Dole Incorporates Pelican Spray to Advance
Smart Farming and Sustainability Goals
OAKLAND,
Calif., Sept. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyka,
maker of autonomous electric aircraft for crop protection and cargo
transport, and Dole plc, the global leader in fresh fruit and
vegetable production, are pleased to announce the successful
completion of the first trial phase with Pyka's Pelican Spray
aircraft.
"This product addresses a market-wide need
for a safer, cleaner, and more precise method of spraying crops by
air."
Upon receiving delivery of the aircraft in late 2022 in Dole
Fresh Fruit's operation in Honduras, combined personnel from both
companies began flight operations and spray efficacy testing at
Dole's Isletas Farm. Pyka's autonomous electric aircraft performed
with excellence, demonstrating ease of operation and effective crop
protection.
As a next step, the use of Pelican Spray will be extended to
larger areas of Dole's banana plantations and supplement Dole's
existing fleet of agricultural spray planes. Subsequently, the
partners will expand the Pelican Spray service to additional
operations in Latin America. This
autonomous electric aviation technology is a tremendous opportunity
to optimize spray operations, reduce chemical usage through greater
spray precision, minimize environmental impact, and contribute to
Dole's sustainability goals.
"Dole is an internationally highly respected brand whose farming
practices set industry standards for fruit and vegetable production
across the globe," says Volker
Fabian, Chief Commercial Officer of Pyka. "With their
commercial operations spanning multiple geographical locations,
Dole will demonstrate the value of Pyka's product on an even larger
scale than we have seen to date."
"We are excited to partner with Pyka in order to be on the
forefront of technological advancement for the aerial application
industry,'' says Patricio Gutierrez
Carvajal, Regional Director Innovation, R&D at Dole
Tropical Products. "This product addresses a market-wide need for a
safer, cleaner, and more precise method of spraying crops by air.
As a company, Pyka embodies the values of quality, innovation and
environmental focus that align with Dole's corporate mission."
To see what's next for Pyka, please visit www.flypyka.com.
About Pyka
Pyka is defining the future of safe, environmentally-friendly,
and cost-effective aviation with certified autonomous electric
airplanes for crop protection and cargo transport. Pyka's
proprietary technology includes autonomous flight control software,
flight computers, high energy density batteries, advanced electric
propulsion systems, and carbon composite airframes.
About Dole plc
Dole plc is one of the world's largest producers and suppliers
of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Dole plc is an
industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in
nutrition education and research. For more information, please
visit www.dole.com.
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SOURCE Pyka
