Colverde, Italy – 04 september 2024
Aermatica3D was honored to host the Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Southwest Somalia Mr. Dini Abdinur Mohamed at its headquarters in Colverde, Italy, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and climate change management through advanced drone technology.
During the visit, the Minister was given an in-depth presentation of Aermatica3D's latest innovations, including the seeding drones kit recently delivered to the department of Environment and Climate Change of Southwest Somalia. These drones, equipped with cutting-edge kits designed and manufactured by Aermatica3D, play a crucial role in the region's reforestation and environmental protection efforts.
The visit also served as the official signing of a strategic collaboration agreement between Aermatica3D and the government of Southwest Somalia. This agreement signifies the beginning of a comprehensive cooperation project, with Aermatica3D already initiating the first phase of training in Baidoa, Somalia. The agreement provides, as part of a project of close cooperation between Aermatica3D and the government authority of the state of South West Somalia, training activities for Somali personnel on new drone technologies and the supply of drones customized by Aermatica3D, for the reforestation project, but also for environmental monitoring activities with a view to environmental sustainability in support of climate change management.
The Minister and Aermatica3D engaged in productive discussions on the broader applications of drone technology in managing climate change and protecting the environment. Both parties emphasized their shared vision of leveraging innovative technological solutions to improve the quality of life for the people of Somalia.
This partnership underscores Aermatica3D's commitment to advancing environmental sustainability through innovation and close cooperation with global partners.
The S-Box is a seed dispenser kit that can be installed on lightweight industrial drones, transforming them into powerful tools for the fast, automated, and precise distribution of seeds over large areas. This product was developed with the goal of optimizing reforestation and agricultural practices while ensuring maximum efficiency and environmental sustainability.
The seeds are coated with charcoal mixed with fertilizer. The charcoal coating prevents the seeds from being eaten by insects and birds. When the seed balls are dropped in the target area, once exposed to rain, the charcoal coating is washed away, allowing the seeds to start growing.
Technical Specifications
Advantages of the S-Box
The S-Box is ideal for large-scale reforestation in remote areas, facilitating cost-effective replanting efforts. In precision agriculture, its precise and controlled seed distribution allows farmers to optimize crop yields while reducing resource use.
The S-Box represents a breakthrough in the world of agricultural and environmental management drones, combining technological innovation and sustainability. Aermatica3D continues to push the boundaries of drone technology, providing solutions that not only enhance operational efficiency but are also environmentally responsible.
Baidoa - In an effort to increase efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation, the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) through Aermatica3D has trained officials from the Southern State's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change -West on the application of agricultural drones for the release of seeds for reforestation. Aermatica3D has specifically designed and developed the S-Box, a seed distribution kit specifically integrated on the DJI Matrice M300 drone which uses the BLY3D app for managing the kit and ground data collection. The seeds are coated with charcoal mixed with fertilizer to prevent the seeds from being eaten by insects and birds. When these “seed balls” are dropped into the target area, once exposed to rain, the carbon coating is washed away, exposing the seeds to growth.
The three-day specialized training, held in Baidoa, provided Somali Ministry of Environment officials with practical skills and knowledge on the precise use of drones to release tree seeds for reforestation in hard-to-reach areas.
Ms. Idil Muse, Technical Advisor to the South West State Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said the newly acquired skills will greatly enhance the Ministry's ability to implement large-scale reforestation projects and expressed gratitude to UNSOS for the noble initiative.
“The training was impactful; we benefited a lot from it,” said Mohamed Jama, UNSOS environmental affairs officer who also attended the training. “Using drones to release seed balls to improve plant cover is new to us. We know how climate change has affected Somalia and are happy to have acquired the new skills to make a difference in our communities,” Mohamed added.
Christine Wachira of the Field Technology Section (FTS) of UNSOS said that previously, the FTS had trained on Micro Unmanned Aerial Systems (MUAS) operations to improve the operational effectiveness of troops and had now expanded the scope to support environmental initiatives.
The training, conducted by the Environmental Unit, under the Office of the Director of Mission Support and the Geographic Information System Unit under the FTS, covered various aspects of drone operations, including flight planning, Seed payload and maintenance. Participants got hands-on experience with drones and learned safety protocols to ensure responsible and effective use of the technology.
According to Richard Oyoo, head of the UNSOS Environment Unit, the use of drones for seed dispersal is expected to significantly increase the efficiency of reforestation efforts, which are often laborious and time-consuming when done manually.
“Due to the security situation in Somalia, we had to come up with innovative ways to plant trees and take care of the environment. We had this idea of using drones to drop capsules containing seeds in inaccessible areas,” said Dr. Oyoo. He highlighted the importance of using the technology as part of the broader efforts of the United Nations in Somalia to mitigate their carbon footprint from the operation of diesel generators and minimize the negative impact of its operations in Somalia by increasing tree planting as well as improving renewable energy.
Dini Abdinur Mohamed, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of the South West State, highlighted the importance of incorporating technology into environmental conservation initiatives, particularly in Somalia. “The South West is one of the regions most adversely affected by climate change. To be part of this innovative drone training, which will eventually be used to plant trees to increase our vegetation cover, is great, to put it mildly,” he said. the minister stated.
