Ploughing 2025: Zenadrone plans farmer-focused drone service centres

USA – Drone technology took centre stage at Ploughing 2025, with Zenadrone announcing plans to set up service centres that will bring practical drone solutions directly to farmers.

Drones are fast becoming the most talked-about tool in modern farming, offering solutions that neither automated tractors nor small robots have managed to deliver.

At this year’s Ploughing event, one company, Zenadrone, stood out by promising not just machines but a complete service for farmers.

Zenadrone is building a network of service centres across the countries where it operates. Farmers will be able to buy drone services directly rather than purchase expensive equipment.

Simon Henry, Vice President for Business Development, explained, “We are not here to dump technology on farming. We want to work with our customers at a pace that the end user is comfortable with.”

This approach sets Zenadrone apart from others in the industry. While many firms sell drones and leave farmers to figure out how to use them, Zenadrone keeps both drone operation and data analysis in-house. Farmers will receive ready-to-use results without needing a licence, training, or specialist software.

The company’s flagship model, the ZD1000, can carry 40 kilograms, making it suitable for tasks such as spot spraying. Larger models are also in development.

“These centres will provide a full range of drone services,” Simon said. “From field mapping and spraying to fertilizer application, the services will change and adapt to what farmers actually need.”

Balancing technology with practical needs

Zenadrone’s team includes people with agricultural backgrounds to ensure the technology fits real farm practices. Dhairya Bhatt, Drone Operation Manager, noted that while artificial intelligence and advanced algorithms are useful, they still have limits.

“What is often termed AI has issues. Its output still needs verifying by a human. It doesn’t always get it right,” he said.

The company insists that while software plays an important role, its real focus is on providing dependable services that improve efficiency and reduce costs. Early disease detection using multi-spectral cameras is one example.

By identifying crop issues from the air before they appear at ground level, farmers can target treatments and avoid spraying entire fields.

Looking ahead

Zenadrone plans to launch its first service centre in County Cork early next year. Interest from farmers has grown steadily over the last three years.

Importantly, it is not only younger farmers who are keen. Many older farmers see drones as a way to save money and manage labour shortages.

The company already employs more than 400 people worldwide and will expand its team in Ireland, with a focus on drone pilots and technicians. Training will be part of the service centre rollout.

As farming technology continues to move forward, Ploughing 2025 also featured several new machines. Farmhand showed off the Pantera 7004 self-propelled sprayer with a 6,500-litre tank and a 45-metre boom.

Abbey Machinery displayed a nurse tank, a diet feeder, and a shear grab. Kilkenny dairy farmer Seamus Kenny’s Autocoupler device, which allows loaders to connect implements without leaving the cab, also drew attention.

For Zenadrone, the path is clear: build services that work for farmers, not just machines. As Simon Henry summed it up, “We want to make sure farmers see real value from drones, not just gadgets in the shed.”

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