In South Africa, the battle against Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) is critical for the country's water security and the protection of its unique biodiversity. IAPs pose a significant risk, with studies by the CSIR indicating that these species can consume up to 30% of South Africa's freshwater resources. This issue is particularly acute considering that only 5% of the country's land mass supplies half of its freshwater.

The threat became starkly apparent in 2018 when Cape Town faced "Day Zero" — the point at which the city's water supply was nearly depleted. This crisis highlighted the need for aggressive management of IAPs to secure the water supply. In response, Cape Town invested R400 million in projects to map, understand, and control the spread of IAPs in critical water catchment areas.

Greenfly Aviation's role in this effort leverages the power of UAV technology for detailed mapping and regular surveillance of these invasive species. Our UAVs provide a cost-effective solution for monitoring the extent of IAPs, evaluating the effectiveness of eradication programs, and planning further interventions.

Beyond water consumption, IAPs, including invasive pine species, contribute to increased biomass, which elevates fire risks. The Cape region, known for its fynbos ecosystem, experiences frequent wildfires that threaten both natural and urban environments. Utilising UAVs, Greenfly Aviation employs LIDAR to assess biomass and multispectral imaging to identify invasive species. This technology allows for precise mapping of invasive densities and an understanding of the landscape, which is crucial for effective clearing operations planning.

Through the application of UAV technology in environmental conservation, Greenfly Aviation plays a pivotal role in preserving South Africa's water resources and natural landscapes. Our work is poised to utilize advanced technology in addressing environmental challenges, , ensuring the sustainability of vital water supplies, and protecting communities from the increasing dangers of wildfires.

In the realm of Earth Science and carbon sequestration studies, UAVs emerge as pivotal tools for enhancing our understanding and management of natural ecosystems. Our UAV operations have the potential to play a critical role in validating carbon credits and assessing the carbon capture capabilities across diverse landscapes. By precisely measuring biomass and identifying carbon sinks, our drones facilitate detailed evaluations of ecosystems' roles in carbon sequestration, providing actionable data for climate change mitigation efforts.

One of the significant advantages of using UAVs in these studies is their ability to augment satellite data. While satellites offer wide-area coverage and historical data crucial for long-term climate monitoring, UAVs excel in delivering high-resolution, localised insights. They fly at lower altitudes, allowing for imagery and data collection with better spectral resolution and less atmospheric interference. This capability is particularly beneficial in densely vegetated or complex terrains where satellite data may not provide the necessary detail for accurate assessments.

Furthermore, our UAVs may be equipped with advanced sensors capable of capturing a wide range of data, from multispectral imagery to LIDAR scans. These technologies enable us to assess fire risks by mapping biomass accumulation and identifying vulnerable areas to wildfire outbreaks. Such detailed spatial data aids in developing targeted management practices for reducing fire risks and enhancing ecosystem resilience against changing climate conditions.

Our work also supports critical environmental management practices, such as deforestation and reforestation efforts. By monitoring changes in land use and vegetation cover, UAVs help track deforestation rates and assess reforestation projects' success. This monitoring is essential for ensuring sustainable forestry management practices that align with global carbon reduction goals.

Greenfly Aviation leverages wide-area UAV surveys in yield forecasting, a process that has the potential to be immensely beneficial to small-scale farmers across Africa. Our UAV technology enables us to provide comprehensive insights into area-wide agricultural performance and the impacts of climate variability on crops. This data is instrumental in supporting agricultural programs aimed at boosting farm productivity and ensuring food security, by leveraging precise, actionable data to forecast and optimise crop yields.

A significant advantage of our approach lies in the use of UAV footage as training data for machine learning algorithms. By integrating high-resolution drone imagery, we can refine the accuracy of algorithms designed to interpret satellite data, making it more applicable and beneficial to subsistence farmers. This synergy between drone and satellite data offers a cost-effective, scalable solution for delivering critical insights to farmers, enabling them to make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, and harvesting.

By providing such tailored agricultural insights, we empower small-scale farmers to increase their yields and profitability, directly contributing to the sustainability of their communities. This technology-driven approach not only enhances the operational effectiveness of agricultural practices but also promotes resilience against the challenges posed by changing climate conditions. Through precise yield forecasting, Greenfly Aviation is helping to pave the way for a future where technology plays a central role in sustaining agriculture and food security in Africa and beyond, ensuring that small-scale farmers have the tools and information they need to thrive.

