Shaping the Future of Agritech: Generative AI-Driven Drones and Their Impact on Farming Value Chains

The rapid convergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and agricultural drone technologies is reshaping the agritech landscape by redefining how value is created, delivered, and captured across farming value chains. This review examines the transformative role of GenAI-driven drones in modern agriculture, moving beyond conventional precision tools to intelligent systems capable of autonomous learning, prediction, and decision support. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, industry reports, and expert insights, the study analyses how GenAI-enabled drones influence upstream input optimisation, on-farm operations, and downstream supply chain efficiency. Key applications include adaptive crop health diagnostics, predictive yield modelling, real-time risk assessment, and targeted deployment of water, fertilisers, and crop protection inputs. These capabilities enhance productivity, reduce operational uncertainty, and enable resource-efficient farming practices. The review further evaluates the market implications of GenAI-driven drones, highlighting emerging business models, competitive dynamics, and investment trends within the global agritech ecosystem. Beyond technology adoption, the paper situates GenAI-enabled drones within an interconnected innovation ecosystem encompassing cloud and edge computing, robotics, data platforms, and system integration services. It also addresses regulatory, infrastructural, and socio-economic challenges influencing large-scale deployment, particularly in smallholder and emerging-market contexts. The study concludes by identifying future research directions and policy priorities required to unlock the full value-chain potential of GenAI-driven drone technologies. Overall, the review positions Generative AI-powered drones as a critical enabler of resilient, intelligent, and sustainable agricultural value chains