Facilitators promote sustainable livestock farming through the use of drones in Honduras

• Technical training strengthens farm monitoring and promotes more efficient, low-carbon livestock production.

In a context where technological innovation is key to addressing the challenges of the agricultural sector, the project Transforming the Honduran livestock sector into a low-carbon economy (MAF-Ganadería-HN) is taking a firm step toward modernizing production monitoring. Through a specialized workshop, facilitators strengthened their capacities in the use of drones (UAVs), incorporating cutting-edge tools to improve livestock farm management. This initiative aims to accelerate the transition toward more efficient, resilient, and low-carbon livestock systems in the country.

In recent years, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) has grown significantly due to their versatility, ease of transport, and ability to generate precise information. However, in Honduras’s livestock sector, one of the main challenges has been the limited availability of information and technological tools to effectively monitor farms. This gap hinders the assessment of changes in land use and land cover, as well as the implementation of sustainable practices, which are essential for advancing toward low-carbon production.

To address this challenge, the MAF-Ganadería-HN project has promoted the incorporation of innovative technologies such as drones, with the aim of strengthening the technical capacities of facilitators and local stakeholders. As part of this strategy, a hands-on workshop was conducted in which participants acquired knowledge on fundamental UAV concepts, their classification (multirotor and fixed-wing), types of sensors (RGB, multispectral, and LiDAR), as well as piloting and flight mission planning.

Within this innovation process, the incorporation of LiDAR technology mounted on drones stands out, an application that is still emerging in Honduras and practically nonexistent in the country’s livestock sector. This approach represents a qualitative leap in the way production systems are monitored, as it allows capturing highly accurate three-dimensional information on vegetation structure. Unlike other sensors, LiDAR makes it possible to directly estimate key variables such as biomass height and density, opening new opportunities to understand the dynamics of silvopastoral systems and their contribution to carbon sequestration.

The MAF-Ganadería-HN project is working on the development of technical protocols and specific algorithms to translate these data into robust indicators for carbon monitoring on livestock farms. This effort seeks not only to generate scientific evidence adapted to the national context but also to lay the groundwork for integrating these technologies into Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems. In this way, the use of LiDAR drones is positioned as a strategic tool to strengthen the measurement of environmental co-benefits, improve on-farm decision-making, and advance toward more efficient, resilient livestock systems aligned with the country’s climate commitments.

Additionally, the process included hands-on field training for the safe operation of drones and the use of photogrammetry tools and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), facilitating the capture, processing, and analysis of geospatial information applied to production systems.

As a result, facilitators strengthened their technical skills for monitoring livestock farms, improving the quality of information available for decision-making. This initiative contributes to promoting more productive, sustainable, and resilient livestock systems through the use of technologies that allow both quantitative and qualitative assessment of changes in the territory.

Key Achievements and Highlights

• Facilitators trained in flight mission planning (routes, overlaps, and spatial resolution – GSD).
• Knowledge in the use of sensors (RGB and multispectral) applied to production monitoring.
• Basic capacities in image processing through photogrammetry (orthomosaics, DSM, and DTM).
• Skills to interpret geospatial information and support field decision-making.
• Knowledge of safety protocols and best practices for drone operation.
• Strengthening of environmental and production monitoring on livestock farms.
• Capacities to replicate knowledge in their territories.
• Understanding of the full workflow: planning, capture, processing, and integration into GIS.
• Awareness of the use of digital technologies for sustainable and low-carbon livestock systems.

“This type of training allows us to see our farms from a different perspective, with more precise information that helps us make better decisions,” said Keny Cardona, a facilitator who participated in the workshop.

“Drones represent a key tool to modernize livestock farming and make it sustainable, especially in monitoring changes in land use and land cover and the implementation of good practices,” noted Jeffrey Díaz, GIS specialist for the MAF-Ganadería-HN project.

Strengthening capacities in the use of drones marks a significant advance in the transformation of the livestock sector in Honduras. Through the MAF-Ganadería-HN project, efforts continue to promote the adoption of innovative technologies that contribute to improving productivity, reducing environmental impact, and advancing toward a low-carbon economy.

In the coming years, the project will continue promoting technological solutions that strengthen local capacities and expand their impact across territories, facilitating more sustainable and resilient livestock systems aligned with current climate challenges.