The 4th International Conference of Precision Agricultural Aviation

On November 14-15, 2014, the 4th International Conference of Precision Agricultural Aviation was held in Hongmantang, South China Agricultural University. The conference was hosted by CIGR Precision Aerial Application Application Working Group and College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University. Professor Yubin Lan is the chairman of the conference. The conference invited well-known experts and scholars from China, United States, Australia. More than 100 people from universities, research institutes and enterprises attended the conference.

Professor Huazhong Lu, Vice President of South China Agricultural University, delivered an opening speech. He pointed out that as an important part of modern agriculture and one of the important indicators reflecting the level of agricultural modernization, agricultural aviation had a major demand in the development of modern agriculture in China. Agriculture now facing a shortage of rural labor, a sharp increase in labor costs, and frequent occurrences of agricultural pests and diseases. Agricultural aviation application technology is bound to improve the efficiency of pest control of major food crops and prevent sudden large-scale pests and diseases. It should play an important role in the works above.

Vice President Huazhong Lu said that the university has given great support to the agricultural aviation team in terms of scientific research land and wind tunnel laboratory construction. At the same time, he hoped the participants learn from each other, exchange ideas, broaden their horizons, and promote the innovation of precision agricultural aviation technology. Also achieve more contribution on the disciplinary development, talent cultivation and the combination of production and education.

Then, Vice President Huazhong Lu and Professor Andrew Hewitt unveiled the "International Precision Agriculture Aviation Application Technology Center"

Professor Zhou Yang, Dean of the College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, presided over the report of the morning meeting. Dr. Yubin Lan, Professor of South China Agricultural University, Adjunct Professor of the Department of Agriculture and Bioengineering, Texas A&M University, Adjunct Professor of Texas AgriLife Research Center, USA gave a report about “Precision Aerial Application-Current and Future”, Professor Andrew Hewitt, University of Queensland, Australia, gave a keynote report on “AGDISP”, Professor Ivan Wayne Kirk, Agricultural Research Center of the US Department of Agriculture gave a speech about “Agricultural Aviation in the USA, Fixed-Wing – Equipment History & USDA – ARS Research on Equipment and Methods for Aerial Application”. Three experts gave a detailed introduction about the history, current status and technological development of agricultural aviation. The content was very exciting and brought profound inspiration to the participants.

In the afternoon, a special research report meeting of the institute and a special topic of related technology introduction of enterprises were held respectively. The participants had an extensive and in-depth discussion on the content of the report and the development of precision agricultural aviation in China.

The international conference provided a good communication platform for agricultural aviation researches. The academic discussion atmosphere was active, reflecting the enthusiasm and expectation of the participants in the precision agricultural aviation industry, and we believe that the conference will promote the healthy development of precision agricultural aviation industry around the world.