Releasing FCM using the Dragonfly V represents a pivotal shift from traditional manned aircraft applications. This change not only enhances the safety of operations by eliminating pilot risk but also significantly reduces operational costs. Our technology ensures a higher quality of release, thanks to a non-mechanical method that preserves the integrity of the insects. Additionally, our nighttime releases increase survival rates by minimising exposure to predators, further supported by the UAV's silent operation that ensures farm activities remain undisturbed. The precision of our GPS-logged releases assures farmers of the program's efficacy.

Beyond FCM, Dragonfly V's application extends to a broad spectrum of biocontrol missions with profound implications for both human welfare and environmental conservation:

• In South Africa, the challenge of IAPs is monumental, threatening biodiversity, water resources, and agriculture. Biological controls like the release of specific weevils and gall wasps have emerged as effective countermeasures. Dragonfly V's capability to distribute these biocontrols with precision heralds a new era in combating IAPs.
• Aphid control through Aphidiidae wasps introduces a natural predator into the ecosystem, offering an eco-friendly solution to agricultural pests that compromise crop health and biodiversity.
• Fruit fly management in Southern African agriculture leverages SIT, a critical strategy replicated in various global contexts to mitigate substantial economic losses.
• Kenya's "Drones Against Tsetse" project exemplifies the innovative use of UAVs in controlling tsetse fly populations, addressing the spread of trypanosomosis. Dragonfly V's long endurance and specialised hopper technologies are ideally suited for such initiatives.
• Collaborations with entities like the Gates Foundation highlight the potential of using Dragonfly V for mosquito control projects across Africa, aiming to curb the transmission of diseases like malaria and dengue. However, the ecological implications of these interventions, such as impacts on bat populations and pollination, necessitate thorough assessment before launch.

The development of our patentable hopper system, leveraging a Venturi effect for insect distribution, represents a groundbreaking approach to biocontrol. Approved for nighttime operations, we maximise mission success by utilising cooler temperatures and reduced predator activity.

Although initially devised for FCM in South Africa, our hopper's versatility positions us for international markets, addressing global challenges like the codling moth in key agricultural regions. This not only opens substantial export opportunities but also underscores our commitment to agricultural sustainability through innovative UAV technology.

Greenfly Aviation is acutely aware of the multifaceted threats facing farmers and their livelihoods, ranging from personal safety concerns to the theft of critical farm equipment and significant portions of their harvests. In response, we've developed a comprehensive UAV-based surveillance and monitoring service tailored specifically for farm security needs, with an emphasis on nighttime operations. Our drones, outfitted with state-of-the-art sensors, play a pivotal role in detecting unauthorised activities and safeguarding assets when the risk is highest.

Farm theft not only jeopardises the farmers' safety but also undermines the farm's operational integrity by the loss of essential machinery, pumps, and batteries, alongside the direct theft of up to 30% of harvests under the cover of darkness. This rampant theft poses a significant threat to the agricultural sector's contribution to food security in South Africa.

In tackling these challenges, Greenfly Aviation collaborates closely with Boland Risk Solutions (BRS) and local municipalities to delve into the root causes of these security breaches. By integrating UAV technology into their broad security framework, BRS not only enhances their capacity to monitor vast agricultural lands effectively but also helps in devising solutions that address both the symptoms and sources of rural crime.

Our partnership extends beyond surveillance; we are actively involved in facilitating discussions between farmers and local communities. Recognizing the intricate balance between securing farmers' yields and addressing community needs, BRS negotiates access to surplus harvests for impoverished communities, ensuring that while the supply meets the demand, the overarching goal of national food security is not compromised.

Greenfly Aviation's involvement in wildlife conservation is driven by the need to protect ecosystems and support the tourism sector critical to South Africa. Our use of the Dragonfly V UAV, an electrically powered vehicle, allows us to conduct surveillance and monitoring with minimal disturbance to the natural environment, preserving the quiet of the wilderness.

We're pioneering a project that employs Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to pinpoint snares and gin traps set by poachers. These traps threaten the survival of endangered species, particularly big cats, and compromise the security of conservation areas. Dragonfly V's silent flights will enable us to gather data without disrupting animal behaviour or the park's peace.

This SAR project is more than just an innovation in conservation technology; it's a tool for park rangers to efficiently locate and dismantle deadly traps, safeguarding wildlife. Additionally, it helps secure protected areas that are vital to the country's tourism, which thrives on visitors experiencing South Africa's untouched natural beauty and diverse wildlife.

Integrating UAVs like Dragonfly V into our conservation strategies underscores our commitment to not only preserving South Africa's biodiversity but also ensuring the long-term viability of its tourism industry, all while keeping our operations as non-intrusive as possible.