A Cornwall-based agri-tech business is harnessing drone technology to transform on-farm operations, offering a faster, more precise and cost-effective approach to a range of agricultural tasks.
Horizon Agri Ltd, founded by Seamus McGuinness and based in Bodmin, is developing drone-led solutions to support farmers and landowners with activities including crop fertilisation, field monitoring and infrastructure cleaning.
The business has secured £50,000 in funding—comprising a £25,000 Start Up Loan and a further £25,000 from the South West Investment Fund, delivered by SWIG Finance—enabling investment in specialist drone equipment and supporting its early-stage growth.
McGuinness, who brings a background spanning dairy herdsmanship, farm management and consultancy, said the adoption of drones in UK agriculture remains at an early stage but offers clear operational advantages.
The technology allows farmers to cover large areas quickly, particularly in challenging conditions where conventional machinery cannot operate, such as waterlogged fields. It also enables fertiliser to be applied to tall crops without causing soil compaction or crop damage—removing the need for tramlines and potentially increasing planting efficiency.
Beyond application, drones are being used to monitor crop health, map fields and deliver inputs with a high degree of precision. This targeted approach can reduce waste and help growers manage input costs more effectively.
Horizon Agri is also deploying drone technology across wider agricultural and energy settings, including the cleaning of solar panels, greenhouses and polytunnels, as well as providing precision shading for crop protection. According to the company, these applications can be carried out more frequently and with less risk of damage than traditional methods, improving both efficiency and asset performance.
The funding has supported the purchase of two agricultural drones alongside associated equipment such as batteries, software, generators, water tanks, pumps and transport infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders have highlighted the wider potential of such technologies. David Tindall, Senior Investment Manager at the British Business Bank, said agri-tech innovation—particularly the use of drones—has “huge potential” to improve productivity and sustainability across UK agriculture while reducing costs and environmental impact.
As precision farming continues to gain traction, developments such as those from Horizon Agri underline the growing role of drone technology in helping the sector respond to labour constraints, environmental pressures and the need for greater operational efficiency.
