“The Mediator Between Technology and the Land”: He Hua and the Global Path of Agricultural Drones

“Agriculture is not just about soil—it belongs to data and algorithms too.” This is how He Hua opened his interview with our reporter at a farm testing site. His words reflected more than just technical proficiency in agricultural drones; they revealed a strategic mindset spanning cultures and industries. From leading international operations at SANY Group to serving as General Manager of Zhuzhou Huasheng Industrial & Trade Co., Ltd., He’s career has not followed the traditional path from technician to entrepreneur—instead, it is a journey of evolution as a market engineer.

“If you don't understand the local cropping structure, operational rhythms, and price sensitivities, no matter how advanced the equipment is, it’s just empty talk,” He emphasized. Since 2017, he has turned his attention to the North American agricultural drone market, particularly high-value crop regions such as California’s rice paddies, vineyards, and strawberry fields. No longer simply a salesman, He has immersed himself in fieldwork, investigating local agricultural processes and environmental regulations. He once led spray tests in Napa Valley, recording key metrics such as operational efficiency, pesticide savings, and labor replacement ratios—eventually formulating localized operational standards tailored to the California market.

This shift was not a mere pivot in sales tactics, but rather a data-driven market strategy. As a prime example of a market research role in the agri-drone sector, He built a comprehensive client database incorporating variables such as crop types, operational windows, and environmental regulations. Based on this, he advanced cooperation with American agri-tech enterprises. “We need to embed technology into needs, not force clients to adapt to technology,” he stressed.

His practical success in the North American market also owes much to his investment in drone system innovation. Over the past three years, he has led the development of various agri-drone software systems—including autonomous route generation, spray parameter adaptation, and regional regulatory recognition. These systems have been officially registered with China’s Copyright Office and have been licensed for use by leading industry players. Together, they contribute to an integrated “hardware + software + service” solution, enhancing the added value and competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing on the international stage.

“Agricultural drones are not a simple transplant of industrial products—they must be aligned with agricultural culture, legal norms, and seasonal rhythms.” He’s insight stems from his interdisciplinary perspective. It has enabled him to serve not only as a technical promoter but also as a cultural translator of the market. He has guided enterprises in designing operational pathways within regulatory frameworks—experiences that now serve as key materials supporting his expertise in drone marketing and management.

Looking back, He has always placed “research driving the market” at the core of his philosophy. In his leadership at Zhuzhou Huasheng, he has promoted data-driven business expansion and has continued to refine U.S. market adaptation strategies through internal reports, strategic planning documents, and external collaboration materials. This approach has improved operational certainty and offered a replicable model for other small and medium-sized enterprises.

Today, He Hua is planning to establish a Sino-U.S. agricultural technology integration lab in the United States—combining artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and agronomic knowledge to transition drone services from “equipment sales” to “scenario solutions.” When asked about the challenges ahead, he replied, “What American agriculture needs is not just equipment—it needs understanding. And understanding comes from research, trial and error, and time.”

It is for this reason that He has earned the moniker “the mediator between technology and the land.” With a businessman’s eye for market trends and a researcher’s depth in industry essentials, he offers not only high-efficiency technical solutions, but also a cultural bridge between innovation and application. His embodiment of the hybrid expert is one of the most essential and rare driving forces in the global development of smart agriculture.