The economic viability of spot-spraying for pesticides: the case of Northwest Germany

Abstract Purpose The reliance on pesticides for crop protection poses significant challenges, including biodiversity loss and environmental pollution. Despite the potential of precision farming technologies such as spot-sprayers for reducing pesticide applications, their adoption remains limited. Previous literature on the economic viability of precision spraying is sparse and did not account for relations between technology availability, prices, land use and adoption decisions. Methods We here analyze and compare the economic viability of different types of smart spot-sprayers for site-specific pesticide applications using a mixed-integer linear programming bio-economic farm model. We apply the model to typical cereal and sugar beet farms in North-Western Germany, which is one of the most productive agricultural regions in Europe. In our analysis, we account for key economic and performance parameters of precision sprayers and check the sensitivity of results regarding assumptions on technology and farm characteristics. Results The findings indicate that real-time spot-spraying of herbicides is economically viable for sugar beet farms exceeding 60-172 ha and cereal farms managing 300-400 ha. The large range of results reflects an important challenge for the adoption of spot sprayers. It highlights the sensitivity of economic viability to changes in technology type and performance and pesticide prices, which are often uncertain for farmers in advance. Broadening the use of the spot sprayer to multiple pesticide types and combining smaller and more precise spot-sprayers with broadcast sprayers improves the economic viability. Conclusions Overall, our results underscore the potential of smart spot-sprayers to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices by reducing pesticide use while maintaining profitability for farmers. Based on our results, we discuss how the adoption of these technologies could be facilitated to achieve environmental goals and improve farm economics.