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Drone revolution in Schleswig-Holstein: flying seeds for sustainable agriculture!
On June 19, 2025, the innovative flying seed project, which uses drone technology for sustainable agriculture, was presented in Schleswig-Holstein.
Drone revolution in Schleswig-Holstein: flying seeds for sustainable agriculture!
Today, June 19, 2025, a major European innovation project called Flugsaat was launched in Lockstedt, Schleswig-Holstein. Led by Ruben Soth from the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Agriculture, the project aims to test the use of drones for sowing catch crops and undersown crops and thus set new standards in agriculture. The President of the Chamber of Agriculture, Ute Volquardsen, and other project partners also took part in its presentation.
What exactly is behind flying seeds? The idea is to spread the seeds, especially for catch crops, from the air - even a few weeks before the harvest in standing grain stands. This innovative drone technology brings numerous advantages:
- Schutz des Saatguts vor UV-Strahlung und Hitze.
- Die Restfeuchte im Pflanzenbestand sorgt für eine bessere Keimung.
- Ein klarer Vegetationsvorsprung der Zwischenfrüchte im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Verfahren.
- Die Technologie schont das Bodenleben, da es keine Bodendruckbelastung gibt.
- Die Aussaat bleibt unabhängig von der Befahrbarkeit der Felder – sogar nach Regen kann gesät werden.
Ecological and economic advantages of drone seeding
Airborne seeding not only has the potential to dramatically increase sowing efficiency, but also contributes to sustainable agriculture. It promotes a closed ground cover in winter, protects against erosion and helps build humus. The nutrient content in the soil is also preserved - a crucial factor given the challenges of climate change, such as rising temperatures and extreme weather events. The use of large agricultural drones also makes it possible to spread seeds and micronutrients precisely and in a resource-saving manner, which represents real business for farmers.
With a cost factor of around 30 euros per hectare, drone sowing is a real saving compared to other methods, such as mulch sowing (55 €/ha) or the seed drill (93-120 €/ha). However, the use of drones is not without challenges: it requires special permits and qualifications, and the costs are around 9,000 euros.
The next steps and field tests
The Flugsaat project, which will run for three years, includes several field tests on nine farms in different natural conditions in Schleswig-Holstein. These are used to compare drone seeding with conventional sowing methods in terms of growth and nutrient protection. In addition to the Chamber of Agriculture, the partners in this ambitious project are various agricultural businesses as well as the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel and Saaten-Union GmbH. A marketable airborne seed mixture and a airborne seed guide based on the results of the field trials are also planned.
Drones are already being used in many areas of agriculture, particularly in detecting plant diseases and locating animals in hay meadows. According to [landwirtschaft.de].
In a world where agricultural practices are increasingly under pressure from ecological and economic demands, there is certainly a lot to gain for farmers and those interested in agriculture from the Flyseed project. Drone technology could be a promising solution to the challenges of modern agriculture.