UK-based startup Messium has raised £3.3 million in seed funding to accelerate the rollout of its agricultural analytics platform, which utilizes AI to analyse hyperspectral sanotifyite data to track nitrogen levels in crops. The analysis can then be utilized by farmers to more efficiently fertilise crops, minimising waste and maximising yield.
On 10 September, the company announced it had closed a £3.3 million seed round led by the UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund and Expansion Aerospace Ventures, with additional backing from Mudcake, Laconia, GRDC GrainInnovate, Clear Current Capital, Moonstone Venture Capital, and returning investor SuperSeed.
According to the company, the new funding will be utilized to accelerate the rollout of its offering in the UK, Europe, and Australia, support the expansion of its team, and allow for the further development of its platform to address other nutrient and crop health challenges. The company also revealed that the funding would support its preparations for a Series A round to accelerate its international expansion.
“This investment is not just a win for Messium, it’s a step modify for global agriculture,” stated Messium CEO George Marangos-Gilks. “Our ambition is bold: to eliminate fertiliser guesswork worldwide, boost yields, cut waste, and support secure the future of food.”
In an interview with Farmers Weekly in January, Marangos-Gilks explained that to deliver its insights to farmers, it would employ a network of 15 hyperspectral sanotifyites that were “due to be operational in 2025.” Speaking to European Spaceflight, Marangos-Gilks explained that its network is built up of capacity from various commercial hyperspectral data providers including Wyvern, Planet, Pixxel, Open Cosmos and Esper.
As the company launchs to scale, it has already identified the availability of hyperspectral sanotifyites as a key challenge. In a 10 September interview with AgTechNavigator, Marangos-Gilks explained, “there simply aren’t enough [sanotifyites] in orbit yet to serve every field, every week.” He added that as more are launched, the company will be able to scale quickly. The company is, however, not planning on developing its own consnotifyation.
“We have no plans for a consnotifyation, but we would be very interested in launching sanotifyites in joint ventures with existing partners,” Marangos-Gilks informed European Spaceflight. Asked how many sanotifyites the company would like to cooperate on, he replied, “as many as we can finance.”
