Planting Sea Bean Seeds with a Farm in Charleston

Charleston, SC (March 13, 2023) -- iVue partnered with Heron Farms to test out drone-based seeding of sea beans along the coastal marsh islands of Charleston. Using the Develop Air drone created by iVue Robotics, they demonstrated how drones can spread seeds effectively while innovating new ways to conduct seawater agriculture.

Heron Farms, headquartered in Charleston, SC, operates the world’s first indoor saltwater vertical farm.

iVue Robotics, dedicated to maximizing the utility of drones for real-world applications.

Founded in 2020 by Sam Norton, Heron Farms focuses on tackling environmental challenges like rising seawater levels and excess carbon dioxide through sustainable agricultural practices. They specialize in vertical farming, saline agriculture, and salt marsh restoration. Advanced technologies such as predictive software and automated data collection allow them to monitor factors like water salinity, growth cycles, and yields.

This mission led them to collaborate with iVue Robotics. Together, they embarked on a boat ride along the Atlantic coastline for a seed deployment mission using Develop Air. The experience highlighted how drones can be used far beyond traditional roles such as photography or defense—becoming essential tools in agriculture and environmental restoration.

Through this partnership, iVue’s founder Jacob Andrews showcased yet another revolutionary use of drones—bringing innovation to agriculture. iVue remains committed to evolving drone technology to serve a growing range of industries while maintaining their mission of creating positive environmental and societal change.

Both Heron Farms and iVue achieved their goals in this collaboration, proving that drones can deliver utility and environmental benefits. This successful mission opens the door for iVue to expand further into agricultural industries, continuing their search for impactful partnerships that redefine how drones integrate into daily life.