Today we are with Roberto Remagni Buoli, from the Buoli Attilio di Remagni Silvio e C s.n.c. company, a company that has been contracting in the agricultural sector for almost eighty years. We had the chance to talk about drones and biological control of tomato spider mites and corn borers.

Aermatica3D: Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you met Aermatica3D?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: We are a company that does service contracting in agriculture. For ten years we have offered treatments on corn using the stilt. In 2016, tired of being in contact with the insecticide, we decided to stop. At Verona Agricultural Fair in February 2016 we saw a drone offering treatments against trichogram borer and we decided to try it on our plots. After two years of excellent results, we have obtained the necessary certificates to use a drone. In 2018, Marco Zambelli, CAI-Consorzi Agrari D'Italia agronomist, advised us to purchase Aermatica3D drones solutions. The General Manager of Aermatica3D, Eng. Paolo Marras, gave us a demonstration of the DJI Matrice 100 product with the D-Box capsule distribution kit and we immediately fell in love, a very precise, intuitive and simple to use system. From there it all started. In 2024, we upgraded to a DJI Matrice 350 with integration of Aermatica3D Agriculture Kits.
Aermatica3D: How long have you been working in the drone sector and how did you come to specialize in agricultural services?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: I have been working in the drone sector since 2018. The specialization in agricultural services was born from the need to find more effective and sustainable solutions compared to traditional methods.
Aermatica3D: What are the main benefits of using drones in biological control compared to traditional methods?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: The main benefits are respect for the environment and the absence of trampling of the ground, guaranteeing greater sustainability for the operator and the ecosystem.
Aermatica3D: Can you describe how the release of Trichogramma brassicae occurs via drones for corn borer control?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: The release of the Trichogramma is very simple with the Aermatica3D app. You arrive in the field, define the boundaries together with the farmer, enter the working parameters, fill the container and the drone does everything else autonomously.
Aermatica3D: What specific technologies and equipment do you use for this type of work?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: We use the M350 for its greater battery life and capacity. The Aermatica3D App, together with the distributor, guarantees precise work with georeferenced reports. Additionally, we are using the K-Kit for phytoseiid releases.
Aermatica3D: In terms of costs, how does the use of drones for biological control compare to manual or chemical methods?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: The use of drones is competitive in terms of costs, especially considering the reduction in foot traffic and the effectiveness of the release of biological agents without the use of chemicals.
Aermatica3D: How much time do you save using drones for the release of biological agents such as Trichogramma brassicae compared to traditional methods?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: With the M100 I was able to cover 100 hectares in a day, while with the M350, thanks to the greater autonomy and capacity, we can reach 150 hectares a day without problems. We saved about 30% in costs compared to manual methods.
Aermatica3D: What feedback have you received from your customers on the effectiveness of biological control carried out with drones?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: The feedback was very positive. Customers appreciate the precision and effectiveness of biological agent delivery via drones, as well as the environmental benefits.
Aermatica3D: Can you share some results or success stories that demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: A significant example was the success in controlling the corn borer over large areas, where we drastically reduced the infestation thanks to the precise and uniform release of Trichogramma brassicae.
Aermatica3D: What are the main challenges you have encountered in using drones for biological control?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: The main challenges were related to training and equipment management. However, with the experience and support of Aermatica3D, we managed to overcome them effectively.
Aermatica3D: How do you see the future of the use of drones in agriculture, in particular for the biological fight against parasites such as the red tomato spider mite and the corn borer?
Roberto Remagni Buoli: The future of the use of drones in agriculture is very promising. Technology will continue to evolve, offering increasingly efficient and sustainable solutions for fighting biologists.

For more informations, contact us at info@aermatica.com

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing Alessandro Zucchini, a young and passionate drone enthusiast from Ferrara that just purchased our D-Box system for capsule distribution with drones. Despite his age, Alessandro has already made significant strides in the world of drones and technology. He shared with us his journey from high school competitions,  to working with renowned production companies like RAI and Sky.

Aermatica3D: Good morning Alessandro, thanks for being here with us. Please, first tell us a little about yourself.
Alessandro Zucchini: Good morning, my name is Alessandro Zucchini, I'm 24 years old and I come from Ferrara. I am relatively young, but I have been passionate about the world of drones since high school. Even then I was interested in technology and 3D printing. I have participated in several competitions, such as the Robotics Olympics in Milan, where I created a 3D printed therapeutic hand exoskeleton. After school, I started working to pay for drone flying courses. Later, I opened the VAT number and now I mainly deal with video productions with drones, collaborating with various production companies, including RAI and Sky.
Aermatica3D: You recently purchased a DJI Matrice 350 drone equipped with the Aermatica3D D-Box capsule distribution kit. How did you discover this technology?
Alessandro Zucchini: I discovered the DJI Matrice 350 with the Aermatica3D kit thanks to another customer, Luca Raimondi. I saw his equipment and noticed that it was produced by Aermatica3D. I learned about their products via social media and the company website. I found their products reliable and well made compared to others on the market, so I decided to rely on them.

Aermatica3D: How do you think this technology will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of work in organic farming?
Alessandro Zucchini: I haven't started using it yet, so I can't speak from personal experience. However, I am convinced that the drone will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of interventions in organic farming. The eggs of insects useful for biological control, such as the trichogramma brassicae against the corn borer and other pests, can be distributed in very large quantities using small, lightweight capsules. A lightweight drone equipped with the Aermatica3D D-Box can automatically distribute the capsules ensuring coverage of a field using the integrated BLY3D software. Distributing the capsules with the drone makes the intervention more sensible than the use of chemical products, allowing a biological approach. This can also be interesting for farmers in terms of costs and speed of intervention. I already have some interested customers and we will see how it goes this year.
Aermatica3D: What are your expectations for the use of the drone in your agricultural business?
Alessandro Zucchini: My expectations are high. I believe the drone can revolutionize the way we manage organic crops. I hope to see greater effectiveness in the distribution of capsules and a reduction in costs and intervention times. I also expect an improvement in plant health and crop quality.
Aermatica3D: Would you recommend this technology to other farmers? If yes, why?
Alessandro Zucchini: Yes, I would definitely recommend it. I think that drones represent the future of agriculture, especially organic agriculture. They offer a more efficient and sustainable way of managing crops. With the D-Box, Aermatica3D capsule distribution kit, farmers can adopt more natural and environmentally friendly methods, reducing the use of chemical products. The D-Box allows us to avoid the use of large tractors to spread chemical substances on crops, eliminating both safety problems for operators and the impact on crops and the environment.
Aermatica3D: Thank you very much, Alessandro, for your time and for sharing your experience with us. We wish you the best in your business.
Alessandro Zucchini: Thanks to you, it was a pleasure.