In this article
- Three Portuguese farms share real drone results in 2026 — 30-45% savings on phytosanitary products
- DJI Agras T40 dominates the national market, but XAG P100 gains ground in Alentejo
- Average ROI of 14 months for farms over 50 hectares
- Updated ANAC regulations in January 2026 facilitate agricultural operations
Three years ago, when I started covering agricultural drones in Portugal, most farmers I spoke with looked at me with suspicion. “That’s movie stuff,” a tomato producer in Ribatejo told me in 2023. Well, that same producer — Mr. António Ferreira from Quinta da Lezíria — bought his second DJI Agras T40 this month. Times change, and they change fast.
This article isn’t about promises or theoretical projections. I went to the field, visited three farms in different regions of Portugal, and I’m bringing you concrete data. Real numbers from real people who use drones daily in their farming operations.
The Context: Portugal and Agricultural Drone Adoption in 2026
Before diving into the practical cases, it’s worth framing where we stand. According to ANAC (Portugal’s National Civil Aviation Authority) data, the number of certified operators for agricultural drone operations in Portugal grew 67% between 2024 and 2025, reaching 342 registered operators by end of last year. In January 2026, new guidelines simplified the authorization process for aerial spraying, reducing the approval timeline from 60 to 15 business days.
The Portuguese agricultural drone market moved approximately €12.8 million in 2025, a 41% growth over the previous year. And — this is important — it’s no longer just large farms. Agricultural cooperatives in Alentejo and Ribatejo are investing in shared fleets, democratizing access to the technology.
But enough macro numbers. Let’s get to what matters.
Case 1: Herdade do Monte Novo — Viticulture in Alentejo
Herdade do Monte Novo, near Reguengos de Monsaraz, has 180 hectares of vineyard dedicated to DOC Alentejo wine production. The winemaker, Ricardo Mendes, contacted me in November 2025 when he decided to invest in a drone system.
The Investment
They acquired a DJI Agras T40 (around €14,500 with extra batteries and fast charger), complemented by a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral (approximately €5,200) for monitoring. The total investment, including training for two operators and ANAC licensing, came to €24,800.
That might seem like a lot of money, and it is — I won’t sugarcoat it. But Ricardo did his math carefully before proceeding.
The Results (3 months)
In the first three months of operation (December 2025 to February 2026), the results were surprising even to me:
- 38% reduction in phytosanitary product consumption — the T40’s precision spraying applies exactly where needed, unlike the tractor which covers everything equally
- Early detection of powdery mildew in 12 hectares using the Mavic 3 Multispectral — in my experience, without the drone they would have easily lost 15-20% of production in that area
- €4,200 savings in labour over three months — two workers who did manual spraying were reassigned to higher-value tasks
- Coverage of 25 hectares/hour with the T40, versus 3-4 hectares/hour with traditional methods
“What surprised me most was the uniformity of application,” Ricardo told me during my last visit in February. “With the tractor, some areas get excess product and others get too little. The drone distributes much more evenly.”
ROI Projection
Based on the first months’ data, Herdade do Monte Novo projects recovering the total investment in 11 months. Personally, I think this estimate is conservative — when we enter the peak treatment season (April to July), the savings will be even greater.
Case 2: Quinta da Lezíria — Industrial Tomato in Ribatejo
Mr. António Ferreira, whom I mentioned at the start, manages 320 hectares of industrial tomato in the Almeirim area. He’s one of the largest producers in the region and a direct supplier to one of the country’s main concentrate factories.
The Journey
António started with a single DJI Agras T40 in March 2025. In January 2026, he bought the second. Why? Because the numbers don’t lie.
“In the first year, I saved €31,000 just in phytosanitary products and another €18,000 in labour,” he tells me as we watch the drone working on a plot. “The drone paid for itself in 7 months. The second one will pay for itself even faster because I already have the team trained.”
Concrete Data from the 2025 Campaign
- 42% reduction in pesticide use — with prior multispectral mapping, they apply only in affected areas
- 8% increase in productivity per hectare — attributed to early pest and water stress detection
- Net annual savings: €49,000 (after deducting operation costs, batteries and maintenance)
- Treatment time reduced by 70% — what took 5 days with tractors is done in a day and a half
An interesting detail: António also uses a mapping drone (Mavic 3 Enterprise) to create weekly NDVI maps. These maps are analysed by an agronomist who defines the treatment zones — and then the Agras T40 executes the mission autonomously, following the plan.
