controls.
• Three season long test sites
• Refined chemical mix over time.
• Due to commercial sale of grapes,
registered products only.
Challenge for access: ground and manned
aerial application Backpack applications >
800 Euro/ha
California Grapes Sprayed Commercially Since 2017
Pictures by Ken Giles – UC Davis

24. Drone Application Tests: FMC’s Altacor® and
Brigade® on California Almonds
Leading Edge Pv60 - 6-rotor Drone Applicator for California Almond Test in 2018
model modified and marketed by Leading Edge Co.
Pilot
Visual observer must
maintain visual contact
Pictures by Ken Giles – UC Davis
Professor Emeritus Durham Giles
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
University of California, Davis
Davis, California, USA

25. Visualized canopy penetration on
WSP mounted on poles at multiple
heights within the almond canopy
Evaluate The Use And Performance of Drone Application Of
Altacor® and Brigade*® On California Almonds - 2018
Spray top high canopy where
coverage is needed but difficult by
conventional orchard sprayers
Pictures by Ken Giles – UC Davis

26. EVALUATING
SPRAY DEPOSITION
▪ Altacor® (Rynaxypyr®) 35 WG
▪ Brigade® (Bifenthrin) 2EC
▪ Adjuvant: w/wo Dyne-Amic
▪ Spray Volume: 50 and 100 l/ha
▪ Spray applications with FMC products can be made through
commercially-available remotely-piloted aircraft with ease of
calibration, product flow and atomization.
▪ Spray deposition, using fine droplets, into canopy was uniform.
Potentially more uniform than high-volume ground spray
applications.
▪ Deposition, as measured by droplet density counts and residue
analysis of active ingredient, was approximately 50% from top of
tree canopy to bottom of tree canopy. Smaller droplets
penetrated deeper into canopy.
▪ Addition of spray adjuvant (surfactant) improved spray coverage.
EC formulation + surfactant resulted in greatest spread, likely due
to lowest surface tension.
▪ Overall methods and results are encouraging for future
assessment and development.
Lower
Top
Middle
FMC collaboration with Dr. Ken Giles at UC Davis and Leading Edge Associates
Card images analyzed
using Drop Vision
Deposition in
Canopy 100L
Evaluate The Use And Performance of Drone
Application Of Altacor® and Brigade*® On
California Almonds - 2018

27. Ballistic Mating Disruption
Application of insect pest pheromones to disrupt mating. Mass male confusion.
Pictures by Ken Giles – UC Davis

28. 28
✓ Overall, seemingly very successful 5 years of commercial use (rice
and cotton) in China and 2 years in California (grapes).
✓ Amazing technology with remarkable benefits.
(many we don’t even know about yet!)
✓ Iterative technical advancements are occurring but slow compared
to dramatic increase in use.
✓ Regulatory and operational guidelines needed….labeling upgrades!
✓ Even once fully optimized….drone applications may be inferior to
ground application in some situations – Need to understand
limitations.
✓ Drone manufacturers need to involve Crop Protection expertise in
design/validation.
Drone Application of Pesticides
some final thoughts

29. John Andaloro John. Andaloro@fmc.com
Xuan Li Xuan.Li@fmc.com
Thank You

30. 30

31. 31
EXTRA SLIDES
Selected slides from FMC’s
Drone Best Management Practices for
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Version 2.0, 2019

32. The 2019 FMC Best Management Practices Are an Initial Attempt to
Develop Guidelines for Drone Application Excellence
BEST
MANAGEMENT
PRACTICES
INDUSTRY WIDE
MODEL SPECIFIC
HIGH QUALITY SPRAY
BEST PEST CONTROL
MEET MoA DIRECTIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP

33. Best Management Practices For
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Applications
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection
FORMULATION AND
ADJUVANT
• Product choice
• Adjuvant types
• Spray preparation
• Proper tank mix
sequence
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
• Preferred conditions
• Marginal conditions
• Conditions avoid
spraying
SPRAY
SYSTEM
• Spray system
calibration
• Accurate drone
application
• Key equipment and
spray variables
• Safety and
drift/exposure
PEST
CONTROL
• Spray coverage
• High insect pest
populations
• New growth
• Product
positioning/timing
• Pest resistance
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection & Safety

34. 34
PRODUCT AND
ADJUVANT
• Product choice
• Adjuvant types
• Spray preparation
• Proper tank mix
sequence
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
• Preferred conditions
• Marginal conditions
• Conditions avoid
spraying
SPRAY
SYSTEM
• Spray system
calibration
• Accurate drone
application
• Key equipment and
spray variables
• Safety and
drift/exposure
PEST
CONTROL
• Spray coverage
• High insect pest
populations
• New growth
• Product
positioning/timing
• Pest resistance
Pest Control Variables
Affecting Drone Application
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection & Safety

35. Application Technology Challenge #3 – Maximizing Product Attributes
Need Quality Spray Technology to Deliver Value and for Product Longevity
Good Spray Coverage Improves Insecticidal Efficacy:
MAXIMIZES PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES
Suboptimized spray quality cheats
growers of promised product value
Example Coragen®

