London-based Messium raises €3.8M to revolutionize global food production

The funding was co-led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S, managed by Future Planet Capital), drawing from its ‘Space’ portfolio backed by the UK Space Agency, and Expansion Aerospace Ventures. Other participants included Mudcake, Laconia, GRDC GrainInnovate, Clear Current Capital, Moonstone Venture Capital, and follow-on investor SuperSeed.

George Marangos-Gilks, CEO and Co-founder of Messium, commented on the raise: “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.

“At Messium, 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.

“This investment is not just a win for Messium- it’s a step change for global agriculture. Our ambition is bold: to eliminate fertiliser guesswork worldwide, boost yields, cut waste, and help secure the future of food.”

Founded in 2023, Messium is transforming nitrogen management with weekly, field-level insights powered by hyperspectral satellite data, crop growth models, and proprietary AI analytics.

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By partnering with farmers, researchers, and agencies, Messium provides actionable nitrogen recommendations that boost yields, reduce input costs, and support sustainable agriculture.

Messium’s platform uses hyperspectral satellites to capture detailed crop images across hundreds of wavelengths, revealing exactly how much nitrogen is present in every part of a field. Advanced AI then integrates this data with weather, soil, and farm management information to create a real-time picture of crop health and nutrient needs.

Each week, farmers receive tailored guidance on when and where to apply fertiliser, maximising productivity while minimising waste. The result: smarter decisions, less guesswork, and better outcomes right where it matters most, in the field.

Vishal Soomaney Vijaykumar, CTO, Co-founder, added: “Messium’s journey to becoming the UK champions in hyperspectral agriculture wouldn’t have been possible without the support of ESA BIC & the UK Space Agency’s GEO Accelerator.

“These programmes supported us from day one, helping us combine state-of-the-art research in hyperspectral remote sensing, machine learning and crop growth modelling to build something radically new – turning an ambitious idea into a commercial business with real-world impact. Now we’re ready to take this innovation global, helping farmers boost profits, cut emissions and keep soils healthy for future generations.”

The new funding will fast-track Messium’s commercial expansion in the UK, Europe, and Australia, grow its network of research and farming partners, and scale its data and analytics capabilities.

Shruti Iyengar, Space Investment Lead, UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), added: “Messium represents a leap forward for global agriculture, harnessing hyperspectral satellite imaging, cutting-edge crop science, and innovative analytics all in one offering to address one of the world’s most urgent resource challenges. The impact is significant – from reducing agri-input use and associated water pollution, to increasing yield per hectare for some of the most widely consumed crops.

“Messium is a stellar example of using space data to create a significantly positive impact on people and the planet. As demand for sustainable food production intensifies, scalable, data-driven solutions like Messium’s are essential for building resilience across the agri-food system. We’re proud to back a company with the vision and capability to make a lasting difference on a worldwide scale.”

In 2024, Messium’s trials across Europe and Australia, analyzing more than 13,000 lab-validated crop samples, revealed that over 50% of fields were mis-fertilised resulting in wasted costs and unnecessary emissions. Messium’s technology provides a data-driven solution to these inefficiencies, supporting commercial farmers while advancing food security and net-zero goals.

This year, Messium’s system is already delivering results for more than 75 farms across the UK and Europe, with additional pilot programs underway in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US.

Dr Craig Brown, Investment Director at UK Space Agency said: “Messium’s success demonstrates the transformative potential of space technology in addressing critical global challenges. By integrating advanced hyperspectral satellite data with artificial intelligence, they are enabling farmers to improve yields, reduce input waste, and minimise environmental impact.

“The UK Space Agency is proud to support Messium via the UKI2S space fund. Innovations like this not only strengthen the UK’s space sector, but also contribute to global food security and climate resilience.

“Messium is a compelling case study in how our support, from start-up to scale-up, has helped unlock private investment and accelerate growth.”

The latest funding will allow Messium to expand its team, enhance its technology, and increase its commercial impact, while further evolving its platform to tackle additional nutrient and crop health challenges. Riding this momentum, the company is now gearing up for a Series A round to accelerate global expansion and strengthen its position as a technology leader.

Ulf Palmnäs, Venture Partner, Expansion Aerospace Ventures added: “Messium is at the forefront of precision agriculture – bringing together satellite data and advanced AI to tackle one of farming’s biggest challenges.

“We backed them because of the strength of their team, the clear value they’re already delivering to farmers, and the huge positive impact this technology can have on the world.”

About Messium

Messium safeguards your crops from above, giving you the confidence to farm and harvest effectively. Our platform provides precise recommendations on when, where, and how much fertiliser to apply for optimal results. Using hyperspectral satellite constellations and proprietary machine learning models built and validated with data from extensive global trials Messium works hand-in-hand with real farmers to deliver actionable, field-ready insights.