Legal aspects of the use of agrodrones in agriculture: licensing and certification issues

Agriculture is actively adopting digital technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (agrodrones). These technologies enable the automation of crop monitoring, fertilizer application, and other processes. However, legal regulation of their use is lagging behind, creating legal and technical risks. This paper examines the main legal issues related to the use of agrodrones, including licensing and certification. The legal framework for the use of agrodrones in Russia requires significant improvement. Introducing a system of licensing, certification, and safety standards will ensure their effective use, minimize risks, and contribute to the development of digital agriculture. It is also important to consider international trends and adapt successful foreign practices to Russian realities. Strengthening legal oversight and implementing clear regulations will help ensure the safety and efficiency of agrodrones in the agricultural sector, which, in the long term, will lead to significant growth in the technological competitiveness of agriculture. As part of the study’s conclusions on the use of agrodrones, the author highlights the need to develop a unified national standard that takes into account the specialization of different types of agricultural drones, both in terms of piloting and software. Given the challenges faced by industrial enterprises in the agricultural sector, it is proposed to simplify certification procedures for small and medium-sized agrotechnical companies and create a separate registry of agrodrones with a simplified registration process.