Messium, a UK based agritech startup using hyperspectral satellite imaging and artificial intelligence for fertiliser management, has raised £3.3 million (US$ 4.19 million) in seed investment. The funding will support expansion across the UK, Europe and Australia, with pilot projects also underway in New Zealand, Canada and the United States. A larger Series A funding round is being prepared to further accelerate international growth.
The round was co-led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S), managed by Future Planet Capital, through its Space portfolio backed by the UK Space Agency, together with Expansion Aerospace Ventures. Additional investors included Mudcake, Laconia, GRDC GrainInnovate, Clear Current Capital, Moonstone Venture Capital, Maza Ventures and existing backer SuperSeed.
Technology Platform
Messium combines hyperspectral satellite imaging with AI based crop growth models to monitor nitrogen levels within fields at a resolution of five metres. The platform integrates crop data with weather, soil and farm management information to generate real time, field specific recommendations for fertiliser application.
By capturing crop data across hundreds of wavelengths, the system provides lab grade nitrogen analysis that allows for precise application. This supports improved yields, lower input costs and reduced environmental impact by cutting excess fertiliser use and associated emissions.
Trials and Findings
Trials conducted in 2024 with more than 13,000 lab validated crop samples showed that over half of fields were fertilised incorrectly. This resulted in unnecessary costs for farmers as well as avoidable greenhouse gas emissions. The technology demonstrated that field specific data enables farmers to avoid both over and under fertilisation, aligning profitability with sustainability.
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Current Operations
Messium’s platform is already being used across 75 farms in the UK and Europe. The company’s international pilots in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States mark its first steps toward wider adoption. The new investment will allow the startup to strengthen its AI models, scale its data infrastructure and extend its partnerships with growers and researchers.
“Feeding the world sustainably is one of the defining challenges of our time. Today, more than half of all farmland is either over or under fertilised, a problem that wastes billions, drives emissions, and holds back global food security. We believe the answer lies in harnessing the best of satellite technology and AI to deliver field specific recommendations at massive scale, week in, week out, for every farmer on the planet.”
Institutional Support
The Messium’s technology has been developed with support from the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, Innovate UK and leading agronomy researchers. Support programmes such as ESA BIC and the UK Space Agency’s GEO Accelerator have contributed to advancing the integration of hyperspectral remote sensing, machine learning and crop modelling into a practical platform for farmers.
The issue of fertiliser efficiency has become increasingly important as agriculture faces the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable food production. Nitrogen fertiliser, while essential to farming, is also a major source of emissions and resource waste. By addressing incorrect fertiliser use, Messium’s system offers growers the ability to reduce costs, lower environmental impact and improve crop productivity across geographies.