Research Theme 1 - Encapsulation as an alternative to enhance direct seeding for ecological restoration. Research Theme 2 - Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems: a systematic review on the use, trends, and gaps in the forestry sector.

• Grant number: 24/16401-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: May 28, 2025
• End date: May 27, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Guilherme Molin
• Grantee: Ítalo Favoreto Campanharo
• Supervisor: David Moreno Mateos
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Oxford, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/11601-7 - Remotely Piloted Aircrafts: Evolution or mere illusion for direct seeding in forest restoration?, BP.DR

Abstract

The proposed project comprises two topics. Theme 1 (main topic) focuses on developing a capsule designed to improve seed germination conditions in the field and to be suitable for direct seeding using drones. This proposal was conceived during the experiments conducted in Chapter II of my thesis, which tested various encapsulation methods currently available on the market. These tests revealed, however, that the technology still requires refinement and further development to effectively meet the demands of forest restoration through direct seeding. To achieve this objective, a spherical capsule will be developed, composed of a biodegradable coating (such as cellulose) and filled with materials that promote seed germination and enhance seedling establishment. These materials may include germination inducers, water-retaining polymers, and fertilized organic substrate. Meanwhile, the objective of theme 2 (secondary topic) is to perform a systematic review, at a global level, to assess the current state of the art of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems in the forestry sector to investigate important features, such as: the fields of application of the technology, its use, characteristics, trends and gaps. This research provides a comprehensive overview of the subject and plays a crucial role in guiding future research efforts, addressing existing challenges, and advancing the field. Web of Science and Scopus will be used to filter the appropriate literature to create a database. Extracted data will then be synthesized into figures/tables to support the discussion of the topics addressed.