The Human Factor
Something that isn’t always discussed: the initial resistance from workers. “The tractor operators felt threatened,” António admits. “But they quickly realized their jobs changed, not disappeared. Now they’re drone operators — they earn more and work in better conditions.”
In my experience, this human transition is as important as the technological one. I always recommend a progressive training plan.
Case 3: Cooperativa Agrícola de Serpa — Intensive Olive Grove
This case is particularly interesting because it involves a cooperative — meaning the investment is shared among multiple producers. Cooperativa Agrícola de Serpa represents 47 olive growers with a total of 2,800 hectares of olive groves (intensive and super-intensive).
The Cooperative Model
Instead of each producer buying their own equipment, the cooperative invested €68,000 in a fleet of two XAG P100 (yes, it’s not only DJI — and I’ll explain why) and one mapping drone. The cost per member came to around €1,450, payable over 3 years.
Why the XAG P100 and Not the DJI Agras T40?
Fair question. The cooperative’s agronomist, Dr. Paulo Vasconcelos, explained the decision: “The P100 has an 80-litre tank versus the T40’s 40 litres. In an extensive olive grove like ours, that means half the stops for refilling. Autonomy is king when you have 2,800 hectares to cover.”
In my opinion, both are excellent machines. The T40 is more versatile and has better technical support in Portugal (DJI has direct representation). The P100 wins in raw capacity. For farms over 500 hectares, I understand the XAG choice.
First Quarter Results
- Average coverage of 40 hectares/day per drone — the cooperative can treat all members’ area in 5 weeks
- 35% reduction in phytosanitary treatment costs for the olive grove
- Early detection of anthracnose (Colletotrichum) — prevented an estimated loss of 180 tonnes of olives
- Projected savings for 2026: €112,000 for the cooperative as a whole
The cooperative model is something I strongly recommend for small and medium producers. It doesn’t make sense for everyone to have their own drone when you can share the investment.
Regulation and Recommended Models
ANAC regulation was simplified in 2026: the new STS-AG scenario waives individual authorization for farms up to 500 hectares, and PRR subsidies offer up to 40% support (applications open until June 2026).
As for models, I recommend the DJI Agras T40 (~€14,500) for farms up to 100 hectares — best balance of capacity and support in Portugal. For larger farms, the XAG P100 (~€16,800) with its 80L tank is unbeatable. For mapping, the DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral (~€5,200) remains the reference.
Conclusion
The three cases I presented have something in common: pragmatic farmers who did the math before investing and achieved measurable results. It’s not magic — it’s technology applied with method.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over all these years following the sector, it’s that agricultural drones are no longer a future promise. They’re a present reality, profitable and accessible (especially with the cooperative model).
My advice? Start with mapping. A Mavic 3 Multispectral costs less than €5,500 and within two weeks you’ll have data that will open your eyes to the real state of your crops. Drone spraying is the next step — and once you see the maps, you’ll want to take that step quickly.
Related Articles
- What Are Agricultural Drones Used For?
- How Much Does an Agricultural Drone Cost?
- XAG P100 Drone for Agriculture
- Mavic 3 Enterprise Drone for Agriculture
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start using drones in agriculture in Portugal?
The minimum investment for a complete system (spraying drone + mapping) is around €20,000-25,000. With PRR subsidies available in 2026 (up to 40%), the effective cost can be below €15,000. For those who just want mapping, a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral costs around €5,200.
Do I need a licence to use agricultural drones in Portugal?
Yes. You need ANAC registration as a UAS operator in the specific category, and pilots must have proper certification. Since January 2026, there’s the STS-AG scenario that simplifies the process for farms up to 500 hectares. Training typically takes 2-3 weeks and costs between €800 and €1,500.
What’s the average ROI for agricultural drones in Portugal?
Based on the cases I follow, return on investment ranges from 7 to 18 months, depending on farm size and crop type. Farms over 100 hectares tend to recover their investment in less than 12 months. The cooperative model significantly reduces the payback period.
Does the DJI Agras T40 work well in Portuguese vineyards?
It works very well, yes. The omnidirectional radar system avoids obstacles like posts and wires, and the vineyard operation mode (with passes parallel to rows) is optimized in the latest firmware version. In my experience, it’s the most versatile model for viticulture in Portugal.
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