Patents filed by multinational retail giant Walmart suggest farmers will use drones to identify crop and pest problems , and apply chemicals , in the near future . The company applied for six patents last year related to crop and insect control , and has applied for a total of 46 patents for drone technology so far , mostly for its delivery or warehouse applications . It said it was always looking for ways to improve its service , but did not comment on the most recent patent filings . As part of a sustainability push in recent years, Walmart has also worked with suppliers to reduce the amount of fertiliser used to grow crops because it can pollute the environment. Research company Global Market Insights said the market for agricultural drones will reach $ 1bn by 2020 .
Patents filed by multinational retail giant Walmart suggest farmers will use drones to identify crop and pest problems , and apply chemicals , in the near future . The company applied for six patents last year related to crop and insect control , and has applied for a total of 46 patents for drone technology so far , mostly for its delivery or warehouse applications . It said it was always looking for ways to improve its service , but did not comment on the most recent patent filings . Research company Global Market Insights said the market for agricultural drones will reach $ 1bn by 2020 .