Dole Asia Company Improves Plantation Security using Docked Drones in The Philippines

Dole Asia Company operates in more than 70 countries and is a global leader in fresh produce supply chains. In The Philippines alone, Dole Philippines Inc. manages 24,000 hectares of pineapple plantations with 30,000 employees, while their second business, Standard Fruit Company (established in 1965), employs another 30,000 workers across banana, avocado, and additional pineapple operations. The scale of these operations presents unique security challenges that traditional methods struggle to address efficiently.

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During one of the NestGen '25 sessions, we spoke with Tyron Mangakahia, Global Security Director at Dole Asia Company, and Alexander Yap, Founder of ASY Electronics Parts and Services. They shared insights about implementing autonomous drone surveillance to address complex security challenges across Dole's extensive agricultural operations in The Philippines. Here's what they had to say about transforming agricultural security with autonomous drone technology:
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"One of the real big challenges that we have with such a massive environment to protect is the fact that it is so big. We can put thousands of guards out there. We can put a lot and we have been investing heavily in security. But what we decided to do was look at technology." - Tyron Mangakahia, Global Security Director, Dole Asia Company

Dole Philippines faced several critical security challenges across their vast agricultural operations:

• Trespassing and Unauthorized Access: Preventing unwanted entry into restricted plantation areas across thousands of hectares presented a significant logistical challenge.
  
• Theft Prevention: Valuable crops and equipment were vulnerable to theft, resulting in financial losses and operational disruptions.
  
• Crop Damage Risk: Potential harm to plantation areas directly affected productivity and harvest yields, impacting the business bottom line.
  
• Limited Visibility: Traditional security methods provided inadequate coverage of such extensive agricultural lands, creating blind spots that increased vulnerability.
  

The traditional approach of using security personnel on foot patrols had clear limitations. The sheer scale of the plantations made comprehensive coverage impossible without deploying an impractical number of guards. Manual patrols resulted in slow response times to security incidents, and certain areas remained difficult to monitor effectively. Additionally, human-based security systems were vulnerable to collusion, which contributed to internal losses.

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As Tyron explained, "Security hasn't gone with the times. The security industry across many countries are back in the eighteenth, nineteenth century, even the twentieth century. We're in the twenty-first century. Traditional security doesn't actually work well unless you've got a digital transformation."

After evaluating various options, Dole partnered with ASY Electronics to deploy an integrated system combining DJI Dock 2 autonomous drone technology with FlytBase's cloud control platform. This solution created a comprehensive security system that could provide continuous surveillance across the vast pineapple fields while minimizing human intervention.

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The hardware component centered around strategically placed DJI Dock 2 units that serve as home bases for drones. These weather-resistant docks enable the drones to land, recharge, and relaunch automatically, creating a truly autonomous system. Each dock was positioned to maximize coverage across the plantation while maintaining compliance with aviation regulations.

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On the software side, FlytBase provided the cloud-based control platform that enables:

• Remote operation of multiple drones from a centralized location
• Automated flight planning and scheduling for routine patrols
• Real-time video streaming to security personnel
• Instant alerts when suspicious activities are detected
• Data storage and analytics capabilities

This integration allowed Dole to shift from reactive to proactive security management, creating a digital transformation in their security operations that aligned with their broader organizational goals.

The autonomous drone surveillance system at Dole Philippines follows a streamlined operational workflow:

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1. Strategic Deployment: DJI Dock 2 units are positioned at key locations across the plantation to ensure maximum coverage of critical areas.
   
2. Scheduled and On-Demand Patrols: The system operates on pre-programmed patrol schedules, automatically launching drones to survey designated areas at specific times. Additionally, security personnel can initiate immediate drone deployments when alerts are triggered.
   
3. Real-Time Monitoring: As drones conduct their patrols, the FlytBase platform streams live video footage to Dole's security control room, where trained personnel monitor for any suspicious activity.
   
4. Automated Alerts: When potential security threats are detected, the system instantly notifies the security team, allowing for quick assessment and response.
   
5. Drone Response Teams: Dole has created specialized Drone Response Teams (DRT) who can rapidly deploy to investigate incidents identified by the aerial surveillance.
   
6. Autonomous Return and Recharge: After completing assigned patrols or when battery levels become low, drones automatically return to their docks to recharge, maintaining operational readiness.

This end-to-end automated workflow enables efficient, round-the-clock security monitoring while eliminating blind spots and dramatically improving response times compared to traditional foot patrols.

The implementation process required careful planning and coordination between Dole's security team, ASY Electronics, and regulatory authorities. First, strategic locations for the DJI Dock 2 units were identified across the plantation to provide optimal coverage. As Tyron noted, "Be careful where you put your docks" — this initial placement proved critical to the system's effectiveness.

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A significant challenge was ensuring reliable network connectivity across the vast agricultural landscape. The team implemented Starlink satellite internet to overcome connectivity issues in remote areas of the plantation. This solution provided the necessary bandwidth for real-time video streaming and system control even in areas with weak traditional cellular coverage.

