NTT e-Drone Technology tests greenhouse roof heat shielding in Japan

NTT e-Drone Technology tested drones in Japan to spray heat shielding material on greenhouse roofs, according to a Mobile World Live report published on 6 July 2026.

NTT e-Drone Technology said the drone-based method is designed to help food producers protect crops from excessively high summer temperatures inside greenhouses. The company is testing a top-down application method as an alternative or complement to existing cooling measures including curtains, netting and natural ventilation.

NTT e-Drone Technology reported a 10-day average temperature reduction of around 5°C inside greenhouses between 9am and 4pm on sunny days. The company said the reduction was just under 4°C during the same hours when conditions were cloudy.

NTT e-Drone Technology said drones can reduce worker safety risks and labour demands when applying heat shielding material to greenhouse roofs. The company said it is refining the spraying process to limit overspray by using a pressure-type nozzle instead of an atomiser-style nozzle, with the aim of making drone-based application commercially viable.

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries created the Green Food System Strategy in 2021 to reduce the environmental impact of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors by 2050. NTT said its greenhouse cooling approach could contribute to that programme, and food producer Salad Bowl said controlling summer heat is important for maintaining crop quality.