Adjuvants Take Flight: Formulating for the Drone Era

Drone adoption is increasing, and adjuvant formulations are becoming more critical.

“As drone fleets become larger, more autonomous, and more economically attractive, we can expect demand for drone-compatible formulations and specialized adjuvants to accelerate significantly over the next five years,” says Rovensa Next’s Global Scientific and Technical Manager Cédric Ernenwein.

Rene Haensel, Global Head of Applied Technology Agriculture, Agriculture & Specialties, at Evonik, says that adjuvants are key for successful spraying.

“With certain tank-mix additives, we can mitigate the drift problems and increase the biological efficacy,” he says.

Refocusing R&D

As drone delivery systems become more prevalent, many large manufacturers are refining their R&D strategies.

Ernenwein says adjuvant formulations will need to consider droplet size management, drift reduction, deposition efficiency, spreading, evaporation control, and compatibility with rotary atomizers.

Steve Li, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Weed Science in Auburn University’s Department of Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences, says these formulation adaptations may take time.

“It’s very new technology, and it’s still expanding,” Li says. “Right now, it’s more appropriate to say we’re testing all the existing formulations to see which ones actually fit drone applications.”

Haensel cautioned that while formulation is one thing, regulatory approval is another.

“Maybe a lot of people are already developing such formulations, but we still need some time until they get approval from the authorities,” Haensel said.

Darryl Ramoutar, Global Technical Director, Agriculture, gChem, says that in an effort to focus on co-formulants and adjuvant systems, many companies are engaging in co-development partnerships.

“These partnerships are closely aligned with the rise of precision application technologies, as modern ag integrates digital tools, advanced sensing, and data analytics to enable site-specific input management,” Ramoutar says. “The result is improved resource efficiency, enhanced agronomic outcomes, and reduced environmental impact.”

Regional Differences

As with many new technologies, adoption rates vary across different regions.

While Ramoutar says adoption is already advanced in parts of Asia (particularly China, Japan, and South Korea), in North America, drone applications are treated under conventional aerial application rules, highlighting uneven global regulatory maturity.

“China and India have integrated drones into pesticide frameworks or introduced drone-specific labeling, while Japan explicitly includes drone use in product directions,” Ramoutar says. “Conversely, the U.S., Brazil, and Australia rely on existing aerial application regulations, and Europe and Canada impose stricter requirements that limit widespread deployment.”

Despite these barriers, Li says drone usage in the U.S. has increased in recent years.

“Five years ago, when you talked to a farmer in the Southeast or Midwest about spray drones, nobody knew a thing,” Li says. “Within the last three years, we have seen a rapid expansion of drone applications.”

Technical differences, including drone payload capacity, spray technologies, and application protocols, also play a role in the rate of adoption, Ernenwein says.

These regional disparities also extend to formulation and adjuvant strategies.

For instance, Ramoutar says Asia is a leader in developing drone-specific formulations and standardized adjuvant use, embedding them directly into application systems, while Latin America and North America primarily adapt conventional products through tank mixes and operational adjustments. Europe emphasizes low-toxicity and environmentally compliant adjuvants, and Africa remains in an early stage of adoption, with limited innovation and reliance on generic inputs.

In addition, Ernenwein says agronomic context matters.

“Drone application is particularly well suited to situations where conventional spraying is difficult or inefficient, such as small plots, steep and uneven types of terrain, as well as for targeted re-applications during the vegetative stage,” Ernenwein says. “It is also increasingly relevant in high-value crops where precision and reduced crop damage are essential.”

He cites rice crops, vineyards, orchards, and certain specialty crops, where accessibility, water management, and canopy structure constrain traditional spraying methods.

“Overall, despite these regional differences, drone adoption is accelerating across all continents, paving the way for promising innovations in adjuvants,” Ernenwein says.

What’s Ahead

Over the next five to 10 years, Ramoutar says drone formulations and adjuvant technologies will shift from basic additives to specialized, data-driven tools integrated with application systems and digital agronomy platforms.

“Growth will focus on smart, responsive chemistries, including drift-control polymers, adaptive surfactants, and bio-based deposition aids designed for unmanned aerial vehicle specific droplet spectra and environmental conditions,” Ramoutar says.

He adds that artificial intelligence tools may accelerate precise modeling of spray behavior, optimized formulation design, and data‑driven application decisions.

Ernenwein says that as the industry matures, greater standardization and clearer specifications will be required to ensure more precise and consistent product application.

“We expect major technological advances in drone systems, including increased autonomy, higher payload capacities, improved navigation systems, and the deployment of coordinated drone swarms,” Ernenwein says. “Future solutions must combine high performance with robust environmental and regulatory profiles.”

However, Ernenwein emphasizes that aerial application must be conducted with extreme precision to minimize the risk of environmental contamination, with drift management as a key priority.

“If drift risks are not adequately controlled, regulatory restrictions could slow the adoption of this technology and limit growth potential,” says Ernenwein. “This is why adjuvants with robust drift reduction properties play such an important role. Beyond improving application performance, they contribute to safer, more responsible use of crop protection products by helping ensure that products reach their intended target while minimizing environmental exposure.”