On August 20 2026, New Zealand announced that it plans to remove certification requirements for lower-risk, routine agricultural drone operations. Instead of waiting for certification which the government says can take up to nine months and cost thousands of dollars, operators would generally provide advance notification. The proposed system would cover spraying pesticides/herbicides and distributing fertilizer, lime, seeds and manure. The changes are planned for mid-2027.
What this could mean for Southeast Asia
New Zealand’s move to simplify rules for agricultural drone operations could be a signal for Southeast Asia.
The bigger story isn’t just about drones. It’s about regulatory innovation enabling AgTech adoption.
A shift toward risk-based rules and simpler approvals could help Southeast Asia scale:
· Drone-as-a-service for smallholders
· Precision spraying & fertilizer application
· AI-driven crop monitoring
· More efficient use of inputs
· Safer, more productive farm operations
For countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, the opportunity is to move agricultural drones from pilot projects to scalable farm infrastructure.
The key question: Can Southeast Asia create regulations that are simple enough to enable innovation, while still protecting safety, people and the environment?
At cmXp2, we believe regulatory innovation can be a catalyst for AgTech adoption, creating the conditions for technologies like agricultural drones to move from promising pilots to scalable, real-world infrastructure.
Full story: https://opengovasia.com/new-zealand-plans-simpler-rules-for-agricultural-drone-operations/?c=sg
About the Author
Irene Gomez is co-head at cmXp2, specializing in strategic communications and advocacy for the food, health, agriculture, agri-food and aquaculture sectors. Full Bio
About cmXp2
cmXp2 (“Xp2”) is a strategy advisory firm dedicated to supporting organizations in high-regulated sectors, specifically: Food & Nutrition, Agriculture & Agri-Food/Aquaculture, Life Sciences, and Global Banking & Markets, Institutional & Corporate Banking. For organizations in these sectors, Xp2 helps them navigate complex and dynamic regulatory, legal and ethical parameters to define and execute strategies that generate meaningful value, shape opinions, enhance reputation and drive market impact. Our senior partners’ deep sector leadership expertise across these high-regulated sectors is well-placed to help clients succeed. Xp2 is a division of the award-winning Corporate Media Services Pte Ltd (CorpMedia) that has over 32 years of experience. The firm is headquartered in Singapore and serves the Southeast Asia region.
3 Pickering Street | #02-36 Nankin Row | S048660 | UEN 199202411E
www.cmXp2.com | www.linkedin.com/company/cmxp2/
