Drone Use in On-Farm Environmental Compliance: An Investigation of Regulators’ Perspectives

Freshwater resources around the world are under increasing pressure from agricultural activities. As a result, regulatory frameworks on-farm environmental compliance have become more complex. Consequently, farm plans which been used in New Zealand to identify risks and develop mitigation strategies for freshwater quality can be time consuming costly monitor. Using semi-structured interviews, this study investigated views of regulators working policy implementation on use drones increase efficiency compliance. Results show that improve process robustness by providing an aerial view, they quicker safer steeper contoured farms. However, there is confusion permissions required order capture footage, its ownership storage, who has access rights footage. This ambiguity regulations lead uncertainty part implementors how integrate In addition, positive relationships between farmers officers needed benefits drone realised purposes.