From cameras to drones: Barko’s next frontier

The Australian agricultural drone market, valued at $50 million (Ref: ABARES) in 2024, is expected to soar to $600 million by 2033 and is largely driven by innovative agricultural solutions. Drones are proving effective against persistent issues like vertebrate animal pests, such as pigs, foxes, rabbits, and birds, offering aerial perspectives once thought out of reach. A recent advance—drone-based pest mitigation—gives farmers new sophisticated tools to protect crops and livestock.

Barko Security, based in Grafton and known for rugged remote camera towers, is expanding into autonomous drones. Founder and CEO Tye M. Atkinson says the latest models, such as those from Chinse multi-national drone manufacturer DJI, can fly for an hour, autonomously recharge, and redeploy. Outfitted with green lasers to deter birds, acoustic speaker devices, and night-operation capability, these drones deliver powerful pest control.

Tye says Barko now provides a full suite of agri-drone services, from checking water, fences, and equipment to seeding remote areas and tracking missing livestock with thermal imaging and AI. The range highlights drones’ adaptability, advancing with every new innovation.

“Licensing requirements for aerial drones can be daunting, so that’s why we’ve partnered with a Registered Training Organisation to help our clients secure necessary certifications. Barko also offers support services such as financing, insurance, and technical support for smoother adoption,” he says.

Drones build on Barko’s core mission of farm security. Its fixed cameras already monitor distant paddocks and assets; integrating the latest in drone technology creates a unified platform with stronger aerial and ground coverage.

“The impact could be considerable: birds alone cause 20–30 per cent yield losses in some horticultural crops, costing Australia hundreds of millions of dollars annually [source: ABARES]. Even modest improvements in monitoring and deterrence, especially for berries, grapes, nuts, and grains, can quickly repay investment,” says Tye.

With personnel now trained on DJI Dock3 and DJI Matrice 4TD drones, Barko plans to roll out drone services first to horticulture before expanding into broader pest and weed management. This staged approach aims to equip farmers with versatile new tools, ultimately strengthening the security and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural sector.

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