In recent weeks, fertilizer prices have experienced significant fluctuations, primarily influenced by the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region. As reported by the UK’s Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), granular urea prices surged approximately 36% between February and March 2026, with the Gulf crisis being a key factor.

For farmers approaching another uncertain growing season, the discourse surrounding nitrogen—one of the main variable expenses in arable production—has intensified.

Louise Penn, an agronomist and farmer at Manor Farm in Northamptonshire, acknowledges that every fertilizer-related decision now carries heavier financial implications. “Nitrogen is one of the most costly inputs for crops like wheat, barley, or oilseed rape. We must focus on targeted applications, not only for sustainability but also due to rising nitrogen costs,” she states.

Innovating with Hyperspectral Imagery

In this challenging landscape, Messium, a crop intelligence firm specializing in satellite-nutrient analysis, has partnered with Penn through Agri-TechE’s Ambassador Programme. This initiative connects farmers with technology providers to trial innovative tools in practical settings, aiming to enhance adoption where significant business value is evident.

Their collaboration investigates whether hyperspectral satellite imagery can optimize nitrogen decisions by pinpointing specific areas needing fertilization.

For Penn, the critical question remains whether this technology allows her to reduce nitrogen use without compromising crop yield. “We plan to compare Messium’s results against standard practices to assess its impact,” she explains.

Advancing Beyond Conventional Metrics

Messium contends that its approach represents a breakthrough from traditional satellite nitrogen assessment tools, which typically depend on the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). While NDVI gauges crop health through greenness and biomass, it does not accurately quantitate nitrogen levels within plants.

In contrast, Messium utilizes hyperspectral imagery, capturing data across approximately 400 wavelengths. This technology aims to directly assess nitrogen balance in crops by analyzing spectral bands sensitive to nitrogen molecules.

“These innovative hyperspectral satellites can directly detect nitrogen uptake,” asserts Spencer Terry, Messium’s commercial director. “We can accurately assess if crops are under-fertilized, over-fertilized, or balanced throughout the growing period.”

He further notes, “Previous satellite generations relied on vegetation greenness as a proxy for nutrient health—now, we directly analyze the nutrient status of crops.”

Transforming Data into Strategic Decisions

At Manor Farm, Penn has already input detailed field data into Messium’s platform, including field boundaries, yield objectives, soil types, and fertilization strategies. Following the initial nitrogen application, the system is now actively guiding subsequent decisions.

A hyperspectral image captured earlier this spring unveiled extensive nitrogen deficiency across the field—an anticipated result after the winter rains and prior to fertilization.

“The imagery indicated a crop suffering from significant nitrogen deficiency after winter rainfall,” Terry explained. This data revealed variations within the field, identifying areas of acute deficiency versus regions with lower nitrogen demand. Such spatial insights can refine future nitrogen applications.

“We will leverage this data for our next fertilizer application, aiming to rectify deficiencies and restore crops to optimal health,” Terry said. “This enables us to allocate more fertilizer to deficient areas and less to those that are adequately nourished.”

Collaboration as a Catalyst for Change

Both Penn and Messium recognize the Agri-TechE Ambassador Programme as instrumental in facilitating this trial, bridging the divide between innovative technology and tangible farm-level requirements.

“Collaborating with forward-thinking farms and agronomists open to experimenting with new tools is crucial,” Terry concluded.