Desert control in Ordos, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is reaching new heights. In the Kubuqi Desert, drones are now being used to sow grass seeds across sand barriers, accelerating ecological restoration under China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program.

Developed in partnership with the Harbin Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, and local enterprises, the drones feature long endurance and high payloads. Each can carry 40–60 kilograms of pelletized seeds, cover a radius of 2 kilometers, and operate in areas inaccessible to people or vehicles.

Drone seeding boosts efficiency 100-fold compared with manual planting and 10-fold compared with traditional machinery, while increasing germination rates by about 15 percent.

In 2024, drones helped plant more than 100,000 mu (about 6,700 hectares) of the Kubuqi Desert's northern ecological corridor.

This year, upgraded models with two-hour endurance and payloads of up to 100 kg further improved speed and quality. Using drones, Ordos completed 100,000 mu of afforestation in just two months – a task that would have taken hundreds of workers more than half a year – while reducing seed usage by 30 percent.

Beyond routine work, Ordos is exploring innovative applications. In winter, drones carried out snow-covered seeding trials in the Mu Us Sandy Land, dropping seeds before snowfall to improve germination in spring.

To ensure results, Ordos continues to refine its drone technology. Newly designed long-bodied drones with dual rotors can withstand winds of up to force 7, while big data and precision launch systems guarantee even seed distribution. These innovations are turning drones into a key weapon in the city's battle against desertification.