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Regulatory compliance was another crucial implementation step. The team worked closely with the Civil Aviation Authority to obtain necessary approvals for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This required extensive documentation and certification to demonstrate that the system met all safety requirements.

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Training was a vital component of the implementation. ASY Electronics and FlytBase conducted comprehensive training sessions for Dole's security personnel, teaching them to effectively operate the drone surveillance system. This included training on the FlytBase dashboard, live monitoring protocols, and automated response mechanisms. Dole's former police and military security team members were trained as certified drone pilots to ensure professional operation of the system.

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"We needed an operation that could be run like a military style operation. These types of technologies have to be integrated with SOPs, procedures, and training," explained Tyron. "There was a great marriage of what Alexander is bringing to the table and what my team could bring in terms of expertise from our security, policing, and military background."

The deployment of the autonomous drone surveillance system has delivered significant improvements to Dole Philippines' security operations across multiple dimensions:

• Reduced Security Incidents: Within the first month of implementation, unauthorized access and theft cases decreased significantly. The continuous aerial surveillance serves as both a deterrent and detection mechanism.
  
• Faster Response Times: Security teams can now respond to potential threats in real-time, with instant alerts and live monitoring enabling more immediate intervention when suspicious activities are detected.
  
• Improved Coverage: The drone system has eliminated blind spots in the security coverage, providing visibility across the entire plantation that was impossible with traditional guard patrols alone.
  
• Shift from Apprehension to Prevention: As Tyron emphasized, "Our focus is not on apprehension any longer. Our focus is on prevention." The visible drone presence serves as a powerful deterrent to potential intruders.
  
• Agricultural Benefits Beyond Security: An unexpected benefit has been the ability to monitor crop health. "We're able to see things that are impacting the mortality of plants. We're able to act really quickly," noted Tyron. This added value extends the ROI of the system beyond security alone.
  
• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The autonomous system requires fewer personnel to monitor larger areas, allowing for more strategic deployment of human resources and reducing overall security costs.
  

The successful integration of technology with traditional security expertise has created a more effective overall security framework that addresses the unique challenges of securing vast agricultural operations.

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Looking to the future, Dole and ASY Electronics are exploring expanded applications for autonomous drone technology beyond security. Planned enhancements include:

• Crop Health Monitoring: Equipping drones with specialized sensors to detect plant diseases, optimize irrigation, and improve overall yields. This agricultural intelligence can help plantation managers make data-driven decisions about crop management.
  
• Logistics and Inventory Management: Automating the monitoring of farm equipment, materials, and workforce efficiency to improve overall operational management.
  
• AI-Powered Analytics: Implementing advanced artificial intelligence for automated threat detection and response systems to further strengthen farm security without increasing human monitoring requirements.
  
• Enhanced Deterrence Capabilities: Adding speakers and spotlights to the drones to actively discourage potential intruders, reinforcing the preventative security strategy.
  
• Expanding Deployment: Scaling the solution to additional Dole operations globally, building on the successful implementation in The Philippines.
  

"The integration of autonomous drones is not just about security," said Alexander. "It's about unlocking new possibilities for smarter, data-driven farming."

The partnership between Dole Asia Company and ASY Electronics demonstrates how autonomous drone technology can transform security operations for large-scale agricultural businesses. By deploying DJI Dock 2 integrated with FlytBase, Dole has created a scalable, efficient security solution that provides continuous surveillance across vast pineapple plantations while reducing reliance on traditional security methods.

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"Traditional security in a large geographic environment like this just is not effective. The drones, our control room operating 24 hours a day, our pilots working 24/7, our supervisors out there—all of this coming together has given us a tremendous capability out in the fields." - Tyron Mangakahia, Global Security Director, Dole Asia Company

Q1. How does drone-in-a-box technology improve agricultural security compared to traditional methods?
Drone-in-a-box technology provides 24/7 aerial surveillance coverage across vast agricultural lands that would be impossible to monitor with human guards alone. The system eliminates blind spots, deters intruders through visible presence, and enables immediate response to security incidents through real-time alerts and video feeds.
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Q2. What regulatory approvals are needed to implement autonomous drone security in agricultural settings?
Implementation requires approvals from the local Civil Aviation Authority, especially for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations. This typically involves documentation of safety protocols, certified drone pilots, and specific operational procedures that comply with national airspace regulations.
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Q3. What connectivity infrastructure is required for autonomous drone surveillance in rural agricultural areas?
Reliable internet connectivity is essential for transmitting real-time video and control signals. In Dole's implementation, Starlink satellite internet was used to overcome the connectivity challenges in remote plantation areas where traditional cellular networks provided insufficient coverage.
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Q4. What is the return on investment for implementing drone security in large-scale agricultural operations?
The ROI comes from multiple sources: reduced theft and crop damage, lower security personnel costs, faster incident response times, and additional benefits beyond security such as crop health monitoring. For operations spanning thousands of hectares, these combined benefits typically deliver ROI within the first year of implementation.