UK farmers are increasingly using drones to apply liquidised seaweed to arable fields as a response to rising fertiliser prices and supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. Drone pilots say fixed-wing aircraft with 2.4m wingspans can carry about 50kg and map fields for targeted application, cutting waste and costs. Processors report inquiries are up 20–30%, though large-scale seaweed harvesting raises questions about impacts on marine ecosystems. Supporters say seaweed could help bolster food security when conventional supplies falter.
Drones Spray Seaweed To Support UK Crops As Fertiliser Prices Soar
Dairy farmer Frazer Bloor has been flying his drone to drop liquidised seaweed on crops [BBC]
UK farmers are increasingly using drones to apply liquidised seaweed to arable fields as they confront sharply higher prices and supply disruptions for synthetic fertilisers.
Farmer Andrew Ward, who used the technique on his winter wheat at Leadenham, Lincolnshire, described the drone technology as "on a different level," saying it helped boost his crop.
Why Farmers Are Turning To Seaweed
Synthetic fertilisers such as urea, potash, ammonia and phosphates are widely used in British agriculture and are often imported. Recent tensions in the Middle East have disrupted shipping routes and contributed to higher global fertiliser prices, prompting growers to explore alternatives.
A National Farmers Union (NFU) spokesperson said chemical fertilisers will remain important "to help farmers feed people at scale and pace," but added that growers are open to trialling complementary or alternative products where they make agronomic and economic sense.
How The Drone Program Works
Frazer Bloor, a dairy farmer in North Shropshire and a qualified drone pilot, has been busier than usual applying liquidised seaweed by drone. His fixed-wing aircraft, with an 8ft (2.4m) wingspan, can carry around 50kg (110lb) of product, allowing a single flight to treat a substantial area.
Seaweed processor Dave Edwards says he is seeing a surge in orders due to rising fertiliser costs [BBC]
Bloor first scans and maps fields to identify zones that need more or less input, enabling targeted application and reducing waste. Ward said the approach helps farmers who "have a very big problem at the minute in trying to make a profit." Winter wheat is typically grown for bread, breakfast cereals and biscuits.
Supply Risks And Global Impact
The United Nations reports that roughly a third of the world's fertilisers normally transit the Strait of Hormuz. Disruptions to shipping through that route are one factor in recent supply pressures. Svein Tore Holsether, chief executive of fertiliser producer Yara, has warned that interrupted supplies could affect billions of meals globally.
"Interrupted supplies could cost up to 10 billion meals a week globally and will hit the poorest countries hardest," said Svein Tore Holsether.
Demand For Seaweed Is Rising — And So Are Questions
Seaweed has long been used as a soil conditioner and fertiliser, but several processors report a surge in inquiries since the recent supply shocks. Dave Edwards, who processes seaweed harvested from the North Sea, said demand at his business has risen by about 20–30% since the tensions escalated.
Harvesting raw seaweed from marine environments has raised concerns about potential impacts on marine ecosystems and wildlife. Supporters counter that locally sourced, natural products can reduce dependence on imported synthetic fertilisers and their associated carbon footprint.
Edwards argued that natural inputs could contribute to national food security during supply shocks: "If food gets short, we have got to have something to be able to grow it. This will help."
Farmers and suppliers say seaweed is unlikely to replace chemical fertilisers entirely but can serve as a useful supplement, especially when applied precisely using drone mapping and spraying systems.
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