Field trip to Bismarck, ND – Finding the economic value of high-tech in provision of pollination services

First test site visit for ESSP faculty Haochi Zheng and student Jiyang Zhang near Bismarck, ND.

The field trip is the first time to check the two sunflower fields that the Australian company, Bee Innovative, identified for the experiment and to meet with them.

The ESSP Department is collaborating with the Departments of Aviation and Atmospheric Science at the UND Aerospace school on a research project that investigates how pollination services can be provided in a more efficient way using drone to increase the quantity and quality of the sunflower production. The research project has been funded by the ND Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) and UND aerospace seed grant. ESSP faculty member, Dr. Haochi Zheng and her students will carry out the economic analysis in quantifying the value of using drone in increasing the production of sunflower seeds and the quality of sunflower oil.

On the same topic AGWeek article from August 19, 2019 https://www.agweek.com/business/agriculture/4648220-high-tech-pollination-program-begins-work-nd-sunflower-fields