36. 36
Follow Product Positioning Recommendation
To reduce the risk of developing resistant insect populations
Natural Enemies
Spray Coragen®/Altacor®
➢ During tillering stage -> spray during adult flight and at early egg lay
➢ For 2 applications 2 weeks apart -> to protect new growth and control continuous egg lay and large worms
➢ Target moth flight and egg lay -> to spray before damage occurs
➢ Coragen®, Altacor® sprayed on the foliage or Ferterra® applied to the
paddy early in the rice season conserve natural enemies.
➢ Rynaxypyr® products are safe non-target organisms in the field
Non-target organisms

37. 37
Follow Product Positioning Recommendation
To reduce the risk of developing resistant insect populations
Mode of Action Number
SPRAY PROGRAM MUST FOLLOW
INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE
MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS
Poor application:
Selects insects that are resistant to the
insecticide chemistry and accelerates
the development of resistance.
Occurs with both ground and air applicators
General Recommendations:
• Apply Coragen®, Altacor®, Ferterra® and other Group 28 Mode of
Action products during vegetative stage.
• Late vegetative and reproductive stage apps should be rotated to
insecticides with a different Mode of Action.
• Rotating different insecticide chemistries delays insect resistance and
prolongs the life of effective products.

38. 38
Product And Adjuvant Variables
Affecting Drone Application
PEST
CONTROL
• Spray coverage
• High insect pest
populations
• New growth
• Product
positioning/timing
• Pest resistance
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
• Preferred conditions
• Marginal conditions
• Conditions avoid
spraying
SPRAY
SYSTEM
• Spray system
calibration
• Accurate drone
application
• Key equipment and
spray variables
• Safety and
drift/exposure
PRODUCT AND
ADJUVANT
• Product choice
• Adjuvant types
• Spray preparation
• Proper tank mix
sequence
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection & Safety

39. 39
Spray Preparation And Proper Tank Mix Sequence
To ensure compatibility of the tank mix and to avoid clogged nozzles during
spraying or tank cleanout issues
during spraying or tank cleanout issues
❑ Fill spray tank ¼ to ½ full of water
❑ Add products and mix thoroughly.
❑ Follow the correct sequence
❑ Allow time for complete mixing and dispersion.
❑ Pesticides should be applied as soon as possible.
❑ Do not store spray mix solutions overnight.
❑ If spray is postponed agitate to re-suspend material.
Wrong Order of
Addition-
OD Before EC
Drone tanks do not
have agitation??

40. 40
• Use quality adjuvants.
• Adjuvants that penetrate the leaf surface and also reduce surface tension of
the spray droplets are preferred.
• The combination of all the ingredients in the spray mix, especially the
presence of adjuvants, affects droplet size and thus alters the drift potential.
Use of adjuvants
To select the best adjuvants that will maximize effectiveness
of insect control products

41. 41
PEST
CONTROL
• Spray coverage
• High insect pest
populations
• New growth
• Product
positioning/timing
• Pest resistance
PRODUCT AND
ADJUVANT
• Product choice
• Adjuvant types
• Spray preparation
• Proper tank mix
sequence
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
• Preferred conditions
• Marginal conditions
• Conditions avoid
spraying
SPRAY
SYSTEM
• Spray system
calibration
• Accurate drone
application
• Key equipment and
spray variables
• Safety and
drift/exposure
Spray System Variables
Affecting Drone Application
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection & Safety

42. 42
4X View – Leaf Dry Deposit4X View – Leaf Dry Deposit
Calibration Is Necessary and Never A Simple Task
To ensure the correct amount of active ingredient is accurately applied
Poorly calibrated spray systems may
❑ Provide poor pest control
❑ Accelerate insect resistance
❑ Reduce crop yield
High quality application to maximize pest control
➢ To deliver an accurate amount of product as label rate
➢ To even distribution of active ingredient over the field or to
the targets

43. 43
Product Effectiveness Must Be Improved……
Through Better Application Accuracy
Pesticide Drift Is No Accident:
❑ Good Coverage vs. Driftable Fines
❑ Weather and Environmental Factors
❑ Unique drone air wake

44. 44
Concerns on Accurate and Safe Pesticide Application
Using Drone at Low Water Volume

45. 45
PEST
CONTROL
• Spray coverage
• High insect pest
populations
• New growth
• Product
positioning/timing
• Pest resistance
PRODUCT AND
ADJUVANT
• Product choice
• Adjuvant types
• Spray preparation
• Proper tank mix
sequence
SPRAY
SYSTEM
• Spray system
calibration
• Accurate drone
application
• Key equipment and
spray variables
• Safety and
drift/exposure
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
• Preferred conditions
• Marginal conditions
• Conditions avoid
spraying
Environmental Variables
Affecting Drone Application
FOCUS MUST ALWAYS BE
Crop Protection & Safety

46. 46
Preferred Environmental Conditions
To maximize on-target application and minimize drift
• Avoid spray when
• Wind speed too high (exceeds 4 m/s) or too
low (less than 1.5m/s)
• Temperature inversion
Temperature and Relative Humidity
• When facing marginal conditions
• Increase drop size and water volume
Wind Condition and Temperature Inversion
• Time application to avoid rain or overhand
irrigation for at least 2hr after application

47. 47

48. The spraying system of the Xaircraft
Autonomous flight video
125um
85um

49. Ipsos Business